BethanySublime

Well I just posted this question in my other thread from yesterday but not only does that violate the posting guidelines, but nobody's gonna find my question in there anyway! So i'm starting a new thread for it...

my sprouts are a little over a week old, and they're in 3-gallon buckets already. i just learned the dangers or overwatering them so I'm trying my best not to water them until they show they're thirsty by wilting. well my little Maelee's leaves are clearly not perfect, but I'm not exactly sure that it's *wilting* per say... her leaves were a little deformed from the start. Here's what she looked like this morning...I refrained from watering her, but I can't help but feel I left her thirsty! Here's the picture, notice the edges are curled up a little and lighter colored:



And here's what she looked like 3 days ago. Same deformities but not as prominent....not sure if that's just from getting bigger, or she's thirsty.


Do you think it's time to water her again?

P.S. Sorry if i'm posting too many questions...I'm trying to keep them down but I can't find anything on what wilting looks like...idk call me stupid but I've never planted shit so I just don't know lol

Indman

It doesn't look like it's in too bad of shape yet, but you should definitely reconsider the size of bucket you're using, since you'll have to water them so often due to the loss of water from the top of the bucket.

Obviously, it will grow, but if you want to make it grow faster, a smaller grow medium would be best. Just my two cents though, do as you please. Good luck!

Peace!

MrGreen

In a 3 gallon pot, you probably don't need to water for at least 1-2 more days. I usually water my seedlings every 3-5 days, and that's when they're in dixie cups.

Also, starting them in 3 gallon pots is fine. I've seen plenty of growers that use beds from sprout to harvest and have amazing results, you just need to adjust your water and feeding schedules accordingly.

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Puffin Tuff

I think probably longer. Like at least a week. when the pot weighs almost nothing that's when you water...

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shrubz

In big pots when seedlings are that small I'm not concerned with soaking the soil completely. Just give them 2-3 oz of water at a time, right around the stem base. I find monitoring drinks easier that way when there so tiny. Keep them slighly damp and there good to go.

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BethanySublime

that's how i was originally watering them. i don't think i ever got the entire soil moistened all the way through...i have the bucket on a plate to drain but no water has ever had to drain. so i'm guessing, and hoping, before i learned the risk of overwatering, i hadn't done so anyway. The top of the soil was basically completely dry this morning, but i still have to feel through a drainhole to see how the bottom is doing.

so i should just wait until i can tell she's parched? when the leaves wilt do they like get limp and droop? cuz they seem so dry now but they're stiff still

shrubz

The entire seedling might droop, and not come back up. You want to try to avoid letting them totally dry out.

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CalicoJack

They require so little at that size, even a few good squirts w/h2o will get you buy at least a day. Drooping is noticeable when it happens. Even if the leaves seem very dry, as long as they are parallel to the ground, or raising at all, you ought to be good to go.

It's hard to walk away from them in the beginning, but most of the time, they'll be fine. If you can check them at least once a day and they're not in a super hot or windy spot, you're in good shape.


good luck!!!

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CalicoJack

Also,

I've had some eff'd up germination leaves. Some are the genes, and a couple of time I pulled the seed husk off too quickly. Either way, it gets less noticeable with each subsequent node. And the flowers don't know the difference,

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Freakshow68

That's what I do and I have no problems. I water around the seedling and as the plant get's bigger, i increase the amount I water. As for checking to see when you need to water, I stick a finger in the dirt to check for moisture when they are small. As they get bigger, I feel the weight of the pot to see when it's dry

peace

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