you want ~20% runoff to maintain nute levels over time. also assures total saturation and avoids dry spots you can't see.
If evaporation is insane, you have to water more or do something to reduce evaporation rate. i'd just check weight of pot more often and top off as needed.
Caveat for your current context -- small plant in big pot. -- You want a deep column of moist substrate.. the root is growing down, make sure the area you water around plant is getting deep into the soil/substrate and running out the bottom. You may not want to saturate the whole pot at this point, but the sooner you can, the better. It will be difficult to re-hydrate the outer areas as you have to water more as the plant grows into the pot. it may take extra to get the job done, initially.
I think this could easily solve your concern about watering too often...
water a bit more area and make sure it runs out bottom a bit, so you know it's not dry under the rootball. This will likely be a tad more than what the plant needs right now, so it should give you a longer window between irrigations.
wait for top 1" to dry and repeat... larger circles around plant as it grows into pot until you water entirity.
**Please don't select this as a solution for the sake of the july contest that is running. if you were going to do so by chance; not assuming anything.