Heavy overwatering by Autopot system during vacation

cornozito
cornozitostarted grow question 3y ago
After 7 days of vacation and my first try of the Autopot system I noticed heaviest overwatering by the autopot. Took them immediately off the system. 3 of 4 plants felt and layed with weak stem on the ground/soil. When you watch the photos: go on (any tips?) or start from scratch
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Week 3
Plant. Stem - Weak
Feeding. Automatic systems
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nonick123
nonick123answered grow question 3y ago
Any more advice when preparing the pot substrate? Step 1 Always put a layer of expanded clay (hydroton) about 2 or 3 cm at the bottom for drainage. Step 2 Fill the pot with substrate (or the mix you prepare) to the top and weigh the pot. That will be the weight of your "dry" pot. Step 3 Empty the substrate until halfway up the pot. Step 4 Water that half of the soil in the pot very slowly, saturating the entire substrate with 5 percent of water based on the pot volume. Step 5 Fill the remaining half with substrate. Step 6 Water it very slowly, saturating the entire substrate with 5 percent of water based on the pot volume. This way, you'll have a well-moistened pot but NOT soaked. Check the weight of the pot daily. Water ONLY when the pot has the "dry" weight. Good luck!
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nonick123
nonick123answered grow question 3y ago
The soil has been too wet it seems since the beginning Watering with 10 percent of the pot's weight should be enough if done slowly and the substrate is of good quality and well-aerated What type of substrate have you used? Any commercial mix or did you make it yourself? With autos, it is VERY important that the substrate is NOT soaked during the first weeks. If it is soaked, the roots become lazy, the root system will be small, and you'll have a dwarf plant Two options: 1. If you want to keep these plants, I recommend removing the top layer of the substrate (1 or 2 cm), adding new substrate, and letting the pot "dry" until the next watering. 2. Start from scratch with NEW and well-aerated substrate. I recommend 80 percent Light Mix substrate + 20 percent Perlite You can also replace or add the perlite with expanded clay balls (arlita) Good luck!
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Terp1
Terp1answered grow question 3y ago
You need to know. They are automatics and for week 3, they are quite far behind in development. They don't look dead, so they will probably still give you a (smaller) harvest. Personally, I would start over and do everything right this time. Your plants looked like they weren't developing properly from the beginning. The photos from day 15... the plant should actually be a bit further along by now. :)
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