Help please - Watering when going away (seedlings)

bigs · Post by **bigs** » Tue 7th Sep 2010 06:49 pm

going away Thurs-Sun next week, and would have just put seedlings into the main tent in 3 litre pots.

Very worried that I will either flood the plant with too much water when leaving, or will return to a dry and dead plant when im back.

Thinking about Aquadrip spikes - anyone used? Any alternative methods? Or will a good water be ok for 72 hours at such an early stage?

They will be in a dr120, 3 litre pots, canna soil with a 600w grolux about 1.4 metres above.

Thanks

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Tue 7th Sep 2010 07:00 pm

Have you watered anything in the tent yet? I find if I over-water slightly (I know I shouldn't) I can just about get away with monday - friday (I water on the day I leave if I can).

What are those spikes? are they those things that drip water in if so I made my own using a 2 litre bottle with a couple of small holes in the lid (practise first) they did the trick as well, another thing I've done is put them on capillary matting.

bigs · Post by **bigs** » Tue 7th Sep 2010 07:08 pm

Boner wrote:Have you watered anything in the tent yet? I find if I over-water slightly (I know I shouldn't) I can just about get away with monday - friday (I water on the day I leave if I can).

What are those spikes? are they those things that drip water in if so I made my own using a 2 litre bottle with a couple of small holes in the lid (practise first) they did the trick as well, another thing I've done is put them on capillary matting.

yep just found the aquadrips - http://www.ecocharlie.co.uk/aquadrip-water-spikes.html

thanks for the response mate. I watered in the tent on my cuttings attempt, that failed, so i bagged up the soil and I will flush it before using it.

The seeds have just cracked and taproot is showing, in jiffys. So I imagine that they will be ready for the tent in 5-7 days... just when I go away.

So ive got the choice of leaving them in the propergator a bit longer, or potting them in the tent the day I go away - ]either way not sure what to do on watering.

Pots are only 3 litre so not sure how well that aquadrip thing wil work. Could just water and hope for the best but I havent got a clue how often to water a 3l pot, and wont have enough time to find out as I will be potting them max 24 hours before leaving...

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Tue 7th Sep 2010 07:31 pm

I'd probably leave them in the propagator myself, you'll probably have to pot them up as the roots will come out the side/bottom of the plugs but a watering in there will be fine for that period of time.

bigs · Post by **bigs** » Tue 7th Sep 2010 07:35 pm

fantastic mate, your a legend.
So i will leave in a propergater till next monday...11 days from seeing taproot.

Shall I just spray the plants and mist the propergater heavily before I go away? Or should I water the plants at that stage?

Thanks a lot for your help mate, really appreciated.

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Tue 7th Sep 2010 07:40 pm

If you leave them in the jiffy plugs make sure they're damp and not soaked, you can do that by spraying as well, if you pot them up they'll need watering as well, the best advice I can give is for you to gauge how they're behaving between now and when you go away and judge it from that.

bigs · Post by **bigs** » Tue 7th Sep 2010 07:45 pm

Boner wrote:If you leave them in the jiffy plugs make sure they're damp and not soaked, you can do that by spraying as well, if you pot them up they'll need watering as well, the best advice I can give is for you to gauge how they're behaving between now and when you go away and judge it from that.

Will do mate. I'll probably post some pics up this time next week for Dr.Boner

if u dont mind having a quick look

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Tue 7th Sep 2010 07:46 pm

Yeah no worries, I love pics.