Canna how do you water your autos going straight into a big pot?
I have a long spout water jug, (the spout really helps to get the water where I want it under all those stems toward the bottoms) I start a little around the outside of the pot and work my way in very lightly for just the top of the soil in the beginning. It helps to push holes in the soil with the end of a large paintbrush so the water goes into that and distributes. Some people use a large fork and rustle the top of the soil up a bit to help the saturation process.
After the plant is well established I usually just add water to the bottom of the pot in the tray and let the soil draw it as needed. Then I leave it be until the leaves look a slight bit droopy and water again.
My photo period plants are mostly all in SWICK containers, I just add water to the perlite to about an inch deep. The fabric pots soak up water as needed and I don't have to water as often. I have two plants that are in plastic gardening pots that are doing fine in the SWICK system as well.
If I am adding feed, it doesn't go into the perlite. That goes straight into the soil slowly to allow it to distribute.
That's how I do it.
My own soil system is a personalized mix using the assistance of member PeeJay. I used what I had available here for everything the plants would need from seedling to maturity.
So far, with this entire grow I have only had to add Cal/Mag for some small leaf yellowing probs.
Cal/Mag will always be something I have to add at some point. These plants seem to need a lot of that. LOL
hope this helps
