germing auto in final pot

[Weedian]

how heavily should I be watering the pot before planting?

Last year I gave it a good water so there was a bit of run off and then planted the seed direct into the soil, but I wonder if it slowed their first weeks growth and kinda drowned them?

They still turned out alright but growing autos and outdoors I kinda want to give them a as little to grumble about as possible!

[M_C]

I wouldn't overly worry about run off when preparing your pots for germination, just make sure that the soil is well watered

[ggotch]

ive only done one auto seed straight in pot and it did struggle and put me off that method,since then ive always used a rooter to start it off to a good start before its roots hit the actual soil.

the rooter plug(i use "Rootit" make) normally has enough dampness/goodness in it for first few days then i just add 100ml or so plain water with rootfast in it when it dries out a bit.

putting the seed straight into a mychorzial filled hole seemed to put it in a coma ,wont do that again either

this is indoors but cant see itd be any different outside if the enviroment is friendly :unknown:

ideally i should think you dont want your pot to be soaked as youll want the seedling to need to grow lots of root in order to hunt in pot for water/feed etc.
if its soaked then it simply wont bother growing roots as feed is easy to get.

dunno,maybe im overthinking it,but works for me ,might work for you.
cheers n atb.

[ERBURT]

Trick is to water little an often when going into final pot.
Start on about 250ml plant seed then il give 50ml each watering
For a few waters then steadily increase it.

[Weedian]

Thanks for the replys guys,

I see the logic in what all 3 of you are saying but you're all saying different things lol

I don't really want to handle and transplant if I can help it but I have been thinking about watering the bottom quarter of the pots and a splash around the part that I plant into in the hopes of encouraging the roots to 'seek out' the water (thats kind of fitting in with the little and often approach right?) , but Ive also picked up some plagron start up this year to see if that gives it a boost

is the start up ok to be used in that very first, pre-germination watering? or wait until its above the soil?

[ggotch]

tbh were all saying the same thing really,mainly no,dont flood the pot n make it soaking wet.

whats thrown us i think is the word "final pot" in the title,threw me anyway, but im currently "taste testing"

erberts more on point than me for a seed straight into soil,i only use rooters as i found seed straight in for autos slows things down n you cant afford that imo.

autos dont have a final pot,the pot you put the seed in is the entire grow pot,dont think anyone transplnts autos pot to pot etc,as theyre like fireworks,once lit theyre off n you cant afford to stress it by moving pots.

[Weedian]

Yep I'm with you thanks ggotch, no saturating. Its a 'testing' day for me too, who wouldn't on a day like today tho eh?

final pot=only pot

My not wanting to handle thing was about the root plug stuff, I've always planted into soil but into a small pot and potted up. The change to outdoors and autos has thrown me off a bit though as i'm germing straight into 11ltr pots but did the same as I've always done with the little pots.

I did alright last year but i did notice something was off in that first week, hence the thread

[ERBURT]

You don't want to soak the bottom third of pot you want all water going
In from the top always.if you do it from bottom all the feed will sit there
Which will make problems for you so always water from top.

Jus plant it an water carefully and increase the amount gradually an yourll be fine

[Weedian]

Makes sense, thanks ERBURT

Last question, just to save me starting a new thread. When the plant's established I've been giving a good water to first sign of run off and then letting the pot dry completely before watering again.

prob 2-3L for an 11L pot once every 5 days or so, is this not optimal then?

[ERBURT]

Sounds about right maybe a touch more.
Once there's roots at the bottom of pot water
So you get half a litre to a litre out the bottom
They should dry out in 3 days tho not 5 but that
Will depend on soil used and how much perlite
Is mixed in.