Can I water my cannabis plants only once a week?

[Phillybonker]

I guess another variable would be when was it planted in the ground has it had a chance to spread its roots deeper searching for water?

I haven't planted yet but I will put the plants in the ground when the plants reach 6 inch's in height.

 

[Phillybonker]

Thick layer of mulch on the top might work. Also there are simple ways of leaving plastic containers near the root system which slowly leak out water. I used to do a bit of guerilla growing and used that method a couple of times.

Yeah I was thinking of using mulch to slowdown evaporation.

 

[Phillybonker]

The OP still has not clarified whether they are growing in the ground or in containers. The debate hinges on that one variable.

My apologies, I'll be growing in the ground.

 

[Phillybonker]

polymers better known as water beads or water storing crystals

I'll do some research into water beads. Thanks

 

[Phillybonker]

Up to you. I been growing outside for over 40 years. we hit over 110 in the shade here. I found thick mulching was the key. Never need to water more than twice a week. Sorry for disagreeing based on my personal experience.

40 years is a lot of growing experience.

It only reaches 80 where I'm at.

So you can recommend thick mulching. I also plan to use worm casting and coco coir to condition and fertilize the soil. I assume these will be okay with mulch?

 

[Bush Doctor 77]

40 years is a lot of growing experience.

It only reaches 80 where I'm at.

So you can recommend thick mulching. I also plan to use worm casting and coco coir to condition and fertilize the soil. I assume these will be okay with mulch?

Why coir? Peat, compost, well rotted manure would all provide nutrients and texture. Coir will tie up N as it rots.

 

[Phillybonker]

In ground likely depending on amount of rainfall/season, in container no.

Rain falls for 6 days of the month in growing season and regularly aggregates up to 76mm (3") of precipitation in my area.

 

[bobrown14]

We had about 6 days of rain in 3 months. I had to water the plants or they'd have died.

 

[Phillybonker]

Why coir? Peat, compost, well rotted manure would all provide nutrients and texture. Coir will tie up N as it rots.

Peat has pH issues, where Coir doesn't. Worm casting will provide all the nutrients required.

 

[bobrown14]

I grow in peat and compost with aeration. Been doing it for a while now. pH wont be a problem with peatmoss. Acidic soil is actually better than neutral to alkaline soil for nutrient uptake.

 

[Phillybonker]

I grow in peat and compost with aeration. Been doing it for a while now. pH wont be a problem with peatmoss. Acidic soil is actually better than neutral to alkaline soil for nutrient uptake.

I see, I'll have to use peat moss instead of Coir

 

[bobrown14]

Good move, peat moss is better that Coir with a soil mix.

 

[Phillybonker]

Good move, peat moss is better that Coir with a soil mix.

I'll throw in some lime to improve the pH as well.

 

[bobrown14]

Look for some Oyster shell flour and add in some gypsum flour as well. Its not for pH correction its for the Calcium. Short - medium and long release.

Cannabis uses a lot of Ca more so than Nitrogen. Just need to supply enough in the soil the plants do the rest.

A lot of garden limes have too much Magnesium.

 

[Phillybonker]

Look for some Oyster shell flour and add in some gypsum flour as well. Its not for pH correction its for the Calcium. Short - medium and long release.

Cannabis uses a lot of Ca more so than Nitrogen. Just need to supply enough in the soil the plants do the rest.

A lot of garden limes have too much Magnesium.

Good information. I'll note it down. Thanks

And I didn't know a lot of garden lime has too much magnesium.

 

[GratefulBud]

You could rig a water drum to feed a bucket that is set below ground level near your plants. Inside the bucket is a float valve (like in a commercial ice maker). Many holes in the bucket surrounded by gravel. The water slowly percolates into the ground over many days which should allow you to visit the site once weekly. The bucket waters the gravel and soil as needed; the drum fills the bucket (float valve) as needed. No electricity required.

I saw this last night on an episode of Homestead Rescue. Interesting idea, and they showed the garden a few weeks later and the plants were thriving!

 

[Phillybonker]

You could rig a water drum to feed a bucket that is set below ground level near your plants. Inside the bucket is a float valve (like in a commercial ice maker). Many holes in the bucket surrounded by gravel. The water slowly percolates into the ground over many days which should allow you to visit the site once weekly. The bucket waters the gravel and soil as needed; the drum fills the bucket (float valve) as needed. No electricity required.

I saw this last night on an episode of Homestead Rescue. Interesting idea, and they showed the garden a few weeks later and the plants were thriving!

That is a good idea but I'll be growing in the bush so it's not practical to carry drums into the bush unfortunately for me or else i would have used that idea.

 

[Triple R]

Coco doesn't hold water very well at all. Hopefully you get lots of rain.