How to Water Autoflowering Cannabis Plants

Water is important to all living beings. Plants use water in many of its functions and of course it is how nutrients are delivered to the plant body so that it could sustain its growth and development. And despite the necessity of water, there are plants that need very little water to survive while there are plants that need a lot of water in a day.  Autoflowering cannabis plants are just like any kind of plant. It absorbs water in the soil from its roots and takes this towards the stem and to the plant’s leaves. Usually, around 99% of water that has worked its way up the leaves will be lost, leaving only 1% for the plant to use to make food.

Special Water for Autoflowering Plants?

There is no type of water or special kind of water that you need to use for your autoflowering cannabis plants. Most growers and breeders just use plain tap water to water their plants. Using rain water is also a good idea since you don’t need to use water from the sink and use recycled water instead. Do not use water that was used for rinsing or water from an air conditioner duct. Use clean water only to water your cannabis plants.

There are special techniques that you must learn before you actually water any plant which is perfect for autoflowering plants as well. Before watering your plants, let the water that you want to use to sit for a few days in its open container. This process will let water temperature to match the temperature of the surrounding air so that your plants won’t get shocked with water that is too cold or too warm. Do remember that water that is too cold or too hot can shock your plants and affect its growth.

Allowing water to sit for a while in its open container will also let chlorine evaporate to leave you with healthy and chemical-free water. And of course before you use any water on your plants; check its pH levels first. Your water must have a pH level of 6.5 to 7.0 to prevent stress and damage to your plants.

Watering Schedule for Autoflowers

You must be wondering how much water your plants need by now, right? When it comes to this question, there is no hard or fast rule. It’s going to be hard to come up with an exact number because a lot of factors can affect the amount of water to use. Factors like the size of the pot, air temperature, air humidity, air circulation, soil composition and plant size should be considered as reference points. And since an amount cannot be established, you can base the amount of water needed according to the different stages of your plant’s development.

Before the Germination Phase

Before you even place your seeds inside your pot, nestled inside your growing medium, you must first flush your soil medium inside the pot you are going to use. Remember that you need a pot with holes at the bottom to completely drain excess water and to allow air to come into the soil and be utilized by your roots. Fill your pot with just the right amount of soil and then wet this soil completely. Allow water to drain from the hole at the bottom of the pot and then wait for another two hours before you place your seeds. This technique will loosen up the soil and help plant roots to take anchor.

During Germination Phase

During the germination stage, your plant is just very young and has very fragile bodies, stems and leaves. Watering should be limited to watering its soil till it becomes damp and watering the surface of leaves. Avoid pouring water over the plants because water could accumulate anywhere and cause mold infestation. Use a hand sprayer to efficiently deliver water all overo the plants.

After the germination phase

Before watering your plants during post-germination, let soil dry up before your next watering. You will know that you are past the germination phase when you will see a few true leaves forming. When you have seen that the soil has dried at least 1 to 2 inches deep, then you can now water your plant. Let water fill the pot and allow a little run off at the bottom. Use a soil humidity meter to find out the exact amount of water in the soil if you want a more accurate reading. `

Overwatering your Plants

Yes it is possibly to overwater your autoflowers and this happens when you water your plant without letting the soil dry. It is perfectly ok to let your plants experience a short period of drought because naturally this happens to plants. Overwatering will prevent the roots from getting any oxygen and results in the plant suffering and eventually weaken the plant. Overwatering plants can also place your autos at risk for developing fungus and this is a very distressing matter that must be avoided at all cost. You can correct overwatering by letting your plants soak up water and for air to dry it out naturally.

Watering Strategies

There are a lot of ways to passively water your autos and this helps especially if you want to take a break or a short vacation. The wick system is a method of delivering water to plants by letting water travel from a water reservoir tray to the pot using a wick. This lets you continuously deliver water to each pot and will reduce the need to disturb your plants especially during times when you just want to leave your plants alone. Another method is the runoff method that uses a pump to deliver water in and out the growing medium to feed your plants. These two methods can help reduce the need to stress your autoflowering plants and of course to help them grow healthy and strong and to improve their yield come harvest time.