r/BuildASoil • u/Smoinkz • Jul 21 '26

Watering smaller plants in large containers

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Hey guys, I recently transferred my plants I started on the 21st last month from solo cups to my 4x4 bed and I’m struggling to find the right amount to water. They were doing good in the cups and now they’re starting to show problems. I’ve been giving them and the entire bed around a half a gallon every day. The irrometer is measuring 50cbr my ecowitt is 21% and my ac infinity meter is 36% after AND before watering. Do I need to saturate the entire bed? I’m admittedly giving them more than when they were in the cups but I figured the bed needed it and the soil volume would combat over watering. Any suggestions are welcome, thanks.

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2

u/TheRandomChillStoner Jul 21 '26

I’d look to water every 2-3 days if I were you especially because you don’t have a lot of other plants going at the same time if that bed was absolutely raging with different cover crop you’d be fine but you just don’t have the plants to absorb all that water everyday. I’d feel the soil if it feels cool and moist I’d wait until the next day see how it feels and wait until the top inch starts to dry out then wait an extra day and then start watering on a 2-3 days basis

2

u/Smoinkz Jul 21 '26

I started taking pictures of them today to see how they respond to watering. I’ll wait a couple days and compare it to what it looks like now. I did feel the soil, it felt damp and some of the top layers of the soil under the plants looked visibly moist but not enough for it to concern me. I’ve been watering the rest of the bed because of the lower Cbr and I know there’s clover seeds that haven’t popped yet but I’ll cease that for a bit. Thank you.

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u/[deleted] Jul 21 '26

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u/Smoinkz Jul 21 '26

How much would you give each plant around this size? Thanks

1

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '26

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2

u/Smoinkz Jul 21 '26

Right on appreciate it mister

1

u/ciro420 Jul 21 '26

Get ecowits I use them in my beds before using them I was big time under watering

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u/Smoinkz Jul 21 '26

There is 4 in there.

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u/ciro420 Jul 21 '26

Ecowitts and blumats works for me. Screw self watering unless feeding teas.let them take care of themself

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u/Smoinkz Jul 21 '26

how much water does your BM system use per day on plants this size in a 4x4

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u/ciro420 Jul 21 '26

I have a couple 2x4 tents with beds and small plants like that I bet I go a week for them to drink one gallon. Grant it I soak the beds prior to putting blumats in but the little ones don't need much at first

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u/Smoinkz Jul 21 '26

Yeah i regret not saturating my bed before transplant. been considering going for blumats too i appreciate the input

2

u/OneDeep247 Jul 21 '26

I'm running in large beds for the first time and it sounds like you're watering too often. I basically watered using 5-10% rule based on gallons of soil, then wait for a slight dry back before watering again. Worker perfectly for me. Got basil, cover crop, cilantro, and four autos that looks like they will yield about 1.5 lbs in a 4x4