My lady is in the 3rd week of flower and its sucking water hard. When I water I always make sure to water enough so there is a half inch or so sitting in my drip pan. Well last time that wasn't enoughf and the soil was pretty dry when I went in for the next watering. Did I damage the microbes by letting it get to dry
If the plant wasn't damaged chances are some of the microbes had enough moisture to survive but it probably thinned the herd out for sure.
Dry soil does damage the micro organisms. Keep it lightly moist. You may want to read up on SIPS. I love them...sub irrigated planters. They help maintain a nice slightly moist soil. There's a thread about it In the organic stickies. Keep the soil well aerated, water in the container and that's it. There's many ways of designing them. This is how I do it with fabric containers. It can be done in plastic also. Sent from my XT1028 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Did some of the microbes die, maybe... But, they'll be fine. I went through the same thing recently, I wasn't able to water my plants as soon as they would have liked and the soil dried out a bit and my plants got pretty droopy. I watered again like normal and they are fine, they really are pretty resilient.
the plant looks like nothing happened but I'm pretty sure dry soil is why my last organic grow failed, I was unaware and let it happen a lot. Watching a bunch of juicy buds rot before harvest a second time is really gonna chap my ass...lol.
Not sure budrot has anything to do with dry soil? Think of it, what happens out in nature -- soil can go dry, even if there is ground cover, and vegetation will stop growing. Maybe some microbes die, others may just go dormant until the conditions improve. Not "scientifically" sure of this, just thinking it through with some common sense. If all microbial life died in a drought, our world would be a different place
Do you have any sort of mulch, straw, compost, ewc, etc on top of the soil? Even just old fan leaves will help keep the soil moist by preventing evaporation. Also get a garden sprayer and mist the soil daily. How big of a plant and what size container? Any pics? Sent from my XT1028 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Like Killset said, mulch is key. It also helps keep your soil alive and well fed. I keep dried comfrey leaves from the summer season just for this. I'll put a layer of them down over the top of my soil. I'll also use all the dead leaves that fall off of my cannabis plants. I'll often sprinkle a small amount of soil on top of the mulch - it helps break it down quicker. I'd estimate that the top quarter of my pots is a mixture of OM mulch and soil or compost. This top quarter is totally alive with worms coming to the fresh food. Not only does mulch keep your soil from drying out as quickly but it also helps keep your soil fed. J