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                 -+- The Merry Pranksters from Menlo Park -+-
                               10.1990.01.01.22

                 Marijuana Grower's Handbook - part 22 of 33
                               by pH Imbalance
                                  "Watering"

                                     from

                         Marijuana Grower's Handbook
                         [Indoor/Greenhouse Edition]
                                 Ed Rosenthal


   Growers using passive hydroponic systems only have to water by adding it
to the reservoirs, to replenish water lost to evaporation and transpiration.
   Growers using active hydroponic systems, including drop emitters, adjust
the watering cycle so that the medium never loses its moisture.  Mediums for
active systems are drained well so that the roots come into contact with
air.  Each medium retains a different volume of water.  The plant's size and
growth stage, the temperature, and the humidity also affect the amount of
water used.  Cycles might start at once every six hours of light during the
early stages and increase as the plants need it.
   Plants growing in soil or soiless mixes should be watered before the soil
dries out but only after the top layer has lost a bit of its moisture.  If
the mixture is not soggt and drains well, overwatering is not a problem.
Excess moisture drains.
   Plants have problems with some soils not because they are too wet, but
because the soils have too find a texture and do not hold air in pockets
between the particles.  As long as a medium allows both air and water to
penetrate, the roots will remain healthy.  If the roots do not have access
to air, they grow weak and are attacked by bacteria.
   Plant leaves catch dust so it is a good idea to spray the plants every
2-4 weeks with a fine spray, letting the water drop off the leaves.  Do this
before the beginning of the light cycle so the leaves dry off completely,
and the glass of the lights is not hot in case water touches it.
   Some growers spray the leaves weekly with a dilute fertilizer solution.
The leaf has pores through which the nutrients can be absorbed and utilized.
They claim that the growth rate is increased.  In various tests with legal
plants, researches have affirmed that plants which are foliar-fed do grow
faster.
   Once the flowers start forming, the plants should not be sprayed because
the flowers are susceptible to mold and infections which are promoted by
excess humidity.





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