Random shit - Watching more videos and stuff, and for living soil the right amount to water (on an every 2 days schedule) is 5% of the soil volume. That's about what I've been doing but I may have been a little heavy handed on some and light on others. I have a 1000ml watering can (quart) and have been doing one can per plant - so two cans in the 15 gallon pot with two plants. The math works out to 200ml per gallon of soil so I have been close. But if the 5 gallon pots only have about 4 gallons of soil it's been a little over - might be compensating for less soil volume and it drying quicker? The 7 gallons have ~6 gallons of soil, so they might have been under watered. The 15 gallon is off by about the same ratio as the 7's.
I have already decided to drop fewer beans, but back to a monthly basis. I am dropping at least one fem bean as soon as my CBD/THC seeds show up. And I am trying a new method. After three-ish years I have learned that I like a variety of small plants. 5 gallon is all I need for the plants I grow.
The 7 gallons take up more space and I only have them because of the living soil theory that 5 is too small. Fuck theory. I am going to be doing this at least for the fems that don't need sexing.
That has the base soil soaked, a layer of worm castings, cover crop seeds getting started and the straw on top. The fresh castings have baby worms in them and I added a handfull of adults (and a few tomato scraps because the worms really dig them). I fired up the mini tent just because I'm dropping a bean soon anyway. I want this to get started at the same time(ish) as the seed then just slide the baby in as soon as it's ready for transplant. This might be a little early, but if my theory pans out, the timing won't matter.
The problem with living soil and the smaller pots is that you are supposed to be able to plant the next plant in the same pot withough removing roots. They'll die off and get composted anyway.
When I harvest the first of the 5 gallons I am going to cut the main part of the stem/root mass in about the size of a solo cup. Fill that with worm-food and compost, then renew the cover crop and let it get ready for the next round of plants. The worm food in the middle will be all castings after a month and can be scooped out for the new plant. Since it's just keeping a cover crop and worms alive for a month it shouldn't require a tent or anything. Maybe a light on a timer, maybe just a good window to set them by.
With 5 gallons I can fit 8 plants per tent with space for a floor fan. With a 4 (keeper) plant drop every month between 16 spaces in the two tents, I should have plenty of room and not fill anything up again.
Doing fewer plants means I could veg in the 5 gallons in the closet. Regs will require more thought. I can fit up to six 5g in the closet, and cullng males from the 5g might not be that bad if I have a rotation going with the same pots.
These are super happy, but are under a veg spectrum light. Wonder if that will play any factor whatsoever...
