root bound? do I prune this?

[crow]

Hi Everyone, 

 

Inexperienced grower seeking advice re pruning a Female Seeds Fast Neville X Line plant.

 

She was put in the ground October/November [from memory] but the planting hole is lined with plastic and the actual root space would be probably only 60 L.  This is on top of a reservoir which holds approx 10L of water.

 

The growing medium was Searles premium potting mix, Searles 5 in 1, mushroom compost and coco.  And I've been fertilising every 1 - 2 weeks with Uncle chron's super sauce.

 

My concern is with the yellowing leaves it is displaying now that it will run out of juice in flower.  Of almost equal concern is the amount of water she's using - I'm having to fill the reservoir every 3 days or so and I'd really like to be able to get away for a week or so soon.  

 

So I thought maybe I could chop her about 1/2 way down the main trunk.  Alternatively I could thin it out by pruning all the pissy little stems? 

 

 

I'd prefer to sacrifice yield to get good quality buds so if anyone can suggest the best way to go about it I'd greatly appreciate the advice.

 

 

 

[MongyMan]

It would be sacrilidge to prune that plant back hard when she is looking so good imo......If you can keep the water up to her she is going to be a very nice plant and well worth the effort.

 

MongyMan

[Skunkxxx]

MM do you think it could be over watered?I cant see it using that much water.I would take a rod and punch some holes in plastic sheeting .Just my thought on it,I would cut a few of the lower branches also  Good luck

peace Out

skunkxxx

[crow]

It would be sacrilidge to prune that plant back hard when she is looking so good imo......If you can keep the water up to her she is going to be a very nice plant and well worth the effort.

 

 

 

MM do you think it could be over watered?I cant see it using that much water.I would take a rod and punch some holes in plastic sheeting .Just my thought on it,I would cut a few of the lower branches also  

 

Thanks for your replies MongyMan and Skunkxxx. 

 

Skunkxxx, you may be correct about the overwatering - I have been known  to be guilty of that crime before, hence I now own one of those cheap moisture meters which I should use more often.  However I was watering when the plant started drooping and that combined with the lowered water level being < 1/3 full led me to believe it was thirsty. 

 

Louise very wisely posted on another topic yesterday or the day before some good advice about not fertilising plants during the hot weather.  Unfortunately I didn't read these words of wisdom until too late - I fertilised on Tuesday [in the middle of this crazy heat wave] hoping to rectify the yellowing leaves!

 

So, first 2 pics are the results of the fertilising.  Second 2 pics today after I removed most dead, yellow, necrotic leaves.

 

I can't flush the poor thing so I shall try and leave it the f@*# alone and hope she comes good.   

[louise]

Damn, hey?

 

Well, you probably don't need to consider pruning anything now, she'll go through a natural root prune after losing all those leaves.

 

Have to agree with Skunkxxx, if you can punch a few holes through the plastic so excess water can drain away, the plant will benefit.

 

When you plant into open ground, cannabis will seek out deep water by dropping it's taproot down 6 or more feet into the ground. Using a plastic or other impervious liner means the plant can't drop it's roots deep.

 

Of almost equal concern is the amount of water she's using - I'm having to fill the reservoir every 3 days or so and I'd really like to be able to get away for a week or so soon.

That sounds about right, it might take a little longer to drain the res now after losing a mass of leaves, but going away while you have weed to tend is always dicey... especially with the heat.

Edited January 17, 2014 by louise

[crow]

Damn, hey?

 

Well, you probably don't need to consider pruning anything now, she'll go through a natural root prune after losing all those leaves.

 

Have to agree with Skunkxxx, if you can punch a few holes through the plastic so excess water can drain away, the plant will benefit.

 

When you plant into open ground, cannabis will seek out deep water by dropping it's taproot down 6 or more feet into the ground. Using a plastic or other impervious liner means the plant can't drop it's roots deep.

 

 

That sounds about right, it might take a little longer to drain the res now after losing a mass of leaves, but going away while you have weed to tend is always dicey... especially with the heat.

 

 

Hey Louise,

 

Thanks for your advice - I did poke plenty of holes in the plastic but, sadly, it didn't come good and it suffered through many more 40 plus degree days before I put it out of it's misery a week ago.

Interesting what you say about the taproot though - next year for sure I will try a different watering method that allows the plant to put that taproot down.

 

 

Anyway, I thought I'd ask your advice again as several of my other plants are looking a bit yellow. 

 

What sort of temps you think are OK to fertilise at?  The next four days here are still going to be hot but Fri Sat Sun is supposed to be 28 to 31 degrees so I thought that might be a good opportunity to fertilise?

 

Or do you think I should I just leave them alone? 

[Brimstond]

Hello crowsange , I think its ok to fertilize at any temp really .......... just when its hot as make the fert half strength when its cold full strength sorta thing

 

Cheers Brimstond

[louise]

Sorry to hear that your big plant didn't pull through... with the others, yep it sounds like the weekend will be your window of opportunity for fertilising without burning the crapper out of them. If you can water thoroughly before fertilising, even better.