Maximum Yield USA October 2016 | Page 54

YOU WANT WET PLANTS, NOT SOAKED PLANTS For these reasons, irrigation schedules for different substrates need to be matched to the properties of the medium being used. For more frequent, shorter irrigations go for those that are highly free-draining, and for less frequent watering, go for those that are highly moisture retentive. “ As plants increase in size, more moisture is lost in the process of transpiration from the larger leaf surface area and more nutrients are required in the root zone.” Irrigation for Different Growth Stages A plant’s stage of development also influences the number and volume of irrigations per day. As plants increase in size, more moisture is lost in the 52 Maximum Yield USA  |  October 2016 Free-draining, shallow substrates need shorter but more frequent irrigations then those that retain more moisture.