Am I overwatering or do I have an Iron difficiency?

[EricT]

Here's a few of my hop plants. some are in different stages of growth which leads me to believe I am over watering. Thanks in advance.

 

[woodstone]

Here's a few of my hop plants. some are in different stages of growth which leads me to believe I am over watering. Thanks in advance.

They look healthy to me...why the doubt?

 

[kbuzz]

Looking good man, keep doing what you're doing.

 

[EricT]

They look healthy to me...why the doubt?

Well they seem to be yellowing on the top leaves. They have been growing well and nice and green the whole time. Until now.

 

[slomo]

They look a little yellowish green because the leaves have just been produced. Looks pretty healthy to me.

 

[Jagdad]

Your plants look fine- they tend to yellow when newly planted because they are growing so rapidly that the root system can't absorb nitrogen fast enough. It is ok to let them be a little nutrient starved at first because it will encourage the roots to search and spread. Over fertilizing a new plant will give you a lot of top growth with a small root system- fine, until it gets stressed by heat or drought. On a side note be aware that your bark mulch is not composted and will absorb a lot of nitrogen.

 

[EricT]

Your plants look fine- they tend to yellow when newly planted because they are growing so rapidly that the root system can't absorb nitrogen fast enough. It is ok to let them be a little nutrient starved at first because it will encourage the roots to search and spread. Over fertilizing a new plant will give you a lot of top growth with a small root system- fine, until it gets stressed by heat or drought. On a side note be aware that your bark mulch is not composted and will absorb a lot of nitrogen.

Didnt know it would absorb nitrogen. I just wanted it to help retain moisture. I amended the soil with a couple hand fulls of Miracle Grow when I was mixing the manure and Potting soil. So hopefully those roots are spreading around finding all that food. Thanks for the responses all.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Didnt know it would absorb nitrogen. I just wanted it to help retain moisture. I amended the soil with a couple hand fulls of Miracle Grow when I was mixing the manure and Potting soil. So hopefully those roots are spreading around finding all that food. Thanks for the responses all.

"absorb nitrogen" isn't really the issue in that it does not act like a sponge for nitrogen (later releasing it into the soil). In fact, the microbes at work decomposing the wood are what consume the nitrogen and the risk is taht they tend to use a LOT of Nitrogen to do their work. The faster they work, the more nitrogen they consume, the more they consume, the less available for the plant.

But, in reality, hops don't need much nitrogen in this phase of their growth cycle. In fact, the majority of hop plant uptake of Nitrogen occurs prior to cone set after which 1/3 to 1/2 of the nitrogen found in hops is locked into the cones. Also, and to further confound the ametuer nitrogen is also mobile. In that it doesn't go in and get locked into the soil. It can be leached out through irrigation. Further, Nitrogen uptake is condition dependant on soil pH.

As for the watering, how does the soil "feel"?

The dripper head you have there has the potential of a 10GPH flow rate spread out through 8 streams if wide open.

If the soil feels bogged, thatis loose, wet, thin, and muddy. Then yes, you are likely overwatering. But, if you can ball up some soil, drop it to the ground, and it crumbles then are likely in good shape. Unless under heavy respiratory stresses from heat, hops only require average watering needs of 1" per week. But that is really difficult to determine with a point source dripper. Thus, just bear in mind that the soil should be "moist" to the touch. Not "wet".

Hope this helps and doesn't confuse.

 

[EricT]

"absorb nitrogen" isn't really the issue in that it does not act like a sponge for nitrogen (later releasing it into the soil). In fact, the microbes at work decomposing the wood are what consume the nitrogen and the risk is taht they tend to use a LOT of Nitrogen to do their work. The faster they work, the more nitrogen they consume, the more they consume, the less available for the plant.

But, in reality, hops don't need much nitrogen in this phase of their growth cycle. In fact, the majority of hop plant uptake of Nitrogen occurs prior to cone set after which 1/3 to 1/2 of the nitrogen found in hops is locked into the cones. Also, and to further confound the ametuer nitrogen is also mobile. In that it doesn't go in and get locked into the soil. It can be leached out through irrigation. Further, Nitrogen uptake is condition dependant on soil pH.

As for the watering, how does the soil "feel"?

The dripper head you have there has the potential of a 10GPH flow rate spread out through 8 streams if wide open.

If the soil feels bogged, thatis loose, wet, thin, and muddy. Then yes, you are likely overwatering. But, if you can ball up some soil, drop it to the ground, and it crumbles then are likely in good shape. Unless under heavy respiratory stresses from heat, hops only require average watering needs of 1" per week. But that is really difficult to determine with a point source dripper. Thus, just bear in mind that the soil should be "moist" to the touch. Not "wet".

Hope this helps and doesn't confuse.

Thanks Gila, the Soil feels pretty good now, its just moist. I changed my watering to 4 days. The heads are set at a much lower flow rate, not sure how much but its enough to saturate all the soil and drip out the bottom. If your familiar with them the diameter is about 8" when on. Hopefully a good soaking twice a week will keep the hops happy.