H20

[WhiskeyT]

So how much water should I be giving these little rhizomes? I keep reading that they are thirsty little plants and then I read "don't drown them". So what's the happy medium?



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[GilaMinumBeer]

Keep the soil moist but not drenched for the rhisomes. a good way to test is to ball up some soil in your palm and drop it. If it won;t ball up it is too dry. And if it doesn;t fall apart when it hits the ground it's too wet.

Once the plants are leafed out is when they take up the mosty water. 1 Inch per week is good for an average. more "may" be needed when the plant is full and the air is dry and hot as it will respire a LOT of it's moisture. All you can do then it is watch it and water when it starts to look fatigued.

 

[B-Hoppy]

what he said. just enough to keep them from drying out. they, the rhizomes, have no way of USING a lot of water until they've established roots and are producing green foliage. the first year is probably the most critical as to watering as they are beginning to establish a solid root system. once established, that extensive root system is very active and more capable than many folks think when it comes to finding water when need be. long slow, soaking waterings are more preferable than a quick 'drench' as the roots will follow the water so if they find it close to the surface, they'll probably prefer to stay in that area and we'd like them to develop a nice deep root so as not to have to water as much.

 

[WhiskeyT]

Good bit of actionable advice folks, thanks for that.

 

[Airborneguy]

Quick add on question... I planted two rhizomes near a ditch which fills with rain, and its been raining a lot here. Will the proximity to this almost constantly wet area help with the establishment of a root system since there is always moisture in the dirt below the plants? I still occasionally water from the top of course.

 

[B-Hoppy]

most hops that you find growing in the wild are usually located very close to a water source (ditch, stream etc.). over time, these areas usually have a lot of stone/gravel type material deposited adjacent to them making an ideal place for the hops to establish. even though there's a lot of water nearby, there is also excellent drainage provided by the aggregate material in the soil.