Need help with my plants
- Thread starter pipelover
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GreenLogician
Well-Known Member
Soil? Wait until the pot weighs significantly less before watering again.
Water 'fully' each time, don't do little top ups.
Water slowly, and a 'full' watering is when water starts coming out the bottom.
This standard will lead you astray if the water isn't soaking in evenly, like if you have gaps between the pot and the soil that the water can rush down.
Or, if you let it get too dry, the soil can turn 'hydrophobic' and repel water a bit, such that thin paths of water will form and it will come out the bottom while there are still dry patches in the soil. If you let it dry out too much like this, water super slowly, or submerge the soil in water for a minute, so water soaks into those dry patches.
Water 'fully' each time, don't do little top ups.
Water slowly, and a 'full' watering is when water starts coming out the bottom.
This standard will lead you astray if the water isn't soaking in evenly, like if you have gaps between the pot and the soil that the water can rush down.
Or, if you let it get too dry, the soil can turn 'hydrophobic' and repel water a bit, such that thin paths of water will form and it will come out the bottom while there are still dry patches in the soil. If you let it dry out too much like this, water super slowly, or submerge the soil in water for a minute, so water soaks into those dry patches.
dtl420
Well-Known Member
I suffer this issue with my organic plant. A good way to remedy this is to water directly on the base of the stalk slowly and stop before the water pools and runs to the edge of the pot. The let it drain for a few minutes then repeat. Eventually the water will moisten paths through the top couple of inches of dry soil without shedding all the way to the edges of the soil. I then continue watering till I start to see some runoff. If I just try to flood it with a gal of water, like you said, it runs right down the side of the soil and drains through the sides of the fabric pot.
What personally works for me is as follows.
My plants are in buckets that have large holes drilled in them and they sit in rubbermaid tubs.
I water until the overflow in the tubs is a couple of inches above the bucket drain holes.
Then I let them sit for 10-15 minutes & then with a wet/dry vac suck up all the water in the tubs.
I'll let them sit for another 10 or so & vacuum again.
I find I get no dry spots in the soil & I haven't had any problems with mould etc...
Ablaze
Well-Known Member
If you are asking the question, then you're watering too much. If it's only a couple of inches tall, it may only need to be watered once a week.
Ok, My ocd forced me to edit the thread and change "Pants" into "Plants".
I know it was just one letter but it was driving me nutz.
I know it was just one letter but it was driving me nutz.
GreenLogician
Well-Known Member
Cool, I do that too dtl420 and GreatwhiteNorth 
I have fabric pots and water them with successive puddles on top, as dtl420 said. Sometimes my soil makes a nice concave dish shape on top making that easier and easier.
Then I have them sitting in an inch or two of runoff for a minute or two, before draining it
For small pots I place them in a water collecting dish, on a metal grate covering a bucket. I empty the dish into the bucket when I'm confident they are well soaked.
For big immovable pots I don't have a wet/dry vac, but I'm doing alright with a big 200ml syringe to collect runoff - I also like to let them sit in it deeply for a bit.
I have fabric pots and water them with successive puddles on top, as dtl420 said. Sometimes my soil makes a nice concave dish shape on top making that easier and easier.
Then I have them sitting in an inch or two of runoff for a minute or two, before draining it
For small pots I place them in a water collecting dish, on a metal grate covering a bucket. I empty the dish into the bucket when I'm confident they are well soaked.
For big immovable pots I don't have a wet/dry vac, but I'm doing alright with a big 200ml syringe to collect runoff - I also like to let them sit in it deeply for a bit.
charface
Well-Known Member
I almost watered my pants reading that. Lshiawmp
dtl420
Well-Known Member
Same here. the soil settles perfectly in a mote around the stalk. Sometimes when she gets really thirsty I have to use my hands and tuck a little soil around the rim. That's why I've been using more coco, it drains so well!Cool, I do that too dtl420 and GreatwhiteNorth
I have fabric pots and water them with successive puddles on top, as dtl420 said. Sometimes my soil makes a nice concave dish shape on top making that easier and easier.
Then I have them sitting in an inch or two of runoff for a minute or two, before draining it
For small pots I place them in a water collecting dish, on a metal grate covering a bucket. I empty the dish into the bucket when I'm confident they are well soaked.
For big immovable pots I don't have a wet/dry vac, but I'm doing alright with a big 200ml syringe to collect runoff - I also like to let them sit in it deeply for a bit.
My pants too wet ... help !!!!