How do you deal with the excess water that drains out of the bottom of the container? I have plastic down. I have even put the pots in bags but water still ends up on the floor. I have also put them in a larger tub but space is valuable and it took up a lot of space. How do you deal with it?
a question for all of the soil growers
- Thread starter bigseand
- Start date
VICTORYGARDENSHYDRO
New Member
I use plastic trays, slightly larger then the pot, you should n't have anymore runoff then what the tray holds or your using crappy soil, or to much water.
check it out
http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Garden-Center-Planters/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhcZaqij/R-100533807/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
check it out
http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Garden-Center-Planters/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhcZaqij/R-100533807/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Canon
Well-Known Member
I bring them to the sink and water. Then let sit to drain and onto the tray in the room.
I always water to the point of run-off. I let them get bone dry inbetween too. Kind of a mini flush with each watering.
My ventilation draws lots of water so I need to do this 2-3 X / wk. (2.5 gal. clay pots)
I always water to the point of run-off. I let them get bone dry inbetween too. Kind of a mini flush with each watering.
My ventilation draws lots of water so I need to do this 2-3 X / wk. (2.5 gal. clay pots)
Spanishfly
Well-Known Member
It just falls out of the drain built into my roof terrace. Where I grow my girls.
darkdestruction420
Well-Known Member
i have a screen that i set the plant on that sits over a rubbermaid tote and then when im done watering all the plant and given them 15-20 minutes to drain and dump the excess out the window. Make sure your soil is wet all the way through, unless you go super overboard on watering it wont matter really if you water a little bit more than you actually needed to once in a while, the excess drains out on its own.
Little Tommy
Well-Known Member
I also use plastic catchers that are about 1" larger in diameter than the container. I use a turkey baster to suck up any runoff after about 30 minutes.
VICTORYGARDENSHYDRO
New Member
I know we call em girls, But showering with them, That's giving em some love.LMFAO
J/K DUDE!!!!
Spanishfly
Well-Known Member
Wish I could get one of mine in the shower with me.
I used to put them all in the tub and let it drain, but that is VERY time consuming. It would take a good 2-3 hours to bring out 50 plants and put them back in the room without trying to get water dripping out all over the carpet.
I went out to walmart and bought these tubs. they're like 3' x 1', and maybe 12" tall. Fit a good amount of plants, and as soon as theyre all watered, I just take a turkey baster (a good sponge will work too) and remove all the water from the trays so it doesnt sit there, put it back in the 5gal bucket, and just down the drain it goes
I went out to walmart and bought these tubs. they're like 3' x 1', and maybe 12" tall. Fit a good amount of plants, and as soon as theyre all watered, I just take a turkey baster (a good sponge will work too) and remove all the water from the trays so it doesnt sit there, put it back in the 5gal bucket, and just down the drain it goes
Oldgrowth
Well-Known Member
Here is what Ive used and set up a couple of buddies in there house with. Get yourself a nice heavyduty tarp like you would tie a load in back of your truck with. Ones I use are green on one side and white on the other. it needs to be about 2 foot bigger than your floor space. You will need 4 2x4s sized for your floor space. Lay out the tarp so there is a foot or so excess tarp all around. Take a 2x4 and roll the tarp over the 2x4. Do the same with the other 3 2x4s folding the corners over the 2x4s. Now you have a large square "pan" that will contain the water. You can water and let them drain and just suck up the excess water with a wet and dry shop vac.
skiweeds
Active Member
just get those plastic trey things that go under pots. you should be able to find ones that are not much wider than the container. if you let this go on, it could get serious. all that moisture on the floor is greatly promoting mold growth. you may want to even give your floor a quick bleach cleaning to kill anything that may be forming on a microscopic level.
personally i use 3 gallon grow bags that came with my kit from htgsupply.com . kinda nice you can adjust the height. i put a small layer of perlite on the bottom to help the bottom drain better, and help keep dirt from spilling out of the holes. i went to menards and got the plastic trey bases for pots which are about 1 ft in diameter. they work great. if it fills too much just switch with a dry one under and dump out the wet one.
however recently, i gave away a rejuvie and needed an extra pot so i went to walmart. sucked it was over $5 but i like it. it looked almost exactly like the pic here
http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/30620/2757784700066947068S425x425Q85.jpg
so far i like it. it has that little slot so you can just tip the pot. or like i seen another member posted, use a turkey baster. i actually thought of doing that myself to make things easier but just never got one. don't be afraid to be innovative and find things around your house if you want to do it cheaper. normally im not a fan of doing things the cheap way but i make exceptions here. if you have an old juice container you can cut the bottom off and leave it an inch high and simply place the pot on top and empty as needed. i do this for younger plants in smaller pots. if your starting out in Styrofoam cups put holes in the bottom for drainage. also put another cup under with no holes to catch drainage. good luck, im sure this problem will be easier to solve than you think.
skiweeds
Active Member
come on man give him a break. he came here for help, not to be told to use his brain.
assasinofyouth420
Well-Known Member
Or you could just use a turkey baster and a bucket if your tray overfills.
theClosetGrower
Member
Oversize plastic trays, deep (5"). This way I can water the plants from the bottom and a little from the top - makes a difference in my experience to feed from bottom up as it encourages root growth and a stronger plant.
theClosetGrower
Member
I just saw the deep trays (saucers) at Lowes for .99 a piece - 8" x 5".
NBKA
Active Member
But watering washes the bad stuff out of the soil, so after you water, you need to remove the wather that runs through it.