Watering dried-out pots
Hi all, with the current hot, dry spell some of us are experiencing (no significant rain here for 2-3 weeks), I though I'd share my method of watering pots in which the compost has dried out a lot and shrunk, so when you water them it all runs straight down the sides and out of the bottom!
While the best method is undoubtedly to stand the pots on a tray of water for at least 30 minutes, it's often not practical and is time consuming.
My tip is to create a slurry of multi-purpose compost by mixing a few handfuls of MP compost into a watering can and removing the rose. When you now water this mixture into the pot, the compost slurry will run into, and quickly block, the gap at the edge of the pot thus allowing the water to soak through much more slowly. Keep stirring or swirling the slurry about while you pour it in so that it comes out of the spout well-mixed and doesn't settle in the watering can.
Posts
Brilliant Bob!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fantastic tip Bob and just what I needed. My pots seem to be drying out so quickly even with regular watering, I think the compost I bought is rubbish!!
Thank you
Sounds a good plan, Bob...
phone dragons den
Good tip! I shall be squirrelling that one away!
clever stuff Bob
In the sticks near Peterborough
Will have to give this a go - thanks Bob!
another great way that makes the water absorb into the compost is put a tiny squirt of washing up liquid into the watering can- give it a stir with a stick- then water yoru hanging baskets and pots. Harmless to the plants.
great tip Bob thanks.