UNDERSTAND WATERING NEEDS FOR CONTAINER GARDENING BEGINNERS

Understanding the watering techniques for container plants, and applying them sounds easy or complicated. However, watering is an important factor in plant growth. The plant’s health and life mostly depend on watering in container gardening, overwatering leads to root rot, and underwatering dries out the plant.

People who in gardening for years and years understand, learn and apply watering tricks to their plants but as a beginner watering sounds complicated to you. Even I have got a record of loss of plants due to overwatering and underwatering. Maybe it sounds unprofessional but trying different soil types, potting mixes and tools always have a problem in watering.

But understanding what your plant watering needs with the signs and giving the exact watering helps the plant thrive and makes you a happy gardener. In this Blog, you gonna explore and learn about watering techniques and how to understand plant needs. Stay calm read fully and save your plants and make them thrive in your garden.

Types of Plant

Try to understand, that every plant type is different and their watering needs as well. Edible plant pot dries quickly because of the production of veggies, herbs and fruits, also edible plants have shorter lifespans than foliage plants so they grow faster, and need more water. Flowers need less water than edibles, heat-tolerant plants (succulents, cacti and some hardy plants) and low-maintenance plants require less water because of their slow growth and they store water in their waxy stems so they don’t need frequent watering.

Container size and material

If you having a succulent in a 6-inch pot and having the same succulent in a 12-inch pot are not the same. Of course, they require less water but having bigger plants in bigger pots means they have bigger roots and a lot more soil than small pots. So, you need to water more for bigger plants and water them only if you feel the soil is dry.

Also, metal pots dry quickly in hot weather because they absorb heat, the same thing happens in cold weather they absorb cold so require less water in cold weather. Terracotta/Clay and fabric grow bags are highly porous, which makes the water evaporate quickly these pots are beneficial for cacti and succulents who prefer well-drain soil. Plastic pots are low porosity water, overwatering in plastic pots without drainage holes leads to root rot and fungal attacks in roots. But the preferable choice for moist-loving plants. Ceramics are similar to plastic-coated pots with no porosity to hold moisture.

Soil Types

Using well-drained soil with perlite-like materials quickly absorbs the water and dries out faster. Light-weighted soils also dry out quickly because of their porous nature.

Heavy soils like garden soil, red soil and soil that could be used in ground gardening are naturally less porosity soil hold moisture with a muddy texture. Soil with water retention materials like cocopeat, pine park and mulching hold and retain moisture. This kind of soil prevents water evaporation so don’t dry out quickly.

Climate and weather conditions

In simple words, if your weather is hot, dry and arid you need to water at least thrice a week and check the plants daily if you see dry soil water it. In cold weather like rainy, cold and high humidity places you don’t have to water frequently just put your finger on the soil and you feel dry water, if you feel the soil stick to your finger don’t water.

2. SIGNS YOUR PLANTS NEED WATER

We all speak different languages, some of us speak sign language, and we’ve read books about body language and love languages. Plants have their language to express their condition. Lushy leaves plants are the sign of a happy plant. For there are signs of underwatering plants let’s note this and solve it if you face this.

Wilting leaves

A dull leaf with yellowish and brownish shade. You can easily identify the wilted leaf in a plant it looks unlively and infected. Wilted leaves are a sign that your plant doesn’t get enough water. Also, you can identify the wilted leaf by touch and feel the leaf lose its firmness.

Soil dryness

A visible sign of underwatering is noticing a crack between the pot and the plant. Dry soil is always a sign of not getting enough water, the reasons are underwatering, root bound, and plant stress. But the point is the plant needs watering a deep watering.

Leaf colour change

Whatever the colour of your plant (don’t say all plants are green) you notice a colour fade or brownish crisp in the leaf. It is a sign that plants need water. Browning edges in plants are also a sign that your plant not getting enough water.

3. BEST WATERING TECHNIQUES FOR CONTAINER GARDENS

Bottom watering vs Top Watering

Bottom watering is a method you put your pots with drainage holes in a wide bowl of water and let them sit until the plant absorbs water till top later. This a slower method but beneficial for delegating small plants and seedlings in this method the plant is not affected by the pressure of watering and prevents soil compaction.

Top watering is a usual watering method by watering cans or hose nozzles, watering on the top is quick watering method a time saver. Also, you can clean the plants to clear the small insects. Top watering with watering tools is an easy and efficient method for gardeners.

Slow and deep watering

It is a method or practice for plants that dry out quickly or have trouble absorbing water. Try to water in the morning so the water on top of the soil doesn’t evaporate and the plants can absorb the water. Watering slowly using a soaker hose and waiting until you see the water come out in the bottom drainage holes are also slow and deep watering.

Drip irrigation

If you’ve many plant collections and have less time to care setting up a drip irrigation is a good idea. You can set up yourself with the guide or you can reach out professional help. Once you are done setting drip irrigation all you have to do is turn on the pipe and set a timer based on your plant’s size it’s a less-pressure watering method and deep watering as well.

Self-watering pots

A simple mechanism is a pot with a drainage hole with a water-absorbing thread with a bottom tray that can be filled with water. These pots soil absorb water through the thread once they feel dry. Choosing a quality pot is important also checking and cleaning the watering trays is important.

4. FREQUENCY OF WATERING

The first disclaimer as a plant person, you can’t schedule watering, because if you have a combination of plants like edibles, shade-loving, heat-tolerant and succulents. You can’t water them on one particular day. Some of them dry quickly, and some don’t water with schedule only leads to underwater or overwatering. some plants dry quickly, and some don’t water with schedule.

Instead, you can arrange plants with similar watering and sunlight needs together, so you can identify the watering frequency and water them on the same day. Also, having the same watering needed for plants can work for frequency water. Still, you need to see the soil if you don’t feel the soil dry touch it still damp or moist don’t water.

Seasonal Changes

The weather also has an impact on the plant’s moisture. In dry and hot weather water evaporates dry quickly. So, you need to water the plants more frequently in summer.

In spring, plants grow actively but spring showers may happen so water it mildly. In winter the weather is dry but a cold climate leads to moisture storage in plants, try to keep indoors and water only if you feel dry. In monsoons, if you place the pots in open areas, try to move them into shelters, excess rain leads to soggy soil and monsoons have high humidity so water only if you feel the dry soil.

Morning or Evening Watering

Morning watering is the best watering because the water doesn’t evaporate and excess water also dries slowly throughout the day. In evening watering, the potting mix holds moisture and leads to mould.

5. HOW TO IMPROVE WATER RETENTION IN POTS

If you have a plant that loves moist soil you should improve water retention or you need water retention in quick dry climates.
Using mulch to keep the soil water retention, by avoiding water evaporation.
Using water-retentive soil mixes like Cocopeat, peat moss, and compost.
Using organic slow-release fertilizers doesn’t emit heat so avoid synthetic fertilizers that make the soil heat.
Adding leca balls also helps to retain moisture.

6. DEALING WITH DRAINAGE ISSUES

Proper watering is included with proper drainage because poor drainage leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Using pots with proper drainage holes drains out the excess water so no water logging.
Using a well-drained soil mix helps to avoid drainage issues in pots.
If you don’t have drainage holes or you can’t make holes in the pot it is better to use the double pot method.
Putting a pot with bigger drainage holes inside a pot without drainage holes with some pebbles or clay balls.

7. TOOLS FOR EFFICIENT WATERING

Having quality watering tools improves the precision of watering.
Choosing tools based on your needs and comfort also improves the watering efficiency
If you don’t have a nearby watering source (tab), you can adapt watering cans with long spouts and watering spikes.
Having too many plants, and watering source setup a drip irrigation saves time.
Watering hoses also reduce the time when you you don’t have gardening hose attach hose nozzles, but you need a nearby water source.

CONCLUSION

I hope you get some ideas and understanding about how to water effectively and precisely through this Blog Post. Following these steps, prevent your plant from suffering two main issues underwatering and overwatering.

Losing a plant means losing our mind, upsetting. Knowing these little stuffs helps you be a good gardener with less stress about plant health. Solving watering issues and learning about watering is one step to your success in container gardening.

Tell me about the watering problem that you encounter first. Mine is I overwater a hardy succulent and almost suffered the plant to death. Check out my other articles about container gardening and tell me what you want to know about container gardening.