| Watering Tricks |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-213 |
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Q: Can you help me find a shortcut to watering my plants? A: (Jessie Mack Burns, Ask DIYGardening expert) If you put your plant in the right type of pot, it will practically water itself. There are self-watering containers, for example, that have a reservoir in the bottom. You keep water in the reservoir and the plant draws up what it needs when it needs it. There are also pulleys that allow you to reel a hanging pot down where you can water it (figure A) and then pull it back up into place again.
You can make the containers you already have self-watering. One gadget (figure B) includes a reservoir that you place in the bottom of the pot; a tube allows you to fill the reservoir from above the soil (figure C). Another version allows you to clip a reservoir onto the side of a terra-cotta pot. It's connected to a hollow plastic "carrot" by some plastic tubing. You fill the reservoir and then insert the carrot into the soil. The carrot absorbs water from the reservoir, via the tubing, as needed.
Watering tubes do the same job. They come in nice blown-glass (figure D) or less expensive plastic versions (figure E). You fill the bulb with water and then insert the slender stem into the soil of the plant, with the bulb portion upright. The plant draws more water down the tube from the bulb as it needs it. The plastic watering tubes are best for outdoor plants.
If you have numerous plants and plan to be away for a time, you may want to consider a capillary mat. It utilizes a rectangular plastic tray, which you fill with water and then top with a mat (figure F). The sides of the mat dangle into the water and wick it up to provide a moist surface where you can place your plants. The water should last a few weeks.
And should you neglect to water a plant until it's thoroughly dried out? Dunk the entire pot into a tub of water and let it sit for a while (figure G). Once the soil is completely saturated (usually when bubbles stop rising to the surface of the water in the tub), let the pot drain before putting it back where it was.
More Questions for Jessie:
Q: What is the best way to care for pink begonias?
A: If they have green leaves, don't put them in full sun. If they have dark-red leaves, give them full sun.
Q: I planted centipede grass and am now noticing large dead circles. What could be causing the grass to die?
A: It sounds like some neighborhood pets might be using your yard for a potty!
Q: Are there waterlilies that will grow indoors? I have a small pond in my dining room that gets afternoon sun.
A: The kind that grow in shade may grow indoors, but they probably won't give you enough blooms to make it worthwhile. Books: Water-Wise Gardening
By editors of Dorling Kindersley Publishing
ISBN: 0789441616
Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc. (1999)
DK Publishing Inc.
95 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-213-4800
Fax: 212-213-5240
Web site: www.dk.com Practical Encyclopedia of Garden Techniques
By Jonathan Edwards
ISBN: 0754806936
Lorenz Books
27 West 20th St.
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 800-354-9657
Fax: 212-807-6813
Web site: www.lorenzbooks.com
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