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How often do you water your minis?

13 years ago

Mine are newly planted young mini-smalls (planted bare root last October.) Someone's "they absolutely cannot dry out" advice rings in my ears, but at the same time I don't want to over water them either. If the soil is damp (but not wet) when I poke my finger down should I wait, or water?

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Comments (5)

Teresa_MN
13 years ago
I have not had much luck with the dwarf or mini hostas..... regardless of the amount of attention they get.
georgia-rose
13 years ago
Those growing as edgers in beds, receive water along with other plants, often much less than 1 inch per week, during dry spells.
Those in pots, I usually water about once per week, except during the hot, dry days of summer and then 2-3 times per week.
I have about 300 Minis, maybe more, as I haven't inventoried this year.
The only ones that come to mind, that have been problems, are: Cat's Eye, Masquerade and Hi Ho Silver. They don't survive over winter for me. Tried several times. They may suffer from lack of moisture during the winter, as I don't water the herbaceous plants, after they go dormant.
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It depends on a lot of circumstances including the humidity in the air, the amount of leaves that are on the plant, where they are in their dormancy cycle, how big the bulbs are and what type of medium they are potted in. The simplest answer is to water them whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. When they are actively growing new leaves or stems, check quite often because they needs water to fill the expanding cells - during those times you can water even if it's not completely dry, which might be every 5 days or so. During this time I also let water sit in the tray and it gets drawn into the pot usually in less than a single day. When the leaves are mature and the plant is no longer blooming, water when it gets dry to the touch which might be every 2 weeks. When it's going dormant or has gone dormant, wait a little longer even after it's dry; it might be 4 weeks or you might water it just a single time during dormancy. Hippeastrums resent too much water and will do better getting a little less than they like than they will getting more than they like. They are good for people who often forget about their plants. The worst that happens is that the flower scape is shortened due to being too dry, or the bulb regenerates its size slower than it would otherwise.
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I would water most everything, though perhaps not cacti. But certainly Aeoniums.. .they need a lot of water in the winters anyway, and this year they sure aren't getting it from the weather. In your climate, I doubt you kill much of anything by watering, and most plants will like it (Agaves for the most part will appreciate it). Jades certainly like water this time of year.
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Here in Houston, we're having record heat (up to 105 a few days ago) AND we're in the middle of a -18" drought (worst since 1956). I'm watering at first light and right after sundown during the week. On weekends when I'm home I'll give a mid-day watering, as well. Leaves are STILL brown and crunch and hardly any blooms are intact on my Nikko, Mdm Emilloire, Masjas, T&S, ES and Nantucket blue, which get a lot of sun and the last 3 are in pots. The ASB, Trophee and Oregon Pride which are in the ground and get less sun are doing fine (though all their blooms are white or nearly white... not sure what's up with that). So, depends on the situation. It's not possible to overwater them right now where I am.
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Oh yes, it is red clay. Rock hard, concrete-like red clay to be exact. When I first started the garden 3 years ago, I tilled down about 12 inches into the clay (took several days)and added some pine bark fines (soil conditioner) and a lot of compost to try and fluff up the soil some. But when you consider in planting deep, there was only a couple of inches of "soft soil" under the plants. Believe me when I way it sounds easier than it was. But it was worth it. Now the worms have taken over and helped to aerate the soil and it is not too bad now. One good thing about clay though is that it holds water and nutrients very well. You have to keep a good layer of mulch to keep the top layer from crusting though. On the reverse, compaction can be a big problem, which is why my planting beds are mounded so that I don't walk in them. Maybe one year I can talk the wife into letting me make some good raised beds. jj
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hosta_freak
13 years ago
As many here know,I don't water my hostas at all. God does that for me. I don't have many minis,anyhow. Phil
jel48
13 years ago
I'm not a big waterer either, unless they're in pots. The potted ones get watered 3-4 times a week if it doesn't rain on them. My other hostas generally get watered only if it's really really dry, OR if I've put new plants in a garden bed and don't want to spot water for fear of inviting the maple roots to strangle the new plants. In that case, I water the entire bed.

The minis haven't been watered yet this season.
alyciaadamo
13 years ago
I only water my minis when the soil in my other beds look cracked and dried(usually the mini bed starts to look like it is dry).The rain does the rest. All my minis/smalls are in the same bed and all are fairing pretty well (well except the tiny tiny seedling I got that was supposed to be a decent plant for 18 bucks!). They are also in shade by 11 am. All were planted last fall and this spring. The ones that wintered over actually look better than the ones planted this year.

But I am no expert. I am just a newbie.

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