skip to main content

How can I understand that It's time for watering?

7 years ago

How can I understand that It's time for watering?

Featured Answer

habjolokia z 6b/7

7 years ago

Takes practice. In containers, some wait until the leaves start to droop, and calculate from the last watering to when they droop then use that as a loose marker for how many days before watering. Others use a wooden chopstick/skewer poke it in the soil and if it comes up clean they water if it has soil stuck to it the soil has enough moisture. Some lift the pot while it's dry then water lift it again and know the weight difference when they lift the pot to know when to water.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

aniajs
7 years ago
Smaller plants you can kind of poke your finger down into the soil and feel how wet it is the further down you get. Older plants you can observe them and get a "feel" for the first subtle signs of leaf droop, though that can be deceptive because some plants will droop a little during the hottest part of the day and then pop back up again in the evening. If they don't recover in the evening, you will want to water them. A little droop, a little wilting, is not the end of the world, but you don't want them to get totally wilted because that can trigger all sort of undesirable things like blossom drop, aborted fruit, and can really stunt the plant and set it back.

If you can pick up the container, do so, and you'll get a feel for the weight difference between a plant that has just been watered and one that is pretty much dry. But keep in mind that you'll have to do so all season because as the plant grows older it's mass will increase.
baran_yetkin thanked aniajs
Related Discussions
I might never understand the concept but I buy into it!
Q
Comments (1)
I saw 2 at Lowe's here in Wichita lastnite also,but I'm tapped out for room,I cannot get another big plant anywhere,it's hard enough to water now in my greenhouses and sunroom,but I did buy a sago palm for a buck and a couple lemon button ferns. I have 2 spindles that I bought last year reaching over 6 ft now,they have doubled in size,didn't know they would grow that fast.
...See More
Am rooting clippings in l gal pots,how much do I water lst time?
Q
Comments (4)
Have rooted cuttings in 15-gallon tubs, with no problem. Gave them a good watering the fist time and then kept a good eye on them so they donÂt dry out. Make sure the soil doesnÂt get cold and stays warm. The soil should drain very well; added Coca hulls and course sand with Perlit. Followed P 101 recommendations as well. Large containers seem to work well and the cuttings grew fast and all flowered in 18 to 20 months. Good luck, MB
...See More
How long can I "hold" cooked pasta in its cooking water?
Q
Comments (9)
The latter. From rolling boil cook for two minutes then drain, shock in ice water, drain, stir in just enough olive oil to coat, put in fridge until needed. Supposedly can be held for up to six hours, but I've never gone that long. It can cook more quickly than expected after that, so start checking after a minute or two. Another method which I've never tried is a cold soak. Soak the pasta in cold water anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours, pull it out and cook as needed. Supposedly this pasta only takes a minute to cook. Are you anticipating cooking individual servings as the guests arrive? That's the only reason I'd see for using either of these methods. Either way you have to boil the pasta, so unless you want to feed them the moment they walk in the door what does it matter if the pasta takes one minute to cook or twelve? If it's a sit-down dinner I'd just have a big pot of water waiting at barely a simmer so that you can bring it to a boil quickly when needed.
...See More
Can I stain over Thompson's Water Sealer, or must I strip it?
Q
Comments (28)
Are you sure the "Water Seal" you refer to is an oil based (requiring a petrochemical to clean the brushes and NOT soap and water)? Is it "transparent" and has no color listed or shown on the can? There is no need to "strip" or "sand" the Thompson's Oil based TRANSPARENT Water seal Product because the paraffin soaks into the wood and is not on the surface. It has no pigments in it that rest on top of the wood. Therefore there should be no "peeling" or "chipping" of the surface and no obvious wear other than wear to the wood itself, usually near stairs and door and very slight in most instances. If its the Thompson Oil Based Transparent product you used, there is no need to strip or sand. You may want to clean the surface (IF it is visibly in need of it) with something like diluted Clorox Exterior house cleaner to remove pollen, dust, dirt and any surface mildew (mildew spores are transported by the wind and there is always some on the surface, although it probably hasn't "stuck" to it. Its basically a spray or brush on job and rinse with a garden hose. Let it dry fully for at least a day (two is better). then you can apply your new oil based deck product. I suggest you wait at least one full year for the beading of water to stop and even two years is OK. My front deck got the Thompson's two years ago and I will stain it with an oil based stain this year. It requires minimal cleaning....I may just use a garden hose with a firemen's nozzle. The deck gets full sun all morning so mildew is very hard pressed to survive there. Best stain, IMO are oil based TWP. The main thing to watch for is to avoid "soap and water cleanup" because that is a water based, possibly latex deck product. You wouldn't think to put latex paint on your indoor hardwood. Latex wears like crap to foot traffic. A true stain soaks the color deep into the wood and is not a "paint pigment" that sits on top of the wood. The whole problem with deck preservation has been caused by the VOC controversy which tossed a lot of good products out of the market by legislation. The emphasis on water based products opened the door for a lot of "new" water products with "paint stains" which are not stains at all. Unfortunately, those products require stripping because they wear out fast, leaving some areas bare and have adhesion problems as they age. Stripping is more work than the refinishing. ALWAYS google the Material Safety Data Sheet of the product you are considering so you know exactly what it is. Be careful that most big box stores sales clerks are "selling" what the store has in stock. That is why they get paid. The best products used by Contractors are available through building supply vendors that cater to builders and carpenters and not the general public consumer. They do not refuse to sell to the general public, but "quality" is their life blood, not quantity of sales based on huge purchasing contracts supplying a nationwide chain. Wish you good luck. Don't be swayed by the claims of 6 year and 10 year lifespans. If its a water based paint pigment product, it will look like hell for half of those claimed "lifespans", Most people would prefer a true stain that can be reapplied easily without having to strip the deck. And. if you have to strip the deck, how do you strip the railings and balusters? I've done it....took a pressure washer and two days to complete. Then I started reading and wised up on the number of really crummy products that are available, being pushed by big box stores and consumer agencies that prioritize water based over oil because of an "environmental" bias. The idea behind using an initial Thompson's Oil Based Transparent on a new deck comes from a highly ethical, lifelong contractor/carpenter who needed a workable solution for customers who couldn't decide how they wanted there decks treated during an age of great confusion. The Thompson Transparent has an effective anti-fungal and gives good service up to two years. When you compare to other oil based products costing three times as much, many of them also recommend restaining after two years. BTW, oil based paraffin products do not support fungus.
...See More
Anthony H
7 years ago
Stick your fingers about 4 inches deep in the soil. If your fingers come out clean, with not dirt/mud sticking on them, WATER. You should water heavily a couple days a week, rather than light water more frequently. Hope this helps.
baran_yetkin thanked Anthony H
tfoster802002
7 years ago
or for 4 dollars at Wal-Mart you can get a watering gauge.. :D
baran_yetkin thanked tfoster802002
Dan Roberts
7 years ago
Im one of those that let my plants droop before watering, as long as i can moniter them multiple times daily. Beware though, i had a very young plant go from fine to very nearly "melting" all the leaves as i call it, in about 75 minutes. But if its been rooted outside for a while they wont go nearly so fast. During summer in my region, (7 i think, NW NC mountains) that means i water generously about evey 10 days to supplement the 3.25" of rain per month. This is my third season growing, and i do it this way simply because they really take off the few days before they cry for water, compared to a more moderate growth rate around day 4/5.
baran_yetkin thanked Dan Roberts
northeast_chileman
7 years ago
Dan Roberts

Im one of those that let my plants droop before watering, as long as i can moniter them multiple times daily. Beware though, i had a very young plant go from fine to very nearly "melting" all the leaves as i call it, in about 75 minutes.

Been there - Done that

Waited a bit too long......

But the plant recovered nicely.
baran_yetkin thanked northeast_chileman
Dan Roberts
7 years ago
Oh no!!!! Yep that was my plant. I saved him just in time too!
baran_yetkin thanked Dan Roberts
centexan254 zone 8 Temple, Tx
7 years ago
If the leaves droop in the cool part of the morning it needs watering before the heat kicks up. If one is getting root bound it may need watering twice a day in peak heat if you are in an area that sees triple digit heat by noon. In ground or a very large container are another thing altogether.
baran_yetkin thanked centexan254 zone 8 Temple, Tx
isgen
7 years ago
In containers, I like to go by weight, relatively easy to judge after some time doing it. If you misjudge and wait a bit too long and the plant wilts a bit, you always have the option to move it in the shade while it drinks and recovers, so not too hard. I prefer giving container plants a good soak when needed, rather than frequent small-quantity watering, as you may only wet the top of the soil column and risk stressing the lower part of the root system. Good drainage of both medium and contain is primordial.

In the ground, I think it's much harder to over-water, unless the soil has unusually high water retention, so go ahead and give it a bit of a drink if you're uncertain. You just have to level this versus past and coming rainfall.
baran_yetkin thanked isgen
chris051443
7 years ago
It's all about judging your soil

If you find it dries out too quick add some coco coir on top to retain moisture.coco coir also absorbs moisture from the humidity in the air much like the roots .

Bottom line everyones soil is different so you be the judge of what it looks like when it's drying out.

Don't wait for the leaves to droop that's going to stunt the growth greatly as the plants biochemistry has to adapt to low water levels

This is why people use coco coir

It is infact true you can keep certain plants in coco coir in non dry climate areas and never have to water them for months as long as the pot is fairly big. it will absorb and retain moisture.this is why grouping in big pots is good and it won't affect root growth.

Perfect coco coir mix is.

1 part Coco coir,.. 1 part organic compost,.. half a part non clay garden soil (must have)...
baran_yetkin thanked chris051443
northeast_chileman
7 years ago
I love it when OP never returns to their thread to thank all who offered help.
baran_yetkin thanked northeast_chileman
baran_yetkin
Original Author
7 years ago
Sorry guys, my e-mail reminder never worked on this thread. Thank you all for these precious helps.

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN To Manage Stormwater Sustainably, Understand Your Site

By Falon Mihalic

Follow this guide to learn how water moves through your landscape and how best to manage it

WORKING WITH PROS Understand Your Site Plan for a Better Landscape Design

By Falon Mihalic

The site plan is critical for the design of a landscape, but most homeowners find it puzzling. This overview can help

LIFE 21 Things Only People Living With Kids Will Understand

By Mitchell Parker

Strange smells, crowded beds, ruined furniture — here’s what cohabiting with little monsters really feels like

REMODELING GUIDES Energy-Efficient Windows: Understand the Parts

By Lindsey M. Roberts

You can save money and energy with today's windows — but first you need to know all the window parts and types

DECORATING GUIDES 15 Bite-Size Home Projects You Can Tackle in No Time

By Laura Gaskill

See how getting little decorating, cleaning and organizing tasks done can add up to a big sense of accomplishment

WORKING WITH PROS Construction Contracts: How to Understand What You Are Buying

By Ventana Construction LLC

Learn how plans, scope of work and specifications define the work to be completed

LIFE The Polite House: How Can I Kindly Get Party Guests to Use Coasters?

Here’s how to handle the age-old entertaining conundrum to protect your furniture — and friendships

LIFE The Polite House: How Can I Tell a Construction Crew to Pipe Down?

If workers around your home are doing things that bother you, there’s a diplomatic way to approach them

MODERN ARCHITECTURE Architecture: How Details Can Make All the Difference

By Spry Architecture

To know what makes a home design a hit — or near miss — you've got to understand this key ingredient

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Tips to Start a Garden — Can-Do Ideas for Beginners

By Alison Hodgson

Green up your landscape even if you're short on time, money and knowledge, with these manageable steps for first-time gardeners

Sponsored

AAE Bathroom Remodeler

Franklin County's Custom Kitchen & Bath Designs for Everyday Living