How do you water your plants? Indoors and in the greenhouse.

I have a lot of plants, and how I water them is taking each and every one to the bathroom sink, fill three times, then set them in the bath tub to drain. The problem is, of course I can't keep doing this...because I just have so many plants it's becoming a hassle. I'm about to switch my dirt, and then I'll be watering even more...
How do you water your plants when you have so many? Hopefully I'll be building a greenhouse soon, and I'm wanting to make some sort of thing that catches the water that falls down/ drains out so that I can reuse it. Anyone have anything like this? And do you water from the bottom or top? How do you avoid water splatters on the leaves ( burning in the sun )?

First - it's an oft repeated myth that water spots on leaves cause burning when the sun shines through the water droplets. No matter how frequently the myth is parroted, the fact is that it's a physical impossibility that the water droplets can focus the sun's rays & burn the plant, so you can eliminate that concern.

Watering from the bottom ensures that salts from fertilizer solutions and those dissolved in tap water are left behind. The accumulation of salts and over-watering, two issues that often go hand in hand and accompany the use of heavy, water-retentive soils, are the number one cause of spoiled foliage. Watering from the top, as you are, until at least 10-20% of the total volume of water you applied exits the drain hole, ensures that salts are being continually flushed from the soil, and will not be able to accumulate, making it the healthiest way to water.

I have about 200 plants indoors under lights - all in a very fast draining and gritty soil. I use a plastic plate under each to catch run off, and I have the pot setting on plastic channels about 2" long, so the soil cannot ever contact the effluent (drained water). This is important because if the plant is left to rest in its own effluent, the water in the collection vessel soon reaches a state of isotonicity (equal amount of salt in the water in the soil and the water in the collection saucer), undoing most of the benefit derived from flushing the soil.

After I water, since the soil never contacts the effluent, I simply allow it to remain in the collection saucer, from which it evaporates before the next watering, adding valuable humidity to the air - no carrying plants back & forth to the sink required.

Al

I was silently hoping you'd see this thread! Thanks a lot!

Al, do you have a picture of the plastic channels? I can't visualize it. Thanks!

Here's one:

Al

..... and another:

The water drains from the pot into the collection saucer, usually a plastic plate. I don't even bother discarding the effluent (drainage water) because it just evaporates. The channels (about 1"x1"x2") raise the pot above the effluent, ensuring the flushed salts can't get back into the soil.

Watering is actually an art. A bonsai apprentice who might travel to Japan and work for a master (like a slave - no pay) might never even touch a master's tree until he has learned to water properly - it is considered THAT important.

In order to water your plants in an ideal manner, it REQUIRES that you use a soil that drains freely enough that root rot cannot be a concern. The reason for this is that you would be watering to beyond the saturation point each time you water.

The ideal way to water your houseplants:

Slowly apply enough water to saturate the entire soil mass, but so very little water initially exits the drain hole. Wait 10 minutes and return to the plant and add more water. This second application should be somewhere near 20% of the total volume of water applied. The first application allows accumulating salts in the soil to go into solution. The second application flushes these salts from the soil. I can't emphasize strongly enough how important a low level of salts in the soil solution is to plant health and appearance. The higher the level of salts in the soil solution, the more difficult it is for the plant to absorb water AND the nutrients dissolved in the water. Your goal should be to keep all the essential nutrients that plants normally take from the soil available at all times, at the ratio in which plants use the nutrients, and at a level low enough to to facilitate water/nutrient uptake, but high enough to prevent (nutrient) deficiencies.

I know that sounds complicated, but it is very simple/easily done if you are using an appropriate soil. If you're not using a soil that lends itself to watering copiously every time you water without worry about root rot, it's much more complicated and time consuming, but still it CAN be done with the extra effort required.

The other Picture:

Al

This message was edited Dec 26, 2011 10:59 AM

This message was edited Dec 26, 2011 1:47 PM

Thanks, Al! Wow, pictures really do speak a thousand words. Did you make the plastic channels yourself? How could I get/make something like that?

Also, do you water differently if you're just watering vs watering with diluted fertilizer?

The channels come in 8' lengths and are used for vinyl siding applications. I just nested several lengths together and dropped a cut-off saw through them and cut them into about 2 or 2-1/2" lengths; but you can use your imagination and use anything that will raise your pots above the effluent.

I DO fertilize every time I water, with a weak fertilizer solution. I use just a little less than 1/4 tsp (about 12 drops) of Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 per gallon of water. It works exceptionally well for me, and my plants stay healthy all year long.

In the summer, when all plants are outdoors, I don't water any differently, even though I fertilize weekly then. I just have too many plantings in the summer to fertigate by hand every time I water. When plants are outdoors, I flush the containers with a hose each time I water and fertilize weekly when growth and temperatures warrant. Indoors, I maintain around 100-125 plants, & I can manage fertigating them by hand, every time I water.

Al

Hello Everyone,

Great information AL..

I also collect my rainwater in 20 gallon barrels for all of my plants and trees.

Plastic water caps. This lifts the pot up enough to allow the water not to settle back into the container. I collect the same type of water caps so that they are all the same size. I use four per pot and it seems do a great job.

I also use Al's Gritty Mix and i just love what it hs done for my trees and plants!!! When i water i do give just a little...I actually like to hear the fizzle when i give them water..sounds like they are in heaven..LOL then when im done, i go back and give a little more. The remaining water stays in the saucers but doesnt touch the containers. So, like Al has mentioned..it adds humidity to the area.

Hi AL!!! Just thought i would share what i use to lift my plants and to say that i really do love the mix...it's the best!!!

Hope this helps......

Take Care,

Laura

Ah, plastic water caps! Laura, that's brilliant!

Ain't she smart!? ;-) Hi, Laura! So nice to see you!

Use the tall caps though - the ones that are about an inch tall.

Al

Hello Everyone,

Thanks Guys... I just like to read and try new things...

I also use plastic plates that i use under my containers inside during the winter, i do water with a small container so that i can control the amount of water that flows through the end and not push the soil around to much. In the summer i use a great spray nozzle with a small rose that allows me to water the containers in a soft manner. I did have issues before i found this attachment. : )

In the summer, i do take the hose and spray down all of my trees and give them a good amount of cleaning in the morning before the heat of the day. This helps clean up any pest that may be forming on the leaves and i can give them the once over as i water each one. They dont have any saucers when they are outside during the summer.

Al mentioned about not worring about water spots and burn. I have never had this problem and he is right about it being a myth. If anything i think they like the moisture and the attention that we give to them. What a perfect time to see and look at each plant and really see what its needs are!!!

I find that it is my time to relax when im looking at them and taking care of them.

TreeRoots, I certainly agree that it is alot of work taking and bringing the containers to and from the sink or tub. I would be doing that all day and night!! LOL..

Al is a great teacher and you all will learn so much from him. I am still learning and continue to enjoy all that he has to share!!!!

Those bottle caps do a great job!! LOL... Al, thanks!! Nice to see you too!

I posted a picture of one of ny Desert Roses in the Gritty Mix!!! It really loves this mix!!! : )

Take care,

Laura

One thing I also do - and I have over seventy plants - is try to keep them grouped by similar care/watering needs. It isn't a perfect solution (I have one flowering plant in my succulent window that needs watering more frequently than the succulents it's grouped with, for example) but it does help me keep an eye on them.