I had the drip system in my court yard upgraded yesterday with a timer. I had it programmed to soak for ten minutes@ 6 am, 12 pm and 6pm. I looked outside at 12:56 and some of my plants were drooping, so I did a manual soak. Its so hot outside I am wondering if I should program it for 30 minute intervals. But I am afraid some of my plants might boil to death. Whats you guys take on this? What is some of your expirences?
Sylvia
Drip irrigation System
I've heard that when it's hot, it's just hot, and drooping leaves is a plant's mechanism to shut down water loss. It looks like they need more water, but they just can't take it in faster than they're losing it sometimes, so they just have to do the droop. It's easy to actually overwater them at times like that, so be sure to check the soil - is it really dry? If they perk back up in the evening, it's a sure sign heat was all it was.
I've also heard that sometimes it's better to water less often, but more deeply, encouraging the roots to grow deep so that they will tap in to that deep moisture, rather than staying nearer the surface, where they can get hot and dried out more easily.
Gee Maggie, thanks I think you just confirmed what the irrigation guy told me. He had me dig into the soil that looked really dry on top and I was amazed. So I was ok with that area. When I typed this post it was 12:56 and it was timed for 12:00. Hell I dont know what I thinking was supposed to happen. LOL this is my first with the timer....just had it installed saturday. Sure beats rushing home to water. What do you know about that Miracle Grow potting soil that is suppose to retain moisture? I still have about thirty pot out there that I water manually. I just wonder if I should trust that stuff.
Thanks
Sylvia
I bought a bag last year to try it and repotted one plant. I left the bag open during a storm. A few days later I grabbed a handfull of the mix and squeezed it. It was still so wet I was able to squeeze water out of it. I decided not to use it again. Used the rest of the contents as light mulch.
Veronica
I pretty much don't use Miracle Grow stuff, but I am a firm believer in using whater water retention measures can be taken in containers, as they dry out so much faster. So I actually bought some of that potting soil, it says it has coir as the water-retention ingredient (some people in the propagation forum swear by it for seed starting - it keeps the seeds moist, but doesn't drown them.) I used it in a large pot of double impatiens, a sweet potato, some torenia, and two planters of strawberries (three plants ea.) I have noticed that they truly do hold the moisture better, they don't have to be watered as often as the other containers. I'm impressed! Not sure if I'll repot my other stuff due to the price, but... I may re-pot some things that mean a lot to me.
Also, remember to mulch the containers, that also helps to prevent moisture loss (I need to do that, too!)