Most popular ways to water / and the danger of it

It seems now and threw the years the most popular method of watering and feeding African violets is from the bottom /wicking.
This does not just mean wicking but any form of watering and feeding from the bottom .
When watering from the bottom there may soon appear a puzzling white deposit on the top of the soil. Or you may be having problems with your plants foliage, or even blooming. Especially if the plants are in soil-less mix.
~ I want to talk about this and like it to go along with Joanne's food thread
and how using too much plnt food and even 1/4 of the amount can affect your African violets plants in bad ways...

Go one to page two please :))

I'd like to say I have been out of plant food for over a month and I use 1/4 recommened amount and my plants are looking more happy ! Not saying not to feed them but follow some simple steps in order to keep happy healthy plants.
The accumlation is salt, fertilizer, or rather "salts" . Not actual salt like in a salt shaker, but an accumulation of minerals left when the moisture evaporated after it reaches the top of the soil.
You may say well how could this happen I water from the bottom. I will explain to you in easy way how and easy way to fix this that can cause problems with your plants.Even save them from Ruin.
Water evaporates when exposed to the air. The liquid actually changes into gas when moving air passes over a wet surface. The percentage of moisture-water vapor in the air is measured as humidity. It's the same principle that causes the oceans of the World to be salty~
What does this have to do with my African violets you may wonder ? Plenty-if you can picture the top of your pot as the mouth of a stream of flowing water. Except the water has been flowing up !
What happens when you place a plant with dry soil in a pan of water ? The plant will soak it up right ? The soil soaks it up first . Once the soil is moist , the roots take a drink. From the roots, the water rises into the plant . It also rises around the plant until the soil will be soaked. Leave the pot in the water long enough the pot will be soaked. Why and how is this happening ?
This is the same physical reaction I'm sure we have all done in school or home. You take a limp, almost dry celery and place it in cold water. Soon the celery is crisp, and cold itslef. Why? The top of the stalk was almost dry when it was limp and warm. Where did this water in the top come from ? It rose up the capillary tubes of the celery stalk - the same tubes that fed the stalk while it was growing . The same thing that happened when you sat the dry pot in the water.
Water tends to rise above its own level through capillary attraction. This is the principle that anything moist, or wet, will tend to make eveything it touches moist or wet, until the moisture has exhausted.
The problem is with your African violet potted plant , once the moisture reaches the surface , it has no place else to go.
The passage of air evaporates the surface moisture .
But the evaporating liquid can only pass into vapor or gaseous state in their pure forms and the minerals-or salts-fertilzer-are left behind on the top of your plant pots.
These accumulated mineral deposits can harm your plants if it is washed down into the soil in heavy concentration. The safest thing to do is scrape it off the top soil right off.
The disolved fertilizer and water soluble food you have been feeding your plant does not all reach the roots of your plants. Some of it passes by by the roots and remains in the water that reaches the surface of the soil. As the water evaporates it is in the water ( like we talked about in one of Nanna's threads) that is on the top of your soil. Fertilizer and food does not Evaporates. there is lies in high concetration form on top of your pots.
Get rid of it, it is too strong a concentration to water back into the soil without risking a ruined plant.
I highly recommened following a feeding program like Joanne talked about in her thread/or Nanna's thread. Using only 1/4 -1/8 the recommended amount if you are bottom watering of any type.
Once a month scrap top soil off , leach pot with warm plain water , replace with new top soil.
***** Also important don't use food with Urea ~
So many problems can be caused by these minerals-salt -food -urea accumulating on top of your pots, to even thinking you may have mites for one. and you don't.
** Try this experiment : Take a cup of warm water , and place two spoonfuls of salt into the cup of water and stir up really good. until it is well dissolved. Then place the cup in a window or in your cupboard and let it stand until all the water is dry/gone.
What will be in your cup ? Two spoonfuls of salt. It works with sugar or any other solid.
Salt , fetilizer, minerals, just imagine concetrated Urea on top of your pots is bad news.

Hi Allison,

Excellent info...thank you so much for helping us with your most valued expertise.

Appreciate it very much.

When I grow up I want to be just like you...LOL!

Joanne

Oh Joanne your so sweet. I just wanted to add to your thread and nanna's thread what happens to this extra fertilizer that does not Evaporate where it is going and problems it can cause. Many people say my plants are happy healthy.... but problems do not show up over night.

Thanks Allison, I appreciate it, also. Like you, I have found that plan water on a regular basis is very good for avs.

I only feed mine every 3 months. They seem really happy. Thank you for the extra information. Keep it comming.

Hi,

I think that has been my problem for years....just because I LOVE to eat , think everything LOVES to eat....LOL!

So I think they will all be much happier now and that does make so much sense Allison...all that fertilizer has to go somewhere.

Joanne

Yes I always new this but when I was watering today after being out of fertilizer for over a month I saw a big difference .

Very interesting! Feeding only every three months.

Yes and Diane your plant 7 years old is full of flowers and beautiful healthy ! It is very interesting. Do you top feed it ? When you feed every three months how much do you use ?

Oh yes I'd like to add. VF-11 does not cause salt build up. It's also gentle and safe and can be used ever feeding !
Did you know when you buy your food the three percentages to determine how much of the material in the container is actually plant food. For example , if the container is listed as having 10 percent nitrogen, 20 percent phosphorous, 20 percent potassium. ( shown on caontainer as followes 10-20-20 ) and weighs 16 ounces, you have 8 ounces of plant food present. You simply ass the percentages and multiply them times the weight ( 50 percent x 16 ounces = 8 ounces of plant food ) to come up with the answer. The other 8 oz of material found in the container is of no value to the plants; it merley acts as a carrier to allow even distribution of the fertilizer.

I am still out of food. lol
Here is a great thread on wick, bottom watering of any form what it does to your plants, too much fertilizer, leaching and more.
Bumping it up to go along with Nanna's Less fertilizer thread.

Wicking Most popular ways to water Bumps

thanks for the info! violet-grower- you amaze me with all your knowledge about plants!

Violet, Thank you for bumping up all the wick info.The plants and leaf pots I received from you are doing good. Not in bloom yet but will try to post pictures when they do. Been watching this forum all summer and I am thankful for the wealth of info everyone contributes. I have learned so much from all of you. Here is a picture of plants and leaf pots.Been keeping in aquarium with light on during day .

Violet, Above you mentioned using 1/4 to 1/8 of fertilizer recommended when bottom watering. There are so many fertilizers with different concentrations to them. What is the best concentration to use with wick watering?
I have been bottom watering but only fertilizing every 2 weeks.Have been using Miracle Grow 7-7-7 which does have urea listed on bottle. What would be good fertlizer without urea ? I will be moving plants from aquarium to a plant stand. I have lid half open on aquarium. Thank You

Plants not touching and good air circulation is very important.
I have enjoyed and had good luck with several fertilizers/food. Eleanors-VF11, Peters African Violet Food, Optimara foods, Dyno ( SP)
few off the top of my head. Less food it onlys better. I know there are many threads on this topic and info in stickys too !
Does not take much for your plants to have too much food and too much foor can cause a lot of problems and show symptoms like you have mites and you don't

Violet,Thank You. I am moving plants to a 5 shelf stand I purchased. Will have a light at top of shelves. I have had in aquarium to keep them safe as they are in room with many other plants,some that have been coming in from outside for winter. So they will be receiving better air circulation. Going to purchase new fertilizer today. Think I'll order the Dyna Grow. No urea and also good for other house plants. I have so much to learn and I appreciate your help.

If you do a search you can order Dyna grow straight from them real cheap !

Thank You. I was looking last evening and going to call them. They have a great variety of products. I'd like to get some of their Neem oil also as a precaution, just in case I ever need it. I like using natural remedies on all my plants. Have read good things on different forums about the use of neem oil on houseplants and outside plants . DG has been such a great way to learn so much.

I fount the cheapest place to buy dyna gro was straight from them .
http://www.dyna-gro.com/
I have used Neem Oil very good and I know a lot of people here use it;.
Have you checked out the two stickys here on this forum. First two threads their full of unlimited information !

Yes, I have read some of the info in the stickys. They are a wonderful source of info. I like going to the AVSA web site the best. That is my favorite with the photographs and the faq section. I find the section about leaf and blossom types helpful.There is so much to learn and read up on. I am going to call Dyna Grow today regarding fertilizer and neem.Thank You for all your help.

Allison,please check your dmail.

Okey Dokey :))

Bumping

This message was edited Jan 26, 2007 8:52 AM

Bump good info