Watering

I had an article today with an overview of watering methods, http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/907/.

It got me wondering... how are you watering your plants these days, and how is it working out for you? I don't think we've had a watering discussion for a while.

I've switched to using dechlorinated, lukewarm or room temperature water. I think it makes a difference. Anybody else still doing this?

I've got some plants in Oyama planters or ceramic self-watering pots. Most are bottom watered, though, and I like to use capillary mats in the bottom of my trays. It seems to give me a couple of extra days between watering, so once a week does the trick.

Water.........a REAL issue with me lately!
Through LOTS of trial and error.......I have found the PERFECT method for me right now. Never before have I seen such great growth or babies produced faster than I have with my new water experiment.

First.......I learned that because I am on well water in Maine........my water is VERY acidic (Kim, no wonder you have 2 acres of blueberries.........doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out)........well, I'm not a rocket scientist so it has taken me LOTS of casualties and many years to figure out that I have to do SOMETHING if I'm going to grow my plants healthy.

SOOOOO.................Now I have about 12 gallon jugs. I boil my water, fill the jug.....add 1/4 tsp lime and 1/8 teaspoon of fertilizer. I rotate around the fertilizers here and there and once in a while I flush them with plain water. Then I rotate the gallon jugs so that the ones that have been on the shelf the longest get used first.

I have all my solo cups burned texas style and also have matting in the bottom of my trays but I find that I still water from the top only because some seem to dry out faster than others as I have mixed cup sizes in the trays. To water them I use a baby medicine dropper as I tend to have a VERY heavy hand with watering. Every now and then I will wet the matting for the extra humidity but I haven't dared to just let them sit in water and soak it up yet as that would take all the fun of checking each pot every day *lol*........yes..........I'm VERY obsessive/compulsive.........there's a shocker! *lol*

I also have a windex spray bottle (empty and sanitized of course) that I fill will my boiled (and cooled) water with a bit of fish emulsion that I spray my rooting leaves with if they dry out.

I'm still learning every day but for now this system seems to be the best I have discovered yet.

Kim

I love this subject Critter! .

After learning my lesson losing quite a few from cold water watering.I couldn't figure out why nothing would grow and they always looked so sad.I figured out the shock of the cold water was making them pout. I noticed an immediate improvement when I finally started use room temp water only.

Recently,thanks to a sweet dg friend who sent me some wicking reservoirs : )) I am now trying my luck at wicking some of my av's and so far I really like it! Could it be I finally have a clue..lol.. as to what makes them happy?? I get so confused.I also top water a few ,bottom water,and have some of the ceramic self watering pots so I have something to compare. Its so hard for me with our low winter humidity to keep things moist enough yet not sopping wet.The ones I have been wick watering now seem super happy and are just now starting to bud up again.I am now wicking more of my streps too and some of them I had never wick watered before have really started to grow..finally!! Coincidence? Maybe,after all it is spring and plants usually take off then anyway right? I am still thinking maybe the new watering method is helping them along a bit :) I definitely agree no one method is right for everyone.Its trial and error thats for sure,but when you finally find a method that works for you it really lifts you up : )

Edited to add: I must have been typing as you were posting Kim.I really like your method too.I am going to try that formula with a few of mine too.I am always looking for better : )

This message was edited Mar 27, 2008 7:46 PM

Alhough I wick every single gesneriad I own, I really like wicking in individual reservoirs as opposed to the permanest trays. Right now I have about half and half. I, too, have about 12 gallons of water I always let sit overnight before I use in the reservoirs. In each gallon I use 1/4 tsp of 12-36-14 every single time along with 3 drops of Super Thrive.

New sticking of leaves of any kind or cuttings require an acryllic blanket material on the bottom of the perma nest tray with a dome for two weeks. Then the domes come off and they get treated like all the other plants being wicked......fertilizer included. (I always soak in water and just a drop or two of Super Thrive any leaves I am going to stick......if I am sticking cuttings I use a rooting hormone)

I came up with the idea of using Super Thrive in an article by Mrs. Decelle when she used to grow and show her plants. This was her routine. She used the same fertilizer count I do along with the Super Thrive.

I am waiting for Volkmann's wick mix this next week and will stop mixing my own at least for a while just to see how I like it. Right now I am using 1/2 peat and 1/2 perlite (obviously I have very alkaline water) and like it but I get tired of having to mix so much of it and having to add trace elements (STEM).

Loving to hear what everyone is doing............

I have been Thinking ( Oh No) my plants (AV) have not been blooming maybe 1 or 2 when I water my plants I have the water sitting ( when I get done wateringI fill up the Jugs) than when it is time to water it is room temp But because the gas price for heat is high ( I rent a 3 bathroom 3bedroom Houseby my self) so i shut the vents off upstairs and block the stair way. And it is still 61 to 65. I was wondering maybe I shouldn't let my water sit because it wood be the same temp. Maybe if I used warmer water I get some blooms. My plants are all health and look great. But is that maybe why I don't get the blooms. They all were blooming all different time a few years ago. Any Ideas?
Thanks For Reading
Dimmer(AKA) Kim

I wouldn't think that water would be cold enough to shock them... after all, their roots are at that same temp. Maybe you'll see blooms when it warms up a little... mine always seem to bloom more in spring, especially those that rely on window light.