Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 126 6/5/17 4:20 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 127 5/24/17 11:14 AM

126 chapter 3

that if a small clay pot is in the full summer sun,

you may have to water it two or three times a day.

The large volume of potting soil found in bigger

containers can store more moisture, so in general,

the larger the pot, the less frequently you’ll need

to water it.

Since irrigation needs are also dependent on

the size and type of plants, there are other factors

to consider. No matter what size container they’re

growing in, bigger plants need more water (unless,

of course, you’re growing a cactus or another plant

with low-water requirements). Mature plants also

tend to need more water than immature ones.

That means a container generally needs more

and more water as the season progresses and the

plants grow. Porous containers, like unglazed clay

or moss-lined planters, dry out more frequently,

as well. If you want to limit how often you have

to water, opt for glazed ceramic, plastic, metal, or

fiberglass containers over terracotta.

Rainfall also plays a role. Invest in a rain gage

and stick it right into one of your containers at or

just above the soil level. It will collect and measure

the amount of rainfall that finds its way there.

Keep in mind, however, that rain may slide and

bounce off foliage, diverting it away from where

it’s needed. You may find your rain gage empty,

even after a heavy rain, simply because the leaves

scatter the droplets before they reach the soil. The

only way to know for sure is to head outside and

check the moisture level of your pots in person.

There are many ways to check the moisture

level of a container. You can purchase a fancy

moisture sensor meter or soil water monitor to

Succulents and cacti are some of

the best choices for filling terra-

cotta containers because they

have low-water requirements and

prefer to stay on the dry side.

Large, glazed ceramic pots, like

this one, hold a lot of soil and

therefore need to be watered less

frequently than smaller, porous

containers.

Stylish, light-weight plastic

containers are a great choice for

gardeners who want a bigger

container without the weight of

traditional clay or ceramic pots.

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Caring for Your Containers 127

insert into the soil, you can feel the weight of the

pot, or you can wait for the plant to wilt. But the

most reliable way to assess soil moisture levels

also happens to be the easiest: stick a finger into

the pot up to your knuckle. If the soil is dry, water

it. If it’s not, don’t. And if you’ve done a good job

selecting a pot with adequate drainage, you’ll

never be in danger of overwatering, because

excess water simply drains out the hole in the

bottom of the pot. Which brings us to the next

consideration...

How Much?

Another common mistake is using the “splash-

and-dash” method of irrigation: sprinkling a

little water on top of each plant every morning,

maybe splashing a bit onto the soil as you go.

The foliage gets peppered with water, but the

roots remain parched. The plants suffer, and the

gardener can’t understand why their containers

are underperforming when they’re “watering them

every day.”

This kind of “splash-and-dash” irrigation,

where a small amount of water is added every

day, is not good for in-ground gardens or lawns

either. Plants need deep, thorough irrigation that

penetrates down through the soil to reach the

entire root system. Shallow irrigation promotes

shallow root systems that cannot access ample

nutrition or withstand any amount of drought,

while deep irrigation promotes deep, self-

sufficient root systems. In containers, this means

you need to apply irrigation water directly to

the root zone, and you need to drench the soil

repeatedly until at least a quarter of the water

applied runs out the drainage hole in the bottom

of the pot.

The argument that frequent light watering

prevents overwatering is a fallacy. Overwatering

is most often the result of applying water

too frequently. Roots need access to air, and

when the soil is constantly wet, the roots can’t

breathe and the plant wilts and eventually dies.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of overwatering

look a lot like the symptoms of underwatering.

The trick to proper container irrigation is

balance. Aim to supply your plants with plenty of

water, but do it on an as-needed basis. Allow the

growing mix to dry out a bit between waterings,

but not enough to induce any plant stress.

If you’re worried about forgetting to check the

moisture levels of your containers, set a reminder

on your smart phone. Or, if you don’t have time

to regularly check for irrigation needs, consider

growing your container garden in self-watering

planters, like the commercial brands discussed

in Chapter 1 or by making the DIY self-watering

planter featured in the next project sidebar.

Overwatering occurs when the soil is constantly wet

and the plant roots can’t breathe. Never allow water

to sit in a saucer beneath a plant for longer than a

few hours.

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