Watering pots

[pjh75]

I have various herbs and seedlings in pots in my greenhouse... they are all sitting in saucers. If I keep the saucers topped up with water, will the plants suck up as much as they need?

[BarleySugar]

If they are sitting in water all the time the roots will rot, because they need oxygen as well as water. It is better to let the pots drain so the compost is damp, not saturated. While it is cold the plants will not use so much water either.

[pjh75]

I didn't think of that... I just worry that the plants will dry out because sometimes the top of the compost is dry.

[Cutecumber]

You need to dig down under the surface of the compost to see if the pot really is dry, or pick it up - it's not difficult to judge the weight of a wet or dry pot after a while.

[Two_Sheds]

The surface of the compost doesn't need to be damp ... after all, the roots are down the bottom end. Only water when the pot feels light (pick it up like Cutecumber suggests)

[pjh75]

Thanks for the tip... I'll try the weight test and not panic if the surface is dry.