Watering advice needed

[snohare]

Cat litter trays make great gravel trays

Poundland springs to mind.
Now if only someone did, I don't know, lynx or ocelot litter trays that were correspondingly bigger, then my carry tray pots could sit happily on their deeply dipped capillary matting while I was away !

[vikkib]

Watering From Below Anxiety

Thought I'd dredge up this thread again!

I'm watering my courgettes and squashes from below (they are in builder's buckets sat in cat litter trays! ) and even when left in the water for a fair old time the top of the compost remains absolutely bone dry and coming away from the edge of the bucket.

I've had a bit of a gentle dig down and about an inch below the surface the compost is cool and damp.

I am currently resisting the urge to do a little top watering AS WELL as base watering but I'm not sure how long I can hold out!

Would it be best for me to 'mulch' the surface (never quite sure what that involves!) with something even if it just means some peace of mind for me as I won't be able to see the dry compost!

[zazen999]

That's what I do, peppers esp as they don't like alot of water. Just a handful of compost at the top spread around. Or try grit/gravel to disguise the dryness.

Don't forget the roots are at the bottom, and it is those that need the water!

[Flummery]

And just to muddy the waters a bit more here's another thing to factor into the equation....osmosis!

Osmosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And here's me thinking Osmosis was an Egyptian Pharaoh!