Watering Herb but water doesnt Drain

[Tarragon2017]

An update when I really water the mint there was drainage , and when it rained today I saw wet marks where the pots are so I guess all is ok

[Tarragon2017]

Gardening Question ?

Ok I potted up my herbs using the same compost , and it rained today. How is it some of the compost still feels damp at 8pm considering it rained at 930am , whereas some herbs soil feels drier.

As a general rule shall I wait till the top layer is dry till I water again. Even for water loving herbs such as coriander , and Vietnamese coriander and Basil

Thanks

[Jay-ell]

A saturated soil may be 50 percent water and a moist soil may have 25 percent water and 25 percent air. So to getting wet you might need 250ml water for a 1 liter pot and to give it a good soak you might use 500ml. Just pouring the water on won't necessary soak in as it will run down the gap in the side between the pot and the compost. Standing the pot in water let's it suck the water up into all the compost.

60ml is just about enough to get the top of the compost damp.

[veggiechicken]

Tarragon, I've merged your threads again. You don't need to keep starting new threads about the same subject!

[Tarragon2017]

different point but ok

[veggiechicken]

Most of your posts are very similar - about compost, grit, watering of plants in pots. Its much easier for everyone if you keep them together so we don't have to keep repeating ourselves.

[Jay-ell]

Tarragon, both questions are basically the same thing about the same subject. As I've said above water can just run down the side of the pot and out the bottom and not wet the compost. Water runs out a dry pot quicker than through a wet pot.

Just because it rained it doesn't mean that the compost has absorbed the water as a quick heavy downpour could just run through and out, whilst a prolonged drizzle may put less water onto a pot but does so at a rate over a longer time that the compost can absorb.

The best place to start working out when to water is from a known state - soak the pots till the compost has absorbed as much water as it can - even the ones that look damp or have been rained on. Pick the pots up - thats how heavy they are fully soaked. Then you can gauge by weight how much water they have.

The top surface can dry out because of sun and wind even if there is water in the compost. Stick your finger into the pot to see how damp it is under the surface.

[Miss Mousetrousers]

Maybe the type of MPC you have gets too "claggy" when wet? I'd gently remove the plants from their pots, clean out the holes, put a layer of small chips of broken clay pots, slate, tiny stones or Perlite at the bottom of each pot to help prevent the holes getting bunged up then replant.

[Tarragon2017]

Vietnamese Coriander

Should I submerge the pot in water or put a water tray underneath the pot so it doesnt dry out

Also my Sage and oregano are getting very drying and dieing , is there anything I can do to revive it

[Small pumpkin]

I don't know anything about Vietnamese corridor so I can't help with that.
If your sage & oregano are drying out. Water them more regularly!!
You could always leave them out so they get tonight's rain that you are so worried about. They would probably like that.

[Jay-ell]

You know, you should be watering you plants properly, not let them totally dry out then panic and drown them. Water them every day if they're in pots two or three times a day with a watering can especially in hot weather. And not 60ml but a good watering then you wouldn't need to think about drowning them. If you're wondering why your plants aren't doing well then the answer is you. You're putting them through too much stress that they just cannot thrive.

[Scarlet]

Tarragon, I've merged your threads again. You don't need to keep starting new threads about the same subject!

different point but ok

Tarragon, I've merged your threads again. You don't need to start a new thread with every question you want answered. If your questions are all based on watering, keep it to one thread.

[Tarragon2017]

Thanks I did water twice daily , but I heard oregaon and sage are med herbs so watering 2 much is bad , I am still learning , so I am just working it out , sorry if my questions annoy but I thought it was the whole point of this place

[veggiechicken]

We're all still learning - you won't find anywhere here who's prepared to say they know it all.
We give up our own time freely to encourage others to benefit from our experiences - and when we've answered a question once we don't expect to be asked the same question over and over again. That makes people lose patience and stop reading posts.
You may think you're asking different questions but you're not. You have to apply the answers you have been given and see what works for you. Learning comes from experience and trial and error.
We can't be there with umbrellas every time it rains or testing how damp the compost is and whether it needs more water. You're on your own and you must make your own decisions!
We'll willingly answer new questions but I think you will have very few responses if you keep on repeating yourself.

[Scarlet]

Sorry if my questions annoy but I thought it was the whole point of this place

If you put all your like minded questions in the same thread it would help you refresh on what has already been asked and answered.
If you read through some of the responses a few times it may help.
The same people often revisit a thread they've posted in and can then add a little more info rather than start again.

Over watering is bad, but leaving them dry out and die is the total opposite. You need to find the middle ground. Gardening is trial and error - learn from your mistakes.