water

[YFS]

Hi

A friend has said there are simpler ways than watering every single pot in a greenhouse, just stand them all on gravel and water the gravel tray. Lets them soak up the water.
Is this method ok in principle? I was thinking about applying it in my cold frame, but do I need the gravel?
My seedlings might dry out in this hot weather.

YFS

[piskieinboots]

The issue I would have with 'blanket' watering is that not all plants require the same amount of watering - although I'm sure it would be fine for a short (holiday) time

[Patchninja]

I agree with Piskie that it could be a disaster long term. The thing about a GH is that it demands attention. You have to bite the bullet

[zazen999]

I do this all the time.

However, the trick is to put not TOO much water in. So, those that want it more suck it up quicker and those that don't want it don't drown.

[Two_Sheds]

The pots can stand in water for about 20 mins, to have a good drink: you can't leave them there permanently though (unless they are bog plants)

[Bren In Pots]

I set up capillary matting and a reservoir this past week as a practice for when we go away it seems to work fine, but will it harm my plants if i use it all the time.

[rustylady]

I set up capillary matting and a reservoir this past week as a practice for when we go away it seems to work fine, but will it harm my plants if i use it all the time.

Capillary matting is fine Bren, cos the plants are standing on the matting which is damp, not in an inch or so of water.

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks RL, that's good to know so I'll leave it set up.

[YFS]

Capillary matting is fine Bren, cos the plants are standing on the matting which is damp, not in an inch or so of water.

Thanks all, in this weather even an inch of water is soaked up rather quickly. Some water will also act as a slug barrier. I skuished a few slugs today. I think that they might have been hiding under the pots before I put them in the coldframe. I have put all the pots on a base of sand; will them stop slugs?
Slugs seem to like my lupins, but not my toms.

[jonohanson]

mine have been stood in trays full of water all this year and had no problems, what kind of problems can it introduce as eveything seems fine??

[Patchninja]

Waterlogged roots spring to mind.

[taff]

I've been deliberately over-watering because I haven't been able to water regularly. Nothing seems to have come to too much grief yet, but that maybe because they're still growing into their pots, and it has been damn hot.

[jonohanson]

Mine only seem to be damp and not water logged? They all seem to be fine from it and its an easier way of watering as we have loads of massive trays to stand all the pots in.