even watering.

[brownfingers]

How do we achieve it? Is it possible to keep a pot at the required moistness evenly from the bottom to the top of the pot? To me, it seems that watering from above waterlogs the top of the pot before the bottom recieves any benefit. Similarly, when watering from the bottom, the bottom gets completely sodden before water can be soaked up to the top. Only water lightly from the top and the bottom roots get nothing, or stand in water for only a short time and only the very bottom of the pot gets anything while the top gets zero. I suspect a little of both could leave a dry patch in the middle.

Also, what about the method of standing pots on some gravel with water beow the gravel so that the pot doesnt actually touch the water? If it doesnt touch the actual water, how does the compost/soil soak it up?

[Two_Sheds]

the surface doesn't need to be moist, and I don't understand why people think it does need to be.

The water needs to be in the soil (or compost), with a layer of dry soil (or compost) acting as a mulch on top.


Look at forests: all those massive trees growing, without sitting in puddles of water

[Raybon]

Plants do get watered from the top.
It's called rain.

[brownfingers]

That's my theory as well. Stuff thar we can't artificially water from beneath seem to thrive on it coming from the top.

[mothhawk]

I water outdoor pots from the top, and indoor pots from the bottom. And that's purely because if I water indoor plants from the top, I can't be sure how much I've sloshed on, and invariably the saucers underneath overflow all over the windowsills

[Alison]

The roots are nearer the bottom and it's them that needs the water so I tend to prefer to bottom watering of pots and get the water where it is necessary. It's different in the ground as there isn't the restriction formed by the side of the pots so water doesn't build up in the same way - unless in extreme conditions of flooding.

[Two_Sheds]

Plants do get watered from the top.
It's called rain.

If only it were that easy.

However, rain doesn't come down every single day, and certainly not in the quantities that gardeners tend to use, eg a hosepipe gives a week's water for a whole allotment in just 20 mins, yet you see plotters up there every evening, keeping the hose on every day for an hour.

And if you actually look at plants "growing wild", after rain you'll see that the soil is still dry around the plant ~ it's especially pronounced with big trees, because the leaf canopy acts as an umbrella, preventing water from wetting the soil immediately around that tree. Plants suck water up from deep down in the soil.

If you only water the soil’s surface, your plants will develop shallow root systems (which will then need watering more often). Happily, if you water from below, you encourage the plant to put its roots down deep, which makes it more drought-proof.

More plants are killed by overwatering than underwatering: just look at any gardening forum for the evidence

[Raybon]

My sister lives in the South of France. Very hot summers.
Her neighbour has a very large potager (cottage garden) growing the usual, plus huge pumpkins, and he never EVER waters it! His veg do really well, more than just surviving, so the roots must go quite deep to find the moisture they need.
Wish I was as brave, might try at least one unwatered bed this summer, with a couple of veg from each category as testers! You never know until you try!

[Bill HH]

There is no doubt its hard to get it right every time but the growing medium is all important, if it drains well the water goes quickly down to the roots every time. Some composts seem to form a hard skin on top and the water doesn't penetrate so well. Knowing when to water is important and where pots are concerned I think feeling the weight is the best way, you soon get to know how heavy a wet or dry pot is. I rarely water the open ground apart from newly planted things or I see something obviously wilting.
For the reason Two sheds gave, if you do water the open ground then do it well, really soak it otherwise plants develop short roots.

[Alison]

I don't have time to water my beds anyway after planting. Use the time and effort for pots and under cover

[Two_Sheds]

if you do water the open ground then do it well, really soak it

Or, you can use half the water (and get half the backache) by watering into flower pots sunk in the soil. The water goes straight to the roots and very little is lost to evaporation.

You also have fewer weeds germinating than if you water the surface of the soil