Jimini Waters Pot Plants Part 1

IMPORTANT: THE AUTHOR ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY TECHNIQUES DESCRIBED ON THIS BLOG. PARTICIPATION MUST BE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Need to water the plants today? Do yourselves (both you and the plants) a favour. Don't water them today. Nor tomorrow. Nor the next day. Nor the day after . . . In fact, perhaps not this week . . . nor next week . . . nor the week after . . .. Perhaps you could even wait a month? (If you need to wait two months, then it's not me you should be seeing, it's the psychiatrist. The situation is beyond hope.)

What? Not water them? Surely, they'll die.

Wrong. This might be the best thing you can do for them. Indeed, if you find your plants wilting and dying early on in life, even though you've watered them regularly, this almost certainly WILL be the best thing.

Now, before we go any further, let's be clear about one thing. If that plant you were about to water is Great Aunt Bertha's treasured beloved - You know, the one Great Uncle Albert gave her for the fiftieth wedding anniversary - the one you've been entrusted with whilst they are away, then hold on. It's not that this technique will not work. It most certainly will. At least, the first part will - Great Aunt Bertha will probably have over-watered it - even this plant will be gasping for air.

So, what's the problem? Well, it's just with it being Great Aunt Bertha's. It's making me nervous. And, as you know, nothing's ABSOLUTELY foolproof. There is always some chance that something could go wrong. And anyway, you don't want her thinking that you have neglected it whilst she has been away. See the point?

Before I talk myself out of disclosing anything to you, let me tell you that this technique has never failed - ever. And several persons to whom I have recommended it have had success. Just try it in a small way first.

A principle of growing this way is: WAIT ANOTHER DAY.

But suppose you can't? Suppose you are so convinced that your plants need water that you feel yourself dashing for the watering can right now? What then?

Well, consider the following:

• Are the plants wilting or showing signs of changing colour?
• Is the compost dry to a depth of about one inch or more?
• Is the compost shrinking away from the edge of the pot?
• Does the pot feel like it's nearly empty when you pick it up?
  

These are all signs that water might be necessary. However, unless the plant is growing actively, and preferably in bud, then another day or so without water will do it good.

If it makes you feel better, have a look at these pot Geraniums (Pelargoniums). Can you see how there is some dead leaf?

And here, can you see how the leaf is changing colour at the edge?

I regularly treat my Geraniums this way, especially in the winter months when they are hardly growing. It does them the world of good. I'll explain why soon.