Jimini Waters Pot Plants Part 2

It should be at least 4 days now since you last watered your plants. Of course - I understand if you got a little frightened when you saw the state of my Geraniums and decided to water your plants in the usual manner. And who can blame you?

But can I make something quite clear: I do not recommend that you take your watering to this extreme, not yet, anyhow.

METHOD IN THE MADNESS

In case you are wondering why on earth I use this drastic treatment, the answer is simple:

IT IS ABOUT GROWING THOSE ROOTS.

Plants are like we humans. They only do as much as they need to (I know this does not apply to ALL humans, but it certainly applies to me).

And nothing seems to induce root production faster than the following:

• Diminishing water


• Diminishing food
  

But don't plants grow roots anyway, without our help?

Yes. But these roots are not as developed as they could be. The problem we have as growers is that we do not appreciate just how much water plants can extract from the soil or compost. They are so efficient at this that they can remove almost every single drop.

And it is only when water gets down to these lower levels that the plant gets worried enough to produce extra roots.

But there is also another reason why this drying out is beneficial:

IT AERATES THE COMPOST

As the soggy compost dries out from the surface down, air is forced in to replace the water. Not only is this good for the compost, allowing the living organisms to funcion better, it is also good for the roots, allowing them to be even more efficient at gathering and absorbing water and nutrients.


WATER TOLERANCE OF PLANTS

Different types of plant have different tolerances to soil moisture levels, usually indicative of their native environment.

Woodland plants (Primulas, for example) need a constantly moist (but not wet) soil; desert plants (Cacti, for example) almost dry.

Water requirements of your plants are also dependent upon where you keep them. Thus plants on a south-facing window sill, perched above a radiator, will require much more water than the same plant would on the kitchen window sill.

So how do we know how to treat them?

We experiment. We take them to extremes of moisture, carefully observing the effects. I know that my Geraniums are gasping for water. And don't worry, we shall be giving it some soon enough. But first I want you to learn to recognise this extreme. And a good way to do this it to weigh the pot.

When I say 'weight the pot', I don't necessary mean that you literally weigh it. Although it might not be a bad idea. I find that just picking it up is sufficient. And can I just say that I am always amazed at how light this Geranium pot will have become.

A SAFER METHOD

Rather than risk damaging the plant by over-drying, you might prefer to fill an identical pot with fresh compost and note its weight. True, it might be a bit heavier than we might prefer, but you might be able to rest easier.

When deciding when to water plants, always bear the following in mind:

Plants can invariably recover from too little water; too much, on the other hand, is almost always fatal.