Might as well start a thread:
Random gardening question.
Drainage holes in medium to large pots. Why are they necessary? In a hot climate, wouldn’t it be better not to have any, so that the soil in the pot stays moist for far longer and dries out much slower?
You could always plug the holes.
party_pants said:
Might as well start a thread:Random gardening question.
Drainage holes in medium to large pots. Why are they necessary? In a hot climate, wouldn’t it be better not to have any, so that the soil in the pot stays moist for far longer and dries out much slower?
I stand mine in round garbage bin lids on 3 bricks. Keep the lid with water in it.
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
Kingy said:
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
Yep. Even pots for indoor plants have drainage holes and a space at the bottom of the pot for water to pool.
Kingy said:
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
^:
Kingy said:
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
Right. So I need a pot a bit deeper than the average root length for that plant.
party_pants said:
Kingy said:
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
Right. So I need a pot a bit deeper than the average root length for that plant.
you can makeor buy a self watering type pot.
party_pants said:
Might as well start a thread:Random gardening question.
Drainage holes in medium to large pots. Why are they necessary? In a hot climate, wouldn’t it be better not to have any, so that the soil in the pot stays moist for far longer and dries out much slower?
if you using utility water, coming from basins, there would be salts and whatever, wouldn’t want gradually increase them too much
bit like a favorite spot you might urinate on the back lawn, eventually things have trouble growing there
transition said:
party_pants said:
Might as well start a thread:Random gardening question.
Drainage holes in medium to large pots. Why are they necessary? In a hot climate, wouldn’t it be better not to have any, so that the soil in the pot stays moist for far longer and dries out much slower?
if you using utility water, coming from basins, there would be salts and whatever, wouldn’t want gradually increase them too much
bit like a favorite spot you might urinate on the back lawn, eventually things have trouble growing there
Not only drainage holes but the medium itself the soil or potting mix. These depend on which plant you are growing because many have both different frainage or water retention requirements.
Salts are going to acumulate in any pot which is one reason why drainage is necessary but also aeration of the soil is important.
Probably also a good reason why rainwater should be used for pot plants.
Anyway, what plants are you trying to grow in pots?
Kingy said:
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
iow:
it’s less of a PItA to re-water
than it is to correct the situation once it occurs
Ogmog said:
Kingy said:
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
iow:
it’s less of a PItA to re-water
than it is to correct the situation once it occurs
Yes. Correct the drainage and water when necessary.
Next question: so why don’t plants grown hydroponically suffer root rot?
party_pants said:
Next question: so why don’t plants grown hydroponically suffer root rot?
Oooh.
roughbarked said:
Anyway, what plants are you trying to grow in pots?
I have an orange tree and a kumquat tree in big pots. I have a few smaller pots with random ornamental plants. Over the summer months I water all of them on a daily basis to keep them alive. A few minutes after watering a small amount of water escapes via the bottom holes.
party_pants said:
Next question: so why don’t plants grown hydroponically suffer root rot?
In hydroponic systems, root rot is caused by over-watering the roots. It’s a tricky predicament to find yourself in considering hydroponics is entirely focused on growing plants in water and dissolved nutrients in the absence of soil.
Problems arise when the root system doesn’t receive sufficient levels of oxygen, typically when using the Deep Water Culture system or The Kratky Method. Either the water isn’t aerated enough, there’s no direct exposure of the roots to the air or a combination of the two. Once root rot takes hold, the slime creates an impenetrable barrier and oxygen cannot reach the plant. Think of it like a bullet-proof jacket except, instead of saving the plant’s life, it kills it. Without suitable oxygen absorption, the root cells die, further opening the door for opportunistic pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Once they’ve infiltrated the dying cells, the pathogens can smother the rest of the living root system, too.
https://www.oysoco.com/hydroponics/10-hydroponics/56-the-best-way-to-cure-root-rot
party_pants said:
Next question: so why don’t plants grown hydroponically suffer root rot?
Guess:
In non-draining pots, water is stagnant and becomes de-oxygenated. These are ideal conditions for fungi to outcompete other soil greeblies (technical term).
Hydroponic water is not stagnant, and has oxygen.
party_pants said:
Next question: so why don’t plants grown hydroponically suffer root rot?
Coz they don’t have their roots stuck in fetid greeblies.
party_pants said:
roughbarked said:
Anyway, what plants are you trying to grow in pots?
I have an orange tree and a kumquat tree in big pots. I have a few smaller pots with random ornamental plants. Over the summer months I water all of them on a daily basis to keep them alive. A few minutes after watering a small amount of water escapes via the bottom holes.
Mr Panty Parts,
Would you get in and out of the bath every day and never drain out the bath water?
If you do what i suggested you can keep the roots moist but not soaking. Over summer will be no problem. the plant and evap will keep the water level in the lid down. the plant will be kept well hydrated.
Bogsnorkler said:
If you do what i suggested you can keep the roots moist but not soaking. Over summer will be no problem. the plant and evap will keep the water level in the lid down. the plant will be kept well hydrated.
you want me to read your posts???
party_pants said:
Bogsnorkler said:
If you do what i suggested you can keep the roots moist but not soaking. Over summer will be no problem. the plant and evap will keep the water level in the lid down. the plant will be kept well hydrated.
you want me to read your posts???
No, just imagine that you are getting good advice.
party_pants said:
Next question: so why don’t plants grown hydroponically suffer root rot?
Because the water is running.
Bogsnorkler said:
party_pants said:
Bogsnorkler said:
If you do what i suggested you can keep the roots moist but not soaking. Over summer will be no problem. the plant and evap will keep the water level in the lid down. the plant will be kept well hydrated.
you want me to read your posts???
No, just imagine that you are getting good advice.
Well, tell him not to leave the water sitting in upturned lids. ;)
roughbarked said:
Bogsnorkler said:
party_pants said:you want me to read your posts???
No, just imagine that you are getting good advice.
Well, tell him not to leave the water sitting in upturned lids. ;)
won’t hurt as it isn’t really deep. and like i said over a hot summer it will rapidly go and you’ll be replacing it so it won’t go stagnant.
Bogsnorkler said:
roughbarked said:
Bogsnorkler said:No, just imagine that you are getting good advice.
Well, tell him not to leave the water sitting in upturned lids. ;)
won’t hurt as it isn’t really deep. and like i said over a hot summer it will rapidly go and you’ll be replacing it so it won’t go stagnant.
plus, what about wicking beds????
Bogsnorkler said:
roughbarked said:
Bogsnorkler said:No, just imagine that you are getting good advice.
Well, tell him not to leave the water sitting in upturned lids. ;)
won’t hurt as it isn’t really deep. and like i said over a hot summer it will rapidly go and you’ll be replacing it so it won’t go stagnant.
Bogsnorkler said:
Bogsnorkler said:
roughbarked said:Well, tell him not to leave the water sitting in upturned lids. ;)
won’t hurt as it isn’t really deep. and like i said over a hot summer it will rapidly go and you’ll be replacing it so it won’t go stagnant.
plus, what about wicking beds????
Tthe water is travelling upwards and outwards.
roughbarked said:
Bogsnorkler said:
Bogsnorkler said:won’t hurt as it isn’t really deep. and like i said over a hot summer it will rapidly go and you’ll be replacing it so it won’t go stagnant.
plus, what about wicking beds????
Tthe water is travelling upwards and outwards.
a wicking bed is exactly the same as a pot with no drainage. just, usually, bigger.
Bogsnorkler said:
roughbarked said:
Bogsnorkler said:plus, what about wicking beds????
Tthe water is travelling upwards and outwards.
a wicking bed is exactly the same as a pot with no drainage. just, usually, bigger.
A good wicking bed should also have drainage for the bottom dwelling water.
roughbarked said:
Bogsnorkler said:
roughbarked said:Tthe water is travelling upwards and outwards.
a wicking bed is exactly the same as a pot with no drainage. just, usually, bigger.
A good wicking bed should also have drainage for the bottom dwelling water.
no they don’t. they may have the means to drain them but they are usually full of water. that is their very purpose.
Bogsnorkler said:
roughbarked said:
Bogsnorkler said:a wicking bed is exactly the same as a pot with no drainage. just, usually, bigger.
A good wicking bed should also have drainage for the bottom dwelling water.
no they don’t. they may have the means to drain them but they are usually full of water. that is their very purpose.
;) At some stage they need to be drained but if you note, they are usually only used for short season growth. So really shuldn’t develop the same problems such as orange trees in pots.
A common mistake is seeing the wilting and yellowing foliage
the care giver THINKS it needs more water
and it pretty much goes predictable downhill from that point on.
I just harvested a Korean radish (daikon) that had a deep (50%), wide-open, helical crack in it for most of its length. Why would this have occurred? Did it grow too fast?
sibeen said:
Kingy said:
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
Yep. Even pots for indoor plants have drainage holes and a space at the bottom of the pot for water to pool.
Yep
monkey skipper said:
sibeen said:
Kingy said:
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
Yep. Even pots for indoor plants have drainage holes and a space at the bottom of the pot for water to pool.
Yep
My grand father used to put a stone above the holes in a pot to slow the drainage down ,… if that helps
monkey skipper said:
monkey skipper said:
sibeen said:Yep. Even pots for indoor plants have drainage holes and a space at the bottom of the pot for water to pool.
Yep
My grand father used to put a stone above the holes in a pot to slow the drainage down ,… if that helps
That depends on the pot. A terracotta pot with one hole in the bottom may drain too fast for certain plant types and with certain mixes. A stone may be placed to slow it down. Some plastic pots have a lot of drainage holes for the reason that peaty mixes are used and they need to drain faster. Adding numbers of smaller rocks can also speed up drainage.
monkey skipper said:
monkey skipper said:
sibeen said:Yep. Even pots for indoor plants have drainage holes and a space at the bottom of the pot for water to pool.
Yep
My grand father used to put a stone above the holes in a pot to slow the drainage down ,… if that helps
We put crocks (broken china/pottery and stones) in the bottom of pots before we fill them in my family. It helps keep the soil in (not falling out the holes) but lets the water drain through.
Kingy said:
The roots at the bottom will rot if they are wet all the time.
Yes, will rot if not supplied with a constant supply of fresh air.
party_pants said:
Right. So I need a pot a bit deeper than the average root length for that plant.
Or even better, a hole in the bottom.
And don’t do what Mrs m does, stand the pot in a saucer full of water and then wonder why all the pot plants are dying.
New random gardening question.
Westringia fruticosa – coastal rosemary.
Does that mean it’s edible?
mollwollfumble said:
New random gardening question.Westringia fruticosa – coastal rosemary.
Does that mean it’s edible?
computer says no.
roughbarked said:
monkey skipper said:
monkey skipper said:Yep
My grand father used to put a stone above the holes in a pot to slow the drainage down ,… if that helps
That depends on the pot. A terracotta pot with one hole in the bottom may drain too fast for certain plant types and with certain mixes. A stone may be placed to slow it down. Some plastic pots have a lot of drainage holes for the reason that peaty mixes are used and they need to drain faster. Adding numbers of smaller rocks can also speed up drainage.
although a terracotta pot is heavy and breakable
it’s far superior for moisture and oxygen exchange
i drop a circle of screening in the bottom and a handful
of gravel (and a bit of crushed charcoal) topped with soil
party_pants said:
mollwollfumble said:
New random gardening question.Westringia fruticosa – coastal rosemary.
Does that mean it’s edible?
computer says no.
I think it refers to what the leaves look like. Some plants are labelled as rosmarinifolia “like rosemary leaves”. And I see rosemary has recently been moved into the salvias…Salvia rosmarinus. Again according to the computer.
buffy said:
party_pants said:
mollwollfumble said:
New random gardening question.Westringia fruticosa – coastal rosemary.
Does that mean it’s edible?
computer says no.
I think it refers to what the leaves look like. Some plants are labelled as rosmarinifolia “like rosemary leaves”. And I see rosemary has recently been moved into the salvias…Salvia rosmarinus. Again according to the computer.
Ta both. I won’t risk it then.
Raining.
Michael V said:
I just harvested a Korean radish (daikon) that had a deep (50%), wide-open, helical crack in it for most of its length. Why would this have occurred? Did it grow too fast?
Yes.
roughbarked said:
Michael V said:
I just harvested a Korean radish (daikon) that had a deep (50%), wide-open, helical crack in it for most of its length. Why would this have occurred? Did it grow too fast?
Yes.
Ta.
The other two I planted have bolted. I don’t know whether they have tap-roots yet, but I’ll pull them soon. I’ll try growing them in a pot again in autumn. I might try some in the ground, too.
Michael V said:
roughbarked said:
Michael V said:
I just harvested a Korean radish (daikon) that had a deep (50%), wide-open, helical crack in it for most of its length. Why would this have occurred? Did it grow too fast?
Yes.
Ta.
The other two I planted have bolted. I don’t know whether they have tap-roots yet, but I’ll pull them soon. I’ll try growing them in a pot again in autumn. I might try some in the ground, too.
:)
Patience will win.
