5 hours Ago By Zahna Eklund
One item could make your potted plants thrive. Growing plants in flower pots is a great option if you have a small garden space or you're renting and can't plant anything directly into the ground. However, you could be making one huge mistake with the way you water your plants.
According to one gardening expert, simply watering the top of the soil as you would with plants in flower beds may be doing "more harm than good", as it often doesn't allow the water to fully saturate the soil. This means it doesn't properly water the roots of your plants, stopping them from reaching their full potential. Joe, a gardener on TikTok , said that while we all water from the top and it's not inherently bad to do so, you must "poke a finger down into the soil" to make sure the water has actually penetrated the soil in the middle of your pot.
And if you want to make sure your potted plants are properly watered every time, there are a couple of tricks you can use. In his video, Joe first recommended putting small pots into a bowl full of water, so that the holes in the bottom of the pot can soak up the liquid and saturate the soil from the bottom up. He said: "Be careful when you're watering your soil from the top.
Although it may seem saturated, dig a little bit deeper and it can often be bone dry. Instead, try filling up a large tray or container with water and place your plants straight in. The soil will absorb up the water through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, helping to give your plant an even drink all the way through.
" Joe also had a hack for bigger flower pots that can't be lifted into a bowl of water - place another smaller pot inside the larger one to act as a funnel. He shared: "For larger containers, bury a smaller pot in the middle and water directly into this. This will get the water straight to the roots.
" In the caption of his video, he also stated: "As water will always travel down the path of least resistance, it will funnel down the sides of the pot and out the drainage hole in the bottom. This can sometimes leave the middle of the root ball dry. "To solve this issue, it is often best to water plants (especially small plants in seed trays and small pots) through the drainage holes in the bottom.
This way you guarantee an even drink all the way through the soil." And commenters were blown away by the pot hack, with many saying they'd never considered doing it before. One person wrote: "Okay, the pot in a pot is actually genius".
Another said: "Super helpful!" Consistency is key : Water your plants according to their needs; some thrive with frequent watering, while others prefer to dry out in between. Avoid overwatering : Overwatering kills more plants than underwatering. Ensure pots have proper drainage holes to prevent soggy roots.
Water at the right time : It’s best to water in the morning to reduce evaporation and allow water to absorb before the heat of the day. Use the right technique : Water the base of the plant, not the leaves, to prevent fungal diseases..
