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BOTTOM WATERING, I need some help! I’ve just started watering like… | Anything about plants | Planta community

Lynda

BOTTOM WATERING, I need some help! I’ve just started watering like this and yesterday when I checked these plants soil moisture levels, I found that a couple of my plants registered in the mid 50% to a high level of 59%! That really worried me! I don’t usually water my moisture loving plants until they reach at least a mid 30% or lower level of moisture. Do some of these moisture loving plants like to stay at these high levels? I am so worried I am going to kill them with this time saving watering method. Any opinions? TIA for any help! 🤗💚🪴 PS. I have included two pictures of my small plants in plastic trays that are drinking water and additives and a picture of a large plant in a decorative pot that is drinking water from the pot itself. Just a few examples of the many plants for which I am using this method.

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10 comments

  1. Goodwin

    Wait…what do you use to moisture readings? I a mid-new plant parent so I don’t have much information regarding bottom watering but I do bottom water a few of my smaller indoor plants

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    • Lynda

      See my post below your post; it talks about bottom feeding, and you may get some answers from that post. Here is the moisture meter that I use. It doesn’t come with a pink band on it; I put that on my moisture meter because it kept getting lost in my green plants and I couldn’t find it! I bought this online from Amazon. And remember, for your plants that like to be dry, use a wooden stake; for your plants that are moisture loving, this is a convenient tool along with your own senses. I’ve pretty much explained all of this in my earlier text. Any questions, just let me know, and I’ll do my best to answer them. Best of luck with all of your plants! Regards, 🤗💚🪴

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  2. Sunny

    I wouldn’t rely too heavily on those inexpensive moisture meters. They are not reliably calibrated precision instruments. They work like a simple battery. They measure voltage through a galvanic process that represents a moisture reading. More water in the soil creates a higher voltage. Soil properties like material type and density can change the readings. Galvanic corrosion of the probe over time can invalidate the readings. I recommend using a second method like a wooden skewer or similar device to get indications of moisture levels. Trust your instincts, as well.Good luck!🍀🪴

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    • Lynda

      I do use a moisture meter called Dr. Meter Four in One Wireless Soil Monitor. I’ve used it for about five months and it seems to work fairly well. I never trust it completely and always use a wooden stake for my plants that like to dry out. For my moisture loving plants, I use another moisture meter to make sure Dr. Meter is telling me the truth. Plus, I use my instincts, such as my finger in the soil, the feel of the pot, etc. Using the soil monitor provides me an idea of its wetness, and how long I can put off watering a plant; it’s a very convenient and easy to use tool to track my plants water needs. My primary concern is HOW WET CAN A PLANT GET WHEN IT IS BOTTOM FEEDING AND NOT BE HARMED? Since I have never use the bottom feeding method, I don’t trust it yet. I’m worried that my moisture loving plants that sit in water will suffer from root right eventually; is that the case? Do I just let my moisture loving plants, bottom feed and not worry about them even if the soil feels very wet and measures a percentage of wetness, some as high as 50 to 60%? I’m sorry I’ve written a book, but I didn’t know how to explain this in fewer words. I hope to hear from you as bottom watering is a real conundrum to me. TIA. Regards, 🤗💚🪴

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  3. Riley

    It’s not anything to worry about. Since bottom watering saturates the soil more than top watering can, the soil stays wet for a bit longer, but it most likely won’t harm the plant. Hope this helps!

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    • Lynda

      One thing I don’t understand, does bottom watering mean that a plant sits in water all the time, or does it mean it sits in a tray and when it gets dry, then I water it? I guess I don’t understand exactly what bottom watering is! Can you explain the basics of bottom watering? Sorry to be so dense! TIA for straightening me out… Regards, 🤗💚🪴

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    • caffein8dnotopi8d

      You definitely don’t want to leave the plant in the water for long periods of time - 20-30 min is usually good. Just plop your nursery/whatever pot in a larger vessel with water in it, wait the 20-30 min, then remove. It is a more thorough method of watering - when watering the normal way, the soil may not be fully moistened, over time this can cause soil to become hydrophobic, and consequently not absorb the water. Bottom watering negates this issue and also can help reduce/eliminate pests that like moist soil.

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    • caffein8dnotopi8d

      Additionally, this means you can (and likely should) wait longer to water.

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  4. Sunny

    I agree with the commenters. The bottom watering process is to temporarily soak a potted plant in water until the soil is saturated. The top of the soil will be wet. Then, remove the pot from the water to drain the excess water. The soak time varies from the size of pot and the density of the soil.

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    • Lynda

      Then what is the difference between having a terra-cotta watering stake or a watering globe in the soil all the time too water the plant or just having a plant sit in water and have it sip moisture through the hole in the bottom of the pot? TIA. 🤗💚🪴 PS. Just trying to get this bottom watering thing straight in my head! 😵‍💫

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