So as we are joyfully putting are lovely garden planters together for spring, and shortly for summer, we need to remember the ‘art of watering’ them. When we water for the first time, we need to water thoroughly to remove any air pockets that may be left. Subsequent watering will depend on need this time of year. When it begins to get hot EC style, we need to water every day & sometimes twice. If your planters are left to completely dry out over & over again, the water will begin to do a ‘run-off’. It will appear to soak in but what often happens is the hard shell that has formed forces the water to the sides, down the sides of the container & out the drainage holes. A tell-tale sign of this is immediate water drainage, where you might say I guess it doesn’t need any water. (I find this happens more towards August when it gets hotter & I get a tiny bit lazier). To save your smaller planters, you can submerge them completely in water until the soil completely soaks through. Your larger containers will need some work around the plant bases to loosen as much as you can of the older soil. (Just adding additional soil still masks the hard shell underneath.)
Now for the ever important lesson on dechlorination. (I can hear some friends chuckling now; they think I’m ‘over-enthusiastic’) Our tap water contains levels of chlorine for healthy drinking purposes. That same chlorine can damage your plants & kill the healthy organisms in your soil. When talking about containers, we are dealing with a finite amount of soil that needs to stay healthy so your plants thrive. (Your garden beds can heal themselves, but it’s always a good idea to water the soil, not the leaves with your hose water. A good reason to have soaker hoses that lay close to the soil.)
I dechlorinate it two inexpensive ways. The first is to fill your watering cans so they sit for at least 24 hours before you water your containers. This will allow the chlorine to evaporate. The larger the mouth of the can, the quicker the evaporation. The added benefit to this is it will also get the water to air temperature which is best for your planters. So the routine being, water then fill before you go in for the day/night, they will be ready to go the next day. Having many watering cans is helpful (many can be found at garage sales – cheap!) My second tip is to use crystals that are used for fish tank water to dechlorinate immediately. These can be found in any pet store. My $10.00 jar treats 25,000 gallons! (I use PURA Chlorlock, very simple & effective). What you do is mix a little concentrated mixture according to directions. I keep in a small container & add two dropperfuls to each watering can. Having this option is beneficial when you have a plethora of planters as I do!
This may seem like added work, but it really is easy & the investment in your plants is nurtured in a big way! You will notice a difference, but remember to keep feeding your containers all summer & fall. The constant watering does wash away some nutrients. Enjoy the link below that explains it all!
http://www.gardenguides.com/80170-dechlorinate-water-garden-plants.html
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