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Potted plants – THOROUGH WATERING versus SOAKING. See my experiment.
I wanted to see the difference between what I thought was a thorough watering of an outside potted plant in a 150mm (6″) pot, and a good, long submersion soak.
The pot contains a beautiful dark purple Salvia hybrid that’s grown nicely into the pot. I was given it last week but I haven’t yet had a chance to plant out. I’ve been watering it every day so although it’s been hot, I thought it was being well-cared for.
First I watered the Salvia outside with a watering can, gently filling the space at the top of the pot quite a few times with a watering can, until there was lots of water running out the bottom. Pretty much what you’d do every day when you thought you were giving an outside potted plant a ‘thorough watering’.
Then I weighed it – 973 grams.
Next I soaked it in my sink, filling it deep enough so that the whole pot could be submerged. It quickly floated on to its side so I wedged it upright with some glass bowls.
I left it for 3 hours, until it would stand upright on the bottom of the sink, then let it drain for another 30 minutes.
Then I weighed it – 1,176 grams.
So that pot is now holding an extra 203 grams of water than it did before, which shows how a potted root ball can develop dry, hard-to-rewet sections, even when you think you’re giving your plant plenty of regular TLC.
SO SOAK YOUR PLANTS THIS SUMMER!
Great experiment and very useful to know. It’s common for people to say they have watered a plant dutifully and yet it has all the symptoms of water stress. It’s a good demonstration.