Re: (watering)
- Subject: Re: (watering)
- From: S*@aol.com
- Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 10:06:47 EDT
In a message dated 7/19/99 6:44:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
jljaussi@juno.com writes:
> I think that you really need to be careful using this method. Roots are
> subject to rot and fungus just as the leaves are. You can have too much
> water. Tell us more about your method. Do you just put a pin-hole in
> the bottom?
>
> Jon
But that is the whole point of my milk bottle method, it measures out and
soaks in exactly a half inch of water twice a week, which is usually the
proper amount.
Of course the exact amount is determined by the soil moisture, mulch,
temperature, sun, humidity, etc. But generally when the top inch of soil is
dry, it's time to water 0.5 to 0.7 inches at least. Some people like to water
an inch all at once to get it deep, then mulch heavily.
As for the holes, I actually used some corn holder thingies with the metal
points. A pin is too small (I tried it). A ball point pen might work, too. I
put holes up in the indentation on the bottom, on each side, so water drips
out the two sides on the bottom. Since it is up in the indentation, it
prevents wet soil from clogging the holes. You can adjust the rate of
dripping by how tight you put the lid on the top.
I also used dozens of milk gallon containers filled with hot water to protect
the plants from frosts and freezes last year, I put about 30 gallons of hot
water around each plant, and insulated with foam and newspaper, and covered
everything with floating row cover and a plastic tent. It acted like a heater
and protected them down to 20 degrees.
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