From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Dillsburg, PA

I have germinated all of my seeds and have put them in pots. How often do you guys water at this point. My seed starting soil doesn't stay moist for very long and seems very dry. I checked one of my seeds and it didn't grow at all since I planted it three days ago. The soil was dry. thanks

5/2/2007 9:45:40 AM

President - GPC

Water from the bottom, make those roots go look for water. Stay away from shallow surface watering.

5/2/2007 10:02:18 AM

Dillsburg, PA

That could be difficult due to physics.

5/2/2007 10:08:20 AM

Georgia

Wiz what do you mean water from the bottom???

5/2/2007 12:10:51 PM

West By God Virginia

What he means is you fill a bucket or other vessel deep and big enough with water or fertilizer solution of choice (organic hopefully :) ) and dunk the bottom of the pot in water. Usually a 30 count is enough. I use 1 gallon pots and watering from the bottom is the deal!

5/2/2007 12:22:39 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

noooooo Watering from the bottom is done with a tray. Add water to the bottom of the tray and the water will wick up.

5/2/2007 2:07:10 PM

Georgia

Now I get it so you dont water at all from the top even if there under grow lights???

5/2/2007 2:15:54 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

non sense, after i have my seedlings outside hardening off in the sun, I water them gently from the top.....they are healthy as can be.

5/2/2007 2:19:07 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Jeff,
When watering from the bottom, as Shannon mentioned, I think it's capillary action which brings the water up???(I don't recall much about physics LOL)

5/2/2007 2:23:29 PM

President - GPC

Watering from the bottom is an old houseplant trick, if one waters just a little bit at the top, guess what, the roots tend to hang at the top, watering from the bottom encourages the roots from below. Watering alot from the top and letting the pot flush is good to to wash away the salts that can accumulate in potted plants,and bring Oxygen to the roots, but never let them sit in water......I hear that some let their plants wilt slightly to force them roots to look for water.....Its all good

5/2/2007 3:11:57 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Depends how big you planting pot is whether watering from the bottom will draw the liquid far enough up and into the pot to reach the roots.

After the plant has popped from the soil and you can see the first true leaf....plant it!!

I'm with Tom here, have always watered from the top!

5/2/2007 3:55:09 PM

Dillsburg, PA

Thanks guys

5/2/2007 4:11:27 PM

ordinary,VA

we have to water them? dang no wonder they died:)
sorry.. i water from the top also.

5/2/2007 5:58:28 PM

West By God Virginia

Hmmmm, I think watering with a tray or a bucket is a person choice. Like saying tomato and tomahto or as we say mater.

5/2/2007 6:03:22 PM

Syracuse, NY

...with you on it, DTM. America runs on dunkin'.
the plant doesn't care where the water is coming from
and as long as the soil gets soaked then that's the good thing.
well, good idea about where the roots will form most readily...
the main problem, if any, concerning watering "from above" would be a greater possibility of fungus or disease having a chance to develop;
that is why i have a fan gently blowing
on ANYthing i have growing.
good luck to all----eric g

5/2/2007 6:40:01 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Technically watering from a tray (bottom soak - yes by capillary cation) is a lot safer. If a fusarium or pythium spore happened to float by then overhead watering would make the situation worse. The just doesn't happen often enough for us to care about it. I do know some plant propagators who would strongly argue for bottom watering. Once bitten twice shy.

5/2/2007 8:54:23 PM

Rhode Island

i like cheese

5/2/2007 9:25:07 PM

Pinedale, WY

I'm with pap.

5/4/2007 12:39:42 AM