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Watering only one portion of a pot?

Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
in Problem solving
Hi

Quick question, apologies if it’s a dumb question. I am watering with a dripping system only a part of the pot. The other half of the pot is dry

would this be enough to water the plant in the pot? Will the rest of the soil absorb the water on the other hand of the pot, or should I water the whole surface of the pot?

thanks
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Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It's an interesting question I think about often. I kind of conclude that it partly depends what kind of medium one is using. I've been experimenting with wateriing a planter in one area and seeing how far the water spreads. It seems that within a few inches of watering, the earth is bone dry and doesn't wick across at all. If the whole is damp first, it would be interesting to track changed wicking action. A bit harder to test, though.

    I was wondering about how close irrigation drippers need to be to wet a whole dry bed. Is the conclusion that (contrary to the usual advice) it's better with dripper to be on little and often rather than to have fewer, deeper waterings less often?
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    When I use the drip system I make sure it runs long enough for water just to start coming through the bottom of the container.  As long as they are watered often enough to prevent the compost drying out, being dry on the surface shouldn't be a problem.  If only a small area is getting wet, it suggests you need to allow the drip to run longer.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    If water is not moving from a wet area to a dry area over time, then we are breaking one of the fundamental laws of physics.
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  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It's not that water isn't moving to dry areas but how much and how far.
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    Yeah, thats my point, if i damp half of the pot, would the rest of the compost wet eventually? I have attached a pic to help you to understand it better


  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    If the compost is free draining water cannot move far through it sideways. if it's full on clay again water can't move through it, but in most soils somewhere in between you'll probably find 3/4 or so of the pot will get wet with only the top away from the watering point staying dry.

    What might be more of an issue is how much water you are actually putting into the pot. drip can be very very slow, about 1-2L per hour would be normal depending on your water pressure and length of line. I would try running the tape with the emitter in a bucket and see how much water you are actually watering with.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    @KT53 said -If only a small area is getting wet, it suggests you need to allow the drip to run longer.

    Exactly.
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    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I try to have the drippers close to the middles of the pots, and set the timer so that the water just about starts to come through the bottom of at least some of them. It don't think it matters if the surface of the compost is dry around the edges as long as it's damp lower down where the roots are. If we get hot weather I occasionally water manually with a can (or by dunking for smaller containers) just to make sure they're damp throughout.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It's easy enough to test. Get a pot. Water one spot on one side of the pot and see if the other side stays dry (not using a plant saucer).

    I am certainly finding this with large pots of dahlias. I have to be careful to water all the surface area of the earth in the pot, because it won't wick across. Some plants can wilt on one side, even if the other side has had loads. If a pot is near a hedge, I have to be careful to remember to get into the other side that might get missed. Saucers can be good for thirsty plants or root-dense pots in the summer - full grown dahlias, toms etc. It gives the chance for the water to wick upwards where is doesn't wick across.

    I find in my long planter about 30cm wide and one metre long, 30cm deep. If I leave a hose running on one side, the far corners on the other side will stay bone dry. The medium is too free draining, so I am continuously adding my own garden compost. It's also densely planted and roots don't wick. It's notable when I spend a long time watering that bed and areas stay dry.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    @KT53 said -If only a small area is getting wet, it suggests you need to allow the drip to run longer.

    As said above, it also depends on the soil mix.
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