Can you over water by bottom watering? Yes, if the plant is sitting in water too long, you can still overwater your plant through bottom watering. However, bottom watering is a more controlled method of watering your plants.
This could lead to overwatering unless you leave the pot in the water for long enough. But then the soil might have a hard time draining, which can mean your plant is sitting in soggy soil for too long. Not good! With a well-draining pot and aerated soil, overwatering shouldn't be an issue when bottom watering.
All you need to do is set the potted plant (be sure it has drainage holes) into the bathtub, sink, or another container that's filled with a couple inches of water. After 15 to 20 minutes, the plant will have absorbed the exact amount it needs—never too little or too much.
"Bottom watering prevents overwatering".
Most plant parents are encouraged to use pots with drainage holes in the bottom. This is one of the very best ways to prevent overwatering and root rot, as excess water will simply drain out of the holes and can then be poured away.
The downside of bottom watering plants
In terms of plant health, there aren't a lot of drawbacks to watering plants from the bottom. However, one consideration would be that continual bottom watering could lead to a build up of minerals and excess salts in the growing medium, especially if you're using tap water.
Bottom watering is okay for smaller 4–6-inch plants, but we don't recommend this for larger plants. The time it would take to soak the roots in a larger potted container and get the full capillary action to the top of the soil may be too long.
He recommends: 'Using a mixture of bottom watering for every day with top watering to wash away the build-up of salts and minerals will keep your plants healthy, strong and well-watered. ' The build-up of salts should be dealt with every couple of months by watering from above.
Bottom watering is a great way for your plants to absorb only the amount of water they need. This can be done one-on-one with a single plant, or it can be done with multiple plants at once, depending on your container. If you're doing multiple plants with one container, do make sure they are all healthy.
Bottom watering doesn't flood the soil surface, so the topsoil tends to dry out faster using this method. It would be better not to allow water to penetrate all the way to the surface; but, even so, bottom watering will still help reduce your gnat population.
Bottom watering prevents accidental leaf splashes or water retention. Some plants won't respond well to this method if they have sensitive roots and can't tolerate higher levels of salt and mineral buildup. This is the main issue with bottom watering, as the soil doesn't have a way to dispose of these materials.
Gardening FAQ
The problem with your soil resisting hydration is not uncommon. It usually begins with the soil being watered incompletely and then drying more than it should. After that it can become hydrophobic and actually repel water! The ingredient in the soil that is causing that problem is peat.
As a general rule of thumb, most of our customers who are utilizing the most common types of spray heads can comfortably water their lawn for 10 minutes at a time. If you're running rotor heads, you can bump that time up to 20 minutes.
Signs of Overwatering
When a plant is first becoming overwatered, leaves turn yellow. If soil doesn't have a chance to dry out before you water again, leaves start to wilt. When overwatering is the problem, wilted leaves are soft and limp. (If too little water is the issue, wilted leaves are dry and crispy.)
Stop Watering the Plant
But stopping your watering is always the first step. If you're overwatering, you'll likely notice that the soil is wet, so you want to make sure that soil is bone dry before you're ready to break out the watering can again.
How often should I bottom water my plants? It depends on the type of plant and its watering needs. Instead of following a watering schedule, check the moisture level of the soil and water the plants as needed.
To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it.
“Bottom-watering” is when you put your parched plant in a bucket of water and let it soak up what it needs through the drainage hole. (It's very fun. “Like a magic trick,” said Adams.) This keeps the top of your soil dry and therefore gnat-egg-proof.
When bottom watering potted plants, the key is in the timing. Push your finger into the soil between the wall of the container and the stem of the plant. If you push down to the second knuckle and still don't feel moist soil, it's time to water the plant.
It depends on the size of the pot, type of pot (plastic or clay), how dry the soil is, the type of potting medium, and the density of the root ball. Larger plants might need a few hours, whereas small plants in smaller pots will take considerably less time. Some people even bottom water their plants overnight.
If you are unsure how long to water new plants, aim for 30-60 seconds for small plants – longer for larger plants while moving the hose to a few locations around the plant. Avoid watering when the soil feels moist. The earth must be allowed to dry out between watering.
If you have snake plants, African violets, and maybe a cape primrose or two in your indoor garden, it's a great idea to bottom water all the plants. However, you don't want too many plants in your tub at once. Then they're fighting for water and one plant is bound to end up with less than it needs.
Because overwatering and underwatering are equally tough on your plants, finding a good balance - the sweet spot where your plant is happiest - is essential. Let's take a look at how to diagnose whether your plant needs more or less water, and tips for finding that perfect balance.
Avoid showering plants that don't like to get their leaves wet (such as African violets, Cyclamen, and Begonias). Did you fill your plant container with anything besides potting mix or potting soil?