Mix water-absorbing materials into your soil.
Organic material, such as coconut coir, peat moss, or even compost, will absorb water, retaining moisture that plants can use during dry spells.
The application of mulch, such as wood chips, and/or compost to the soil surface can help hold moisture in the soil and prevent these dry soil conditions from occurring. Organic matter in the soil helps to soak up and hold moisture.
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.
Water once or twice per week, using enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of about 6 inches each time. It's okay if the soil's surface dries out between waterings, but the soil beneath should remain moist.
Sand. Sand is one of the main properties of any type of soil. The grains do not retain or hold onto water, so they are perfect for use in the bottom of indoor planters to aid in drainage. Sand often used by professional growers and is usually mixed in within greenhouse and nursery growing mixes.
Pots absorb heat, which can stress plant roots, and the soil in them dries out much faster than soil in the ground. Container plants generally need to be watered daily. During really hot weather, you may need to even water twice a day, especially smaller containers.
As plant roots grow, they'll gradually displace the soil in the pot. Less soil means that when you do water, most of the water will just drain away, and the roots won't have a chance to actually absorb the water. The soil that does remain will dry out quickly because the roots will absorb any water quickly.
Can Potting Soil Go Bad. Potting soil can go bad if not stored properly. It can dry out, clump, develop mold and fungi, and even smell rotten. Using this can introduce disease to plants or starve them of nutrients, water, and oxygen.
A great option is to place your pot in a bowl or container of water where the water comes halfway up the pot. Then water your potting mix from the top, leave this for a while and then repeat. If you do this several times you should notice the soil absorbing water.
Limestone is added to peat-based potting mixes to help balance the pH. I use bales of Premier brand peat moss for my homemade potting soil, blended with crushed limestone at a rate of 1/4 cup lime for every 6 gallons of peat moss.
The best time to water your garden in summer is from 6 am to 10 am—before the heat of the day sets in, giving your plants plenty of time to drink up and any moisture on the leaves to dry off before nightfall. What is this? If watering in the morning isn't possible, the next best time is from 4 pm to 7 pm.
The best way to tell if your plants need water is to stick your finger about an inch into the potting mix—if it feels dry, break out the watering can.
Excess water collects in the bottom of the pot, so even if the top soil feels dry, the roots might be soaking wet. This leads to overwatering - which is the most common issue for plants without drainage holes.
Coffee filters hold moisture: Since coffee filters are absorbent, they will retain some moisture from each watering. While it's not enough moisture to cause root rot, it may give you a bit of extra time between waterings or tide you over in case you (gasp) miss a watering session.
Rocks in the bottom of containers do not contribute to better draining soils and healthier plants. Instead plant roots encounter saturated soils that don't drain efficiently. It all has to do with something called a perched water table.
Gravel or stones can also be at the bottom of a planter, but only to thinly cover and protect the drainage holes and not as a thick solid layer. A thick layer can reduce the space for plant roots and also potentially raise the water table in the pot, which can increase the saturation of the soil around plant roots.
Water Only When Needed
Push it into the ground around your plants. You want the top 2 or 3 inches of the soil to be dry, and the soil below that to be moist.
If you use tap water, you may notice that your plants are not growing as tall and strong to the best of their abilities. To reduce the risk of harmful chemicals in your water, allow your tap water to sit out for at least 24 hours before using it to water your plants. This allows the chlorine to dissipate.
Wetting agents and washing detergents work the same way. The addition of ordinary washing detergent can improve the penetration of water in soil, but the effect does not last very long. Also many of these detergents contain compounds that are harmful to growing plants.