water runs straight through pots

I grow in organic soil, and after a while it just completely loses its water retaining abilities (peat and coco). I try and water then, and it's like it just pours straight through.

It's now set up so I water with a little spurt from the watering can to wet the top of the soil, and them come back and re-water completely, but this is a pain in the ass.

I was wondering if their is anything I can put in my water that is organic, and won't hurt the plant, that will allow my soil to absorb water quickly rather than take three or four waterings before it gets absorbed.

Any thoughts? I know people use a surfactant for foliar spraying, but I dont know if this would work for soil.

Buggins said:

Any thoughts? I know people use a surfactant for foliar spraying, but I dont know if this would work for soil.

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This would be my recommendation. =)

I have this with plant magic organic soil. It happen if you let it dry out too much. Organics is meant to be left moist (not wet but moist) and don't let it dry out or it is a nightmare to fix!

water with 1/2 of water, wait, and then water with the rest.

Pour slower, it will help you in the long run. I normally water a half gal slowly on the top, do that to every one needing watering, and then come back and give them another half gallon. Works like a charm. You can use a surfactant, but if you water consistently and slow enough, it will be fine. Mine runs straight through when they are really thirsty and then slowly gets soaked up out of the tray. When they are really dry, I make sure not to let it do this and water really slowly. The more patient you can be and pour more slowly, the more evenly distributed your nutrients will be.

couple drops of dish-soap.

dis soap palm of oil.. s

lime73 said:

couple drops of dish-soap.

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Yep, it breaks the surface tension.
It will happen if you're rootbound. If so, re-pot.
Or, catch the overflow in a saucer and let the plant wick it. Don't let it sit too long in standing water, though.

I thought dish-soap has antibacterial properties. This would hurt the microbes in the soil, no?

I would say yes, steer away from dish soap, counter productive to what you are doing in organics. I would probably buy some Cocowet, or like I said earlier, just pour slower and save yourself the 8 bucks.

yep yep all the above i got some prob with this as my plants finish there last 2 weeks in 1 gal pots they drink everything just water then water again then water again lol take time to get it to retain sometimes and often the plant will drink it all again!

if you let the soil get too dry the water will run right through it without moistening the soil. water the plant in something that is large enough to hold the runoff and let the plant sit in it for a bit and it will soak up the water. this ensures uniform moistening of the soil.

Total Head said:

if you let the soil get too dry the water will run right through it without moistening the soil. water the plant in something that is large enough to hold the runoff and let the plant sit in it for a bit and it will soak up the water. this ensures uniform moistening of the soil.

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^^^^^^THAT^^^^^^

Happens to me all the time, especially when I'm late with a watering and they get too dry. I use a plastic shoebox for 1gal containers and a oil drip pan from the auto parts store for the 3 and 5 gal. It fits a 5gal bucket perfectly BTW and makes nice drip saucers.I just use Ivory soap every now and then with a watering to keep the peat absorbing the water. You really need it if you top dress with worm castings. Any surfactant should do. I'm just old school with the Ivory, just make sure it is the plain un-scented. I also have coco wet, but @$8 for that tiny bottle ............ Dr.Bonners will work fine also.

BTW, not all soaps are anti bacterial, just the ones that say they are. 'Pure' soaps aren't going to hurt anything.

Wet

Buggins said:

I grow in organic soil, and after a while it just completely loses its water retaining abilities (peat and coco). I try and water then, and it's like it just pours straight through.

It's now set up so I water with a little spurt from the watering can to wet the top of the soil, and them come back and re-water completely, but this is a pain in the ass.

I was wondering if their is anything I can put in my water that is organic, and won't hurt the plant, that will allow my soil to absorb water quickly rather than take three or four waterings before it gets absorbed.

Any thoughts? I know people use a surfactant for foliar spraying, but I dont know if this would work for soil.

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I use Aloe Vera juice as a surfactant for soil drench. It also has saponins and all kinds of other good stuff. I use 1 oz. per gallon as a drench and 2 oz. per gallon as a foliar.

+ WitchDoctor + said:

I use Aloe Vera juice as a surfactant for soil drench. It also has saponins and all kinds of other good stuff. I use 1 oz. per gallon as a drench and 2 oz. per gallon as a foliar.

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This is excellent iinformation sir! Many thanks. Ive been trying to find an organic surfactant like that. I love aloe. Drink it for my crohns disease and now I've got another use!

Buggins said:

This is excellent iinformation sir! Many thanks. Ive been trying to find an organic surfactant like that. I love aloe. Drink it for my crohns disease and now I've got another use!

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Hey, you're totally welcome. I also have GI issues. A shot for me, a shot for the plants....a shot for me, a shot for the plants....rinse and repeat lol.

Btw, if you live by a Trader Joes they sell a gallon of pure organic unfiltered Aloe Vera Juice for $7.99, it's the cheapest I've found since I use a lot of it.

no trader joes here, but I have a local health food store that sells it by the gallon for about $10, organic. Thanks