Raising flowers is a pleasure for many people. For novices, raising flowers is sunny, and when there are only empty pots, the heart is empty. It is not easy to make flowers grow healthy and strong. And if you can't raise flowers well, it's basically a problem with watering.
Watering seems simple, but it is a headache for many flower friends. Even if there are many watering principles that can be referred to, but if you understand it wrong, you will still raise one tree and one die. For example, the watering principle of "dry and watered" is always at a loss for many people in practice. In order to solve this problem, let's go deep into the root of this watering misunderstanding, as well as the correct way to water.
"Dry".
Many people may mistakenly think that "drying" means that the potting soil does not contain water at all, and the soil is dry and white, and then it can be watered. However, in fact, this is a considerable misunderstanding.
For example, if the potting soil is completely dry and completely deprived of moisture, won't the root system be completely in a dry environment, and then it will suffer?In a state of severe water shortage, the root system will be damaged, and it is for this reason that we need to leave the right amount of water for the potting soil, and the optimal water content is about 30%.
This water content is not an imaginary number, but is based on the growth needs of the plant and the health of the root system. Potting soil has the right amount of water, which can not only provide the plants with the water and nutrients they need, but also protect the root system from dryness. In this way, you can get twice the result with half the effort when watering in the later stage.
"Pour through".
Many flower lovers may think that as long as there is water flowing out from the bottom of the pot, it is considered to be watered thoroughly. But in reality, this is a rather one-sided understanding. Although the water flows from the bottom of the pot, the potting soil in the middle is not really sufficiently moistened. It's like we give a plant water, but the plant's roots don't really absorb that water.
The correct way to water is to water the plants slowly and ensure that the water can penetrate every corner of the potting soil. Even if there is water coming out of the bottom of the pot, you should not stop watering, and after a while, you can slowly irrigate it with a small amount of water, about three times to make the potting soil completely moist, so as to ensure that the roots can fully absorb the water.
It's a bit like how we chew food slowly in our lives, rather than swallowing it in a hurry. Plants also need time to absorb water and nourish every inch of their roots. This gradual watering method not only avoids wasting water, but also allows the plants to absorb water and thrive in a comfortable environment.
Of course, if you are worried that the potting soil will not be completely moist when watering, especially if there is a lot of peat soil, you can regularly take the method of soaking the pot to replenish water, so that the root system and potting soil can "absorb" the water at one time. However, after soaking the pot, the water flowing out of the bottom of the pot should not accumulate in the tray, but should be poured out in time to avoid the potting soil being too wet and causing the plant to rot its roots.
How to determine the moisture content of potting soil?
Here's a simple trick, which is to use a tool such as a bamboo skewer or a small wooden stick, insert it into the potting soil, and take it out after a while to see if it still has water, which can help us determine if the potting soil needs to be watered.
If you feel that this method is a bit "soily", you can also consider using a professional soil detector to more accurately understand the moisture content of the potting soil.