Air pot watering tip.

[BigSm0]

This is something that's really saved me and allowed me to water much faster. Concaving the top will force the water to funnel towards the center leaving a dryer perimeter. I have actually watered 2 7 gallon pots (without a plant in it) with 2 gallons of water. With and without a concaved top. The flat top bad a much more even saturation. The concaved was soggy in the middle and only damp on the outer edges.

The solution!! Add 2-3 inches of coco on top. Coco always stays soft and fluffy. Soil compacts and becomes harder to absorb water. The coco acts as a sponge that evenly passes the water to the soil top.

Funny how I stumbled across this too. I was filling a bunch of pots when I ran out of soil. Never used coco but wanted to try it. This bag I had sat for months unused, when I realized I was short on filing the last pots I decided to even them all out and use the coco to fill the remaining. The first water was a treat! Since I have grown close to 75 plants this way and love love love it!

 

[Waira]

Great idea 'Sm0! When well hydrated, coco has such easy water permeability it just slips right on in, hardly disturbing the surface,....breaths even better, and wicks well too so there won't be much moisture level differences between them,... Just curious, do you have a wetting agent, like Coco-Wet? For soil that's a bit resistant (as coco can be if it over-dries), this will let seep right through!
thanks'Sm0!

 

[BigSm0]

Great idea 'Sm0! When well hydrated, coco has such easy water permeability it just slips right on in, hardly disturbing the surface,....breaths even better, and wicks well too so there won't be much moisture level differences between them,... Just curious, do you have a wetting agent, like Coco-Wet? For soil that's a bit resistant (as coco can be if it over-dries), this will let seep right through!
thanks'Sm0!

I actually just picked some up for the spinosad you recommend. Never thouggg about adding it into the mix. Do you think it's worth adding?

I picked up a bottle of water wetter years ago for my Moto. Added in to the coolant it dropped the engine temp by 3 degree. Minor upgrade but for 10 bucks it was well worth it.

 

[Waira]

Oh yeah! Same principle applies,it takes the surface tension out of the solution/water so it coats and sticks more evenly on a leaf, no beading up, plus it cuts through the bugs' natural repellency... especially important with mealy bugs, woolly aphids, scale, anything with a defensive coating or highly waxy surface!

 

[BII]

And if you want to make watering even easier, including less concerns about poured-on water forming channels in the coco, you can add a layer of hydroton, clay pellets, etc. on top of the coco. This also forms a dry layer that likely discourages insects from getting into the coco and soil; decreases coco/soil evaporation (concentrating of salts); etc.