Ask Ken
Q. Sometime back, I read your column about keeping outdoor potted plants watered. I’ve heard of products that you can add to your potting mix that hold water and can help. You didn’t mention them, so what about these? Might they make my winter indoor watering chores easier? — J. Wright, Hampton
A. I believe what you are asking about are the so-called moisture “extenders.” These products have been around for years, first available to commercial growers, and eventually they trickled to the consumer market. You will find them blended into some mixes, or sold separately, so you can add to your mix before planting.
Another term for these is “hydrogels.. Just to name a few: You may have seen them marketed under various names such as Supersorb, Hydrosorb, Miracle-Gro Water Storing Crystals and Soil Moist. They are polymer crystals that when wetted, absorb and hold up to 600 times their weight in water. In theory, when the media dries, they release their moisture. But, studies at the University of Minnesota in 2008, as well as others, conclude these are inconsistent and give marginal results at best.
I’m not a big fan of these. Back in the day, growing in greenhouses, I experimented with them when they first became available. But the hydrogels just didn’t seem to solve the problem, and at times they actually held too much water, resulting in poor root development and sometimes rot.
A better solution for me was to go to a bigger container, with more media, capable of holding more water and supporting a bigger root system. I also went to a “tighter”, less porous potting mix in summer. But the winter season is a different ballgame. In fact, suppliers of professional horticultural sell a variety of potting mixes designated as “summer” and “winter” mixes. These are formulated to help growers better respond to the seasonal water/fertility needs of plants.
By now, I hope you have brought in your potted “indoor” plants for the season. Watering indoor plants in the winter can be tricky. The winter indoor environment presents a different set of challenges. It is a drastic change in temperature, humidity and light levels. And these are subject to change, both weekly, and from one room to the next. But in general, indoors needs will be much less and you should careful to avoid overwatering. The products I’ve mentioned above could accentuate this problem.
Monitor each of your plants individually when watering. As well, keep an eye on the changing conditions in the different rooms of your home – the sunlight, humidity levels, potential drafts. Don’t try to adhere to a set schedule to do all your watering. Your plants need water when they need watering – not on Saturdays or a particular day of the week. Thoroughness, not frequency is the key. Take care to saturate your pot completely and collect/dump the extra water that collects in the saucer. And also note that some of your plants will benefit from an occasional spritzing, as the low humidity sucks the moisture out of them (and you).
One another note, don’t forget the water needs of your outdoor needs. Winter season is a drastic change from summer for both plants and people. Careful observation/monitoring of them, and the changes in the environment, will help keep everyone happy.
And one more thing
Continuing from last week: I’d like to solicit your successful (or not so) gardening experiences of this past growing season. What new plants did you discover? What new methods did you try and can recommend — or not? What new products did you use and can recommend? Please write in and let me hear what you might have learned and can share with us for next year.
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