Handy Home Hints

Help! My pot plants keep drying out! 6 easy ways to keep pot plants hydrated

Because of the small amount of soil in a pot compared to a garden bed, pot plants can sometimes dry out. Here's how to help them to survive hot weather.

March 11, 2021
  1. Give them a plant bath by sitting plant pots in a saucer or bowl of water.
  2. For larger pots, make small holes all over a plastic bottle and plant it in the pot, alongside your plant with the lid off and the opening accessible on the surface of the soil. Fill the bottle with water as required. The water will seep out through the holes and into the roots of your plant, keeping it moist in hot weather.
  3. When you put a new plant into a pot, line the bottom with household sponges. When you water the plant, the sponges will soak up excess water. Perfect for smaller pots which can dry out quickly.
  4. Use rocks or bark as mulch on the top of your containers. This will help keep them from drying out as well as prevent weeds from forming that can steal moisture from your plants.
  5. Water your plants in the morning rather than evening to get the most from the watering. This will allow the water to run down into the soil and reach the roots of the plant without too much excess water lost to evaporation.
  6. Get an empty plastic milk bottle (size depending on the size of your plant pot) and rinse clean. Drill small holes into the plastic lid, fill the bottle with water and replace the lid. Place upturned into your plant pot and the water will drip slowly into the soil.
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