soil drying out too fast! help!

aimeruni · May 16, 2012

I use a soil less mix; I get that w/container gardening (which is what I use) the soil will just dry out faster, it's one of the drawbacks to container gardening.

To reduce heat build up I use translucent colored containers when possible. I'm also trying to water earlier in the morning, because supposedly the soil will retain moisture longer this way; however that doesn't seem to be making any difference.

However I know it's not just because I do container gardening that the soil mix dries out fast. I know it's also partly because of the soil mix itself.

I don't want the plants to be waterlogged, but I don't want it to retain moisture so well, that I'm having to water incessantly, which is what I'm doing.

Somebody suggested replacing part of the mix w/compost. However it already calls for Osmocote. I'm guessing I'd reduce the Osmocote, but by how much (per batch).

Also how much of the pine bark mulch should I replace w/compost? Again per batch. One batch makes 30 gallons.

Here is the recipe....it's 5 gallons vermiculite, 5 gal. spaghnum peat, 1 2 cubic foot bag pine bark mulch, 2 c lime, 2 c Osmocote. Those are the measurements per batch, one batch makes about 30 gallons.

Sun City Linda · May 16, 2012

The usual advice for that type recipe is to increase the peat moss as a way of retaining more water. Adding compost will alter the basic "soiless" component of the mix.

fortyonenorth · May 16, 2012

What is the particle size of the "pine bark mulch" you are using? Ideally, the particles would be smaller than 1/4". Bigger particles = more drainage = less water retention. Also, this mix needs to be properly moistened in order for it to work. If it is completely dry it will be hydrophobic - meaning it will not retain moisture.

If these conditions are met, it should not be drying out too quickly - certainly not at this time of the year in the upper midwest.

cedarswamp · May 17, 2012

I used Al's 5-1-1 (bark fines-peat-perlite) mix for the first time this year, and contrary to what I believed would happen, it actually retains moisture longer than either straight promix BX or MG moisture control while providing superior drainage. I think the larger particle size may hinder evaporation, at least thats my novice theory.

TightenUp · May 17, 2012

as fortyonenorth said- it is very important to make sure the mix is wet before you fill the containers.

how big are the plants right now?

try watering a little bit and waiting a couple minutes and watering again. repeat this process a few times over a half hour span and see if you can get the mix to absorb a little more water.

i am growing some tomatoes in 6 gallon plastic containers and its very easy to tell how wet my mix is. i just feel the weight of the pot. this is how i judge if my seedlings need water as well.

rockhound · May 19, 2012

I sometimes have to put something on the sunny side to shade the soil, (not the plants) since if it gets too hot it takes more water. Have you tried that?

kenny_j · May 20, 2012

I am growing in pots for the first time, using als 5-1-1 mix. On some I tried it minus the perlite, and so far so good, and they drain really well but still retain moisture, but never soggy. They seem dry, but if you wiggle a finger down into the mix several inches they are nice and damp. Even with the heat the last couple days they are good, watering every 3-4 days or so.

casserole · May 21, 2012

please show a pic of your bark,I am betting the size is over 1/4 inch

stackhouse_kbtom · May 21, 2012

put some rocks on top of your medium... river rock is good because it doesn't have salts... they also make pebbles for hydro u can use on top of your medium... rinse them off every year after your done growing... hydroton pebbles are what they are called... anyways this will help with evaporation... u can also plant with polymers in your medium.... drought farmers use them.. good luck

May 16, 2012	#1
aimeruni Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brooksville FL, zone 9a Posts: 67	soil drying out too fast! help! I use a soil less mix; I get that w/container gardening (which is what I use) the soil will just dry out faster, it's one of the drawbacks to container gardening. To reduce heat build up I use translucent colored containers when possible. I'm also trying to water earlier in the morning, because supposedly the soil will retain moisture longer this way; however that doesn't seem to be making any difference. However I know it's not just because I do container gardening that the soil mix dries out fast. I know it's also partly because of the soil mix itself. I don't want the plants to be waterlogged, but I don't want it to retain moisture so well, that I'm having to water incessantly, which is what I'm doing. Somebody suggested replacing part of the mix w/compost. However it already calls for Osmocote. I'm guessing I'd reduce the Osmocote, but by how much (per batch). Also how much of the pine bark mulch should I replace w/compost? Again per batch. One batch makes 30 gallons. Here is the recipe....it's 5 gallons vermiculite, 5 gal. spaghnum peat, 1 2 cubic foot bag pine bark mulch, 2 c lime, 2 c Osmocote. Those are the measurements per batch, one batch makes about 30 gallons.

May 16, 2012	#2
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	The usual advice for that type recipe is to increase the peat moss as a way of retaining more water. Adding compost will alter the basic "soiless" component of the mix.

May 16, 2012	#3
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	What is the particle size of the "pine bark mulch" you are using? Ideally, the particles would be smaller than 1/4". Bigger particles = more drainage = less water retention. Also, this mix needs to be properly moistened in order for it to work. If it is completely dry it will be hydrophobic - meaning it will not retain moisture. If these conditions are met, it should not be drying out too quickly - certainly not at this time of the year in the upper midwest.

May 17, 2012	#4
cedarswamp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: New Jersey 7a Posts: 19	I used Al's 5-1-1 (bark fines-peat-perlite) mix for the first time this year, and contrary to what I believed would happen, it actually retains moisture longer than either straight promix BX or MG moisture control while providing superior drainage. I think the larger particle size may hinder evaporation, at least thats my novice theory.

May 17, 2012	#5
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	as fortyonenorth said- it is very important to make sure the mix is wet before you fill the containers. how big are the plants right now? try watering a little bit and waiting a couple minutes and watering again. repeat this process a few times over a half hour span and see if you can get the mix to absorb a little more water. i am growing some tomatoes in 6 gallon plastic containers and its very easy to tell how wet my mix is. i just feel the weight of the pot. this is how i judge if my seedlings need water as well.

May 19, 2012	#6
rockhound Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 285	I sometimes have to put something on the sunny side to shade the soil, (not the plants) since if it gets too hot it takes more water. Have you tried that?

May 20, 2012	#7
kenny_j Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: holly michigan Posts: 380	I am growing in pots for the first time, using als 5-1-1 mix. On some I tried it minus the perlite, and so far so good, and they drain really well but still retain moisture, but never soggy. They seem dry, but if you wiggle a finger down into the mix several inches they are nice and damp. Even with the heat the last couple days they are good, watering every 3-4 days or so.

May 21, 2012	#8
casserole Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dousman, WI Z5 Posts: 95	please show a pic of your bark,I am betting the size is over 1/4 inch

May 21, 2012	#9
stackhouse_kbtom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: south carolina Posts: 28	put some rocks on top of your medium... river rock is good because it doesn't have salts... they also make pebbles for hydro u can use on top of your medium... rinse them off every year after your done growing... hydroton pebbles are what they are called... anyways this will help with evaporation... u can also plant with polymers in your medium.... drought farmers use them.. good luck