Top Dressing for Top Watering Containers

schill93 · May 27, 2015

As I am new to all of this, please forgive my ignorance. I am familiar with how to set up SIP watering containers as the Earthbox, Earthtainer, etc., where you spread (or some like to incorporate it directly through the mix) your dolomite about 3/4 up from the container and then add some more mix then lay your two cups of granular fertilizer in a strip towards the top and cover it with more mix.

However, on non-sip containers where you will be watering from the top via automatic irrigation drip, could you spread a cup of granular fertilizer over the top, then cover it with a little more mix with worm castings mixed in and put the mulch back on top?

Obviously I am talking about containers all ready made up with mature plants in them. Would that 1 cup of fertilizer be too much going down each time the drip (with a 4" wide spray) comes on? Drip spray comes on twice a day for 5 minutes. I am in the hot dry desert. Container are from 5 to 15 gallons each and water flows through quickly and out the bottom.

I am trying to get a feeling how this release of granular fertilizer placed on top compares to pouring a wet solution of your mixed fertilizer on each week.

I would think that a more constant, as opposed to a one time splurge each week would be better. However, I have no idea how much would seep down at each watering. It may be too much. Can you shed some light on this for me?

May 27, 2015	#1
schill93 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Nevada Posts: 275	Top Dressing for Top Watering Containers As I am new to all of this, please forgive my ignorance. I am familiar with how to set up SIP watering containers as the Earthbox, Earthtainer, etc., where you spread (or some like to incorporate it directly through the mix) your dolomite about 3/4 up from the container and then add some more mix then lay your two cups of granular fertilizer in a strip towards the top and cover it with more mix. However, on non-sip containers where you will be watering from the top via automatic irrigation drip, could you spread a cup of granular fertilizer over the top, then cover it with a little more mix with worm castings mixed in and put the mulch back on top? Obviously I am talking about containers all ready made up with mature plants in them. Would that 1 cup of fertilizer be too much going down each time the drip (with a 4" wide spray) comes on? Drip spray comes on twice a day for 5 minutes. I am in the hot dry desert. Container are from 5 to 15 gallons each and water flows through quickly and out the bottom. I am trying to get a feeling how this release of granular fertilizer placed on top compares to pouring a wet solution of your mixed fertilizer on each week. I would think that a more constant, as opposed to a one time splurge each week would be better. However, I have no idea how much would seep down at each watering. It may be too much. Can you shed some light on this for me? Last edited by schill93; May 27, 2015 at 06:38 PM.