No more newspaper in my tubs

barryla61 · May 30, 2012

Decided to put newspaper in the bottom of my planting containers - not SWC's - to preserve a little extra moisture. Only put 2 layers - 2 pages thick and soaked it well before putting planting media in.
Well after 2 hard rains water was standing in over half of my tubs and each one has seven 1/2 inch holes in the bottom.
Never thought that 2 little pages of wet newspaper would seal those holes.

Rockporter · May 30, 2012

I put the holes in the side of my tubs about an inch or two high to allow for a reserve, then add small rocks in a layer about halfway up to the holes. Then add a layer of weed cloth and then the potting mix. This allows for proper drainage and also gives a small water reserve for the plants to drink.

Sorry you have to deal with that problem, it's sure a dissapointment when it doesn't go as planned.

Doug9345 · May 30, 2012

Yes wet paper will hold more than you'd think. I knew a guy when I was first in college that would fill a paper lunch bag full of water and drop it on an unsuspecting victim. I didn't say he a was a friend.

dice · June 8, 2012

You can lift them up and poke something through them from
the bottom. Wet newspaper may be resistant to water draining
through it when intact, but it has little mechanical strenth.

May 30, 2012	#1
barryla61 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bedford, VA Posts: 257	No more newspaper in my tubs Decided to put newspaper in the bottom of my planting containers - not SWC's - to preserve a little extra moisture. Only put 2 layers - 2 pages thick and soaked it well before putting planting media in. Well after 2 hard rains water was standing in over half of my tubs and each one has seven 1/2 inch holes in the bottom. Never thought that 2 little pages of wet newspaper would seal those holes.

May 30, 2012	#2
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	I put the holes in the side of my tubs about an inch or two high to allow for a reserve, then add small rocks in a layer about halfway up to the holes. Then add a layer of weed cloth and then the potting mix. This allows for proper drainage and also gives a small water reserve for the plants to drink. Sorry you have to deal with that problem, it's sure a dissapointment when it doesn't go as planned. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

May 30, 2012	#3
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	Yes wet paper will hold more than you'd think. I knew a guy when I was first in college that would fill a paper lunch bag full of water and drop it on an unsuspecting victim. I didn't say he a was a friend. Last edited by Doug9345; June 8, 2012 at 09:43 AM.

June 8, 2012	#4
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	You can lift them up and poke something through them from the bottom. Wet newspaper may be resistant to water draining through it when intact, but it has little mechanical strenth. __________________ -- alias

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