Need Advice on watering seed containers from bottom - Page 2

**mdvpc** · April 7, 2009

wheel-looks very professional! I think you will do fine.

wheelterrapin · April 7, 2009

Thanks Dice I will check this out.

wheelterrapin · April 7, 2009

I will let you folks know how I fare on all of this, it certainly is a learning experience for me and I appreciate all of the help everyone if giving me.

the999bbq · April 8, 2009

I find bottom watering the easiest anyway, only use watering from the top if the surface of the soil is too much dried out (especially before transplanting that can make the seedling fragile in a very dangerous spot)

Bottom watering is easy though, whatever hole you have in the cup (or even no holes if you use the newspaper pots), just put the lot into a container and let the soil (capillary action) to the rest. When you see that the soil surface on top begins to become moist again it is time to get it out of the water. Let it drain out, that's where a hole more in the pot will be better than a hole too few because than the soil can 'sit' in water for some time.

My setup is that I have vegetable baskets of 60x40 filled with newspaper cups, and I set them in a container of about 80x60. I learned (the hard way) that you sometimes just forget to get them out of the container so try to estimate a fair amount of water for your container, no more. That way the worst that can happen is that A) they sit in a little bit of water or B) could have had a bit more water but at least not C) are drowning ;-)

What I like most is that you don't have to fight the bushes when they are bigger to even get to the soil and that you just can drop in a flat and leave for work. When they are in need you can just drop the case in deeper water for some time...

April 7, 2009	#16
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	wheel-looks very professional! I think you will do fine. __________________ Michael

April 7, 2009	#17
wheelterrapin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Searcy, Arkansas Posts: 13	Thanks Dice I will check this out.

April 8, 2009	#19
the999bbq Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 191	I find bottom watering the easiest anyway, only use watering from the top if the surface of the soil is too much dried out (especially before transplanting that can make the seedling fragile in a very dangerous spot) Bottom watering is easy though, whatever hole you have in the cup (or even no holes if you use the newspaper pots), just put the lot into a container and let the soil (capillary action) to the rest. When you see that the soil surface on top begins to become moist again it is time to get it out of the water. Let it drain out, that's where a hole more in the pot will be better than a hole too few because than the soil can 'sit' in water for some time. My setup is that I have vegetable baskets of 60x40 filled with newspaper cups, and I set them in a container of about 80x60. I learned (the hard way) that you sometimes just forget to get them out of the container so try to estimate a fair amount of water for your container, no more. That way the worst that can happen is that A) they sit in a little bit of water or B) could have had a bit more water but at least not C) are drowning ;-) What I like most is that you don't have to fight the bushes when they are bigger to even get to the soil and that you just can drop in a flat and leave for work. When they are in need you can just drop the case in deeper water for some time...