Log in

View Full Version : Winter Watering- How much?


1aday
01-15-2010, 03:52 PM
I love to water my plants and have killed quite a few through overwatering, but I think I might be about to kill some bananas from not watering enough!

The problem is my greenhouse gets quite cool at night (down to about 50F) and I'm afraid to water my plants too much and cause rot.

Then again, on sunny days it can get to be 100 degrees in the greenhouse.

I just found a spot that looks like rot on one of my big ones, the top of the soil is dry and I peeked through a crack near the bottom of the pot, looks dry there too, although I watered it last week.

Can I find a happy medium? I thought I was lucky having a greenhouse but my watering and the temperature flucuations are turning my plants into crispy critters!
:2141:

sunfish
01-15-2010, 04:13 PM
I use a 1gal. pump up sprayer and just mist the soil .

1aday
01-15-2010, 04:18 PM
Wow, that's not very much water! How often do you do that?

sunfish
01-15-2010, 04:26 PM
It all depends on the weather. I have the same situation as you . I find if I water the pots with a hose they stay to wet even though I have good soil.Two to three times a week works for me this time of year.

Bob
01-15-2010, 04:44 PM
I wait till the soil is dry about 2" down checking with a finger and then water thoroughly.... The plants seem to do well with that schedule.

CookieCows
01-15-2010, 05:00 PM
I don't have a green house and never thought about temp. fluctuations like that. I too think that a green house would just magically solve all my needs. LOL I basically do the 2" finger test like Bob also. You could buy a thermometer to stick in the dirt. I did that last year. They're not expensive. Is your dirt draining really well? There's fungicide application also if you get worried.

I have all my back up plants inside the house and water them about once a week.

Deb

Abnshrek
01-15-2010, 05:26 PM
I'm like tony I mist mine especially if they are small. The bigger one's (3ft and larger) I can soak every once in a while. temp dependant.. and its been cool here lately.