HOW TO USE ROCKS IN PLANT POTS FOR DRAINAGE. PART 2 | Gardening in Canada

[@willow_wise]

What a cool thing to be "Soil Scientist", I want a do-over on my career. Love your content.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Grab a book or planner here ❤️ www.etsy.com/ca/BeeBizzyStudio/listing/896493958/gardening-in-canada-2021-garden-planner?Copy&ListingManager&Share&.lmsm&share_time=1606331145749

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks for watching! Check out Magidome instagram.com/magidome or their website www.magidome.com And grab a book or planner here www.etsy.com/ca/BeeBizzyStudio/listing/896493958/gardening-in-canada-2021-garden-planner?Copy&ListingManager&Share&.lmsm&share_time=1606331145749

[@julicaru4812]

Ha ha , I’d adopt you in a heart beat ! Can always love another granddaughter! Your thoughts on sustainable, affordable gardening, supporting local businesses and your general ethos meld well with my own , keep doing you Ashley, you’re doing great , all the best Jules

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hahaha perfect! I’ll submit my application

[@padmak10]

Omg.... thank you so much! I am from Mumbai, India. We have a semi humid env here and its very important to understand how to avoid water logging in the pots. This concept of perched water table is so well explained and how to manipulate it to use in our pots. Never seen such a scientifically explained video.. its so useful. Also your enthusiasm is good to keep us engaged throughout. God bless u Ashley.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed!!!

[@cedarmyers6709]

The tall pot example is remarkable similar to a sub-irrigated planter (SIPs), except with the wick going to the bottom and the intent of storing water at the bottom. What is your soil scientist perspective on SIPs?

[@kweis7333]

Honestly I would love to see more of the “heavier science based” videos. It’s kind of what the houseplant community is missing. And go lefties! 🤚🤚

[@GardeningInCanada]

Okay perfect! Good too know! And yes hahah agreed I am very left handed 😆

[@nikkibiondo7399]

I agree

[@bluerockcomputingllc4143]

BTW, the ROCKS IN POTS video series was the right amount of soil science for me. It's a great reference. I get something new out of your soil presentations every time I watch them. Thank you for the hard work you put into all your videos. 👏👏👏

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks awesome glad you enjoyed!

[@heatherc6727]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge on KZbin, Ashley! The information in this video is totally timeless and extremely useful for a plant beginner like me! I totally admire the method that waiting 5 minutes and examine the height of the perched water table on a clear cup/pot! This is amazing!

[@christyjohnson4932]

I am definitely trying the clear pot thing for the different soil compositions. I am always wondering if I have something suitable for the plant and this will ease my mind a lot!

[@bourgoyne0001]

Thank you for the in depth explantation. I work in a garden center and I hear customers talking about using rocks as well as co workers recommending them. So far I have only been cautioning my customers when they bring up the idea, I have not felt confident giving them a hard NO, I tell them to do some reading about perched water tables. But now I can explain what happens and all the things they should pay attention to. 😇

[@GardeningInCanada]

That is awesome! thank you for doing you job so thoroughly! The fact that you are taking the time to research and learn is important.

[@jeaninecelayeta3370]

Thank you for explaining this. I like to know the science behind what people tell me. So your channel is perfect for me.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoy it! You are watching a ton of videos today haha ❤️❤️❤️

[@grat2010]

So glad I found your channel. This makes sense and I appreciate someone finally talking about practical adjustments that can be made instead of just "Hur dur perched water table, don't put rocks in ever".

[@GardeningInCanada]

❤️ absolutely anytime, nothing is cut and dry. Share with everyone you know 😉

[@jeandarbyshire4391]

Love the science! Many/most social media plant info is not based on science but on experience with too many variables to be useful. Thank you!

[@GardeningInCanada]

It’s so true! Different things work for different people

[@chesterhobbs7244]

Amen about Texas! You provide such a unique and most valuable service to us. Play on!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I’m glad you enjoy it!

[@fahadbandial]

Thanks a lot for the content you’re sharing here. ❤

[@duckilama832]

What a great explanation, thank you!

[@missjuhee]

Thank you for this additional options on this topic. I was actually thinking of doing exactly #3 because it's similar to what we do with salt shakers. You can add some washed and dried rice (read about washing of arsenic) into a salt shaker or any content that is of smaller particle size. The larger rice particles increase the porosity and salt comes out much more smoothly..I am going to try this with my ground soil which is mostly clay. I want to plant milkweed there. Thank you again.

[@melatn]

So thoughtful and educational. Love the way you combine the science with common sense and simple solutions. Well done, thank you and keep up the great work! 🌱

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thank you so much that’s a huge compliment!

[@kele1264]

I can't believe how many videos I've missed. You're really kicking butt Ashley! After a number of false starts in trying to catch up, I'm digging in once more! I think it's great that you're helping people to have better lives, especially sustainably. As always, thanks for the information and demonstrations. I hope if you get comments from people that disagree with something, that those people are at least respectful and present their views responsibly. Good health and happiness to you and yours; hugs and kissies to the cats and dogs!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks so much! Glad you’re back! And yes we are slowly growing!

[@ranchgirl6240]

Thank you for all your knowledge on perched water level. I just started doing succulents and my other house plants I will be repotting will love the ideas you gave me.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Good luck!

[@sterlgirlceline]

LOVE your channel!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thank you!!!

[@kryspinkiedrowski3330]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. Finally understood this.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Woohoo!

[@warrior3d27]

hey thanks so much for this, ive been experimenting with home soil solutions for my airoids and cactus mix using cheap hardware store sand/peat/stone ect. this helps make it easier to understand what i need to achieve to get the best results!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea absolutely glad it was helpful

[@Killuminati23]

I recommend simply using cut open clear plastic bottles and see how the roots develop, how deep they shoot in which time and how the water level coresponds to the amount of rocks or other stuff in the bottom and the soil etc. It's a really cheap and good solution to get a better look at how the kind of plant you grow develops individually. (yes I know, clear pots aren't good because the roots don't like light, but you can simply wrap paper around it or something like that, but even if totally clear I hadn't had any problems with root development.)

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

That makes so much sense! Physics is dooming all of my plants! I've always relied on getting the plants to grow enough to clean up the mess in the containers, and when they don't, they start to rot out! Sometimes the soil shrinks too much and the water falls off the sides without watering anything, also a sealed water bottle can be put under the dirt, or a brick or three, we've done that. I've noticed that gravel wicks water up, increasing the surface area and evaporating it a lot faster, same with cotton felt. That also explains why moss grows so well in my planters, it perfectly replicates a bog!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Haha ive done the water bottle trick!

[@mauricebrown24]

Outstanding video! Well presented. You are so cute. I now know how to prevent root rot. I'm a pro now. I can explain from scientific standpoints. No more guessing. Thanks

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you found it helpful

[@haveaniceday23]

I just repotted several plants and used rocks and sand at the bottom thinking it would drain nicely. Do I replant again taking them out or shove sponges up the drain holes, Terra Cota? I experienced root rot on 1 plant and thought I was doing good for them all. It really was time for repots on all

[@GardeningInCanada]

If you over water i would

[@prairienightssewingwithlis8966]

So happy to find you. Been searching for my accurate zone info. Tuning in from Neilburg, SK. Loving all the science based info!!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hey! We are in the same province

[@bluerockcomputingllc4143]

Loved your videos on using rocks to improve soil drainage. My potting mix construction corresponds to your example 3 in the video. For succulents and cacti I grow, my soil system generally consists of using (1) unglazed terracotta pots, (2) a potting mixture of 2/3 inorganic materials such as crushed granite, perlite, Bonsai Block®, Monto Clay®, pumice, sometimes a little vermiculite, (3) a potting mixture of 1/3 organic materials such coco coir, composted cow manure, pine bark, a very small amount of charcoal, (4) a top dressing consisting of pumice, sometimes lava rock or sometimes coarse sand. All these soil ingredients are not used. If I want to stretch out the utilization of the expensive inorganic media, I'll add more crushed granite (chicken grit) which is very cheap. Given the type of environment I grow my plants in, I have found they really really love this type of gritty yet airy soil medium and have lost very very few plants due to rot. In those instances, I clearly overwatered. With this soil system, my plants quickly soak up all the water they can take, and then the soil dries out very fast. I also make sure my plants are exposed to consistent but light convection of room air. A fan circulates the air away from the plants and currently is not conditioned for humidity or temperature.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That sounds really great! Thanks so much for posting this people will really benefit from this.

[@yanettcepeda9593]

Thanks for demystifying this topic! Really well explained. I'm going to try and do the sponge/rocks trick at the bottom of a tall plastic pot. I would appreciate your thoughts about this though: Is it likely that the piece of sponge would start growing mold after being what holds the perched water table for a while? And could this eventually affect the plant? Thanks again!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Great question and should not have that issue as long as the container is small enough and the water is being used. Microbes will break down any gunk as long as there is oxygen

[@valiumsurbanjungle2041]

Wow that is A LOT of snow!! 😳 I'm definitely not jealous of you, I'm already sick of (our) cold already (and we get a few ...spits of night snow only every couple of years)... Thank you for this video, I think I got it this time, although you are right, it really depends on individual factors. My mom has been adding (lots of) pumice stones in all of her plants and she's one of the best gardeners I know (she can even keep crotons alive!!). So when I started, I did the same. I did skip it eventually, because I couldn't always find pumice and because it was yet another bag I had to carry up to our flat. Or I'm sometimes way too lazy. Have a great day!! 😊

[@GardeningInCanada]

Haha I’ll have to take more footage in a month this is just the beginning. You’re perched water table is probably pretty low then with lows of drainage.

[@annusabharwal780]

Waiting to see you set up the MagiDome. Looks exciting to be able to grow through the year

[@GardeningInCanada]

I’m hoping for an longer year maybe not the entire year, it’s a pretty cold where I am but fingers crossed

[@MarifilLim]

thank you very much!! this is very helpful ❤️ i love your science based advices! pls keep them coming!❤️

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@apextroll]

Thankyou for the insightful video(s). I built a raised bed/hugelkulture hybrid with the intention of retaining water/lower maintenance, but it didn't cross my mind on having different substrates creating perched water tables through out the layers.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea, I mean it’s unlikely to effect any crop type plants because they have such a high water usage/demand but it’s something to think about if you notice issues.

[@apextroll]

@@GardeningInCanada I can't imagine having too much water given I started with essentially coarse sand that lacks any carbon whatsoever. Basically I'm making soil from whole cloth.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hahah awesome

[@serenarodriguez9803]

Would love to see you put plants in your fish tank! Your fish would thank you for it. There are many videos all about it

[@vanschermerhorn7167]

what again is the wick made of ? Do they sale it on Amazon , Lowes , Hardware store ? Does it make a difference whether your pot is plastic , terracotta , ceramic ?

[@kathy7545]

The explanation I was looking for, thank you ! What about clay balls, does it work the same as rocks ? Meaning does it augment the porosity of the soil when mixed with it ? Cause I heard it retains some water..Thanks again !

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yes and yes

[@tagladyify]

I use sticks and twigs in the bottom of my pots now. Years ago I made self watering pots made out of largish water bottles with a reservoir and a wick from top to bottom. I think they were 3-4 gallons and made of thick transparent green plastic. I cut them in half and flipped the top upside down into the bottom with drilled drainage holes and a wick from the middle of the top down through the neck and into the reservoir. The problem I had was the reservoir would get a lot of algae growth. Now I am using food grade buckets with 4 holes drilled about 3ish inches up from the bottom and sticks and twigs at the bottom. Are you saying that I should still put a wick in the middle? I plant most of my garden directly in the soil in several beds in my yard. The pots are used for overflow or for plants that need a longer growing season or ones that must come inside over winter like small citrus trees.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s so awesome

[@padmak10]

I want to know one more thing... as time passes the soil will compact a bit.. and i think it will affect that perched water table by increasing its height rt? So whats the best solution as we do not want to repot again during the year

[@GardeningInCanada]

I would use the tipping method until you can repot again.

[@smitaghosh6133]

I listened to your video with rapt attention and it makes sense to me. I am absolutely not giving you an argument but I just tested something and would like to know, if I may, what you make of it. Your input would mean a lot to me. Moving forward with a sponge as an analogy for a body of soil in pot: water drains down to the lower surface of the soil and drips out until the the force of gravity pulling water out and capillary forces working in the soil body that causes water to move up the soil are balanced. This creates a layer of water saturated soil the thickness of which is determined by the nature of the soil. You are saying that when water draining through soil and meets a different layer of something , rocks in the above case, a perched water table is always going to form. I take a drenched sponge and let it drip until the stable water table forms. Then if I let a wad of paper towels just touch the bottom of the sponge most or all of the water from the table wicks away depending on the thickness of the wad of paper towels. If I just stand the sponge on the wad of paper towels and gently pour water into the sponge water will continue into the paper towel. This does happen. I am missing something, I know it. Maybe water will flow out 'more' if the adjacent layer is more absorbent. Whatever forces make something more absorbent in this case. And in nature water can flow through many distinct geological layers before forming an underground water table. I am confused here. Is there something practicable to use at the bottom of a pot that will drain out more water? By the way, I KNOW, I HAVE SEEN, the perched water table above a layer of rocks, when repotting a potted plant. So I am not disputing what you explained.

[@GardeningInCanada]

it will always have a slight pause between medium changes but the lower medium being more absorbent could mean the exchange could be greater and therefore lessen the total volume and height of the perched table

[@Daliena]

We'll adopt you in Texas - come on over!!!!!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Haha!! Perfect!

[@riavanniekerk977]

Thank you ❤ didnt know I can find m own PWT 😅 this will save lives 🤣

[@GardeningInCanada]

Haha love that

[@zeep6195]

This is truly interesting. I'm curious about doing that experiment, maybe I'll do that this weekend 😁. I also want to ask, if I put a strip of cloth and attach it to the inner side of my pot, and this cloth is longer than the pot such that a few cm are outside the bottom of the pot, will it work to reduce the perched water table? The idea is like to create the opposite of a self-watering pot, and make an always-draining pot 🤣 do you think it will work? Maybe I'll also include that in my experiment 🤓

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yep it will work in that fashion. You’ll notice that the water follows the cloth out of the pot.

[@robint2753]

What size sponge for 5 gallon pots would I use? TY

[@thetheoryprincess3050]

If you cut up a sponge into blocks, mix it in with rock and place it at the bottom of a pot, would that potentially work?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yup! It could you’ll have to experiment

[@beckythebealge]

So if I understand correctly adding rocks to your soil mix should work, shouldn’t it? Any type or size of works are better than the other?

[@jeandarbyshire4391]

I sometimes use wicks in the bottom of my pots and suspend them over cashe pots of water so theoretically I have water moving both directions based on plant needs, right?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea theoretically obviously temperature, pressure etc will effect this but honestly if it’s working for you don’t change it

[@dandeleona4760]

Would like a direct link to your planner. Thanx. :)

[@GardeningInCanada]

i actually have a new one coming on in November. if you sign up for the newsletter you can get the newest link when its ready to go! newsletter.gardeningincanada.net

[@fransjevh]

What works for me: I make some extra holes on the side of the pot in the higth of the PWT. In my experience this dries out this water table thingy faster. Is this a thing or just coinseddence?

[@namoneko6994]

I use 8L pots. I bottom water using an automatic valve. I suffer from Root rot many times. I am using pumice and coco peat. I am also using 2 inches of pumice at the bottom of my pot. I use all my bottom water within 12 hours. Any advise to avoid root rot. 1) should I stay away from using rocks/pumice at the bottom. 2) Can I use microbes to help me protect my roots -like bacillus .?

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s interesting that you get root rot considering your location is in Zambia. But for the pumice you could just put a thinner layer. The key is to keep it below the root zone. And you can yes I’m just not sure where exactly you can get that stuff.

[@namoneko6994]

Am in Kenya. The temperature is averagely around 25C. We have a few companies that sell Bacillus. I may be wrong... I thought I was getting root rot because my roots sit on wet cocopeat for long hours. I decided to put Pumice rocks at the bottom to allow my roots to have more air while in water. Remember am watering from the bottom. What would be the best SCIENCE approach to avoid root rot.

[@GardeningInCanada]

The best would be to incorporate the perlite into the potting soil and make the potting soil lighter.

[@greenedyfrio338]

Hi. I am Edgar ( Portuguese living in Ireland) Using your 3rd example, can i mix LECA with my soil? Any advise on ratio? Any pros or cons? Thanks and keep up the very good work.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hello! So it’s up to you but 10% is generally safe. I haven’t found any inherent down falls to date.

[@greenedyfrio338]

Ok thanks. Now more tecnical question. 10% by waight or by volume? ;)

[@GardeningInCanada]

Volume. Being Ireland you want want to increase it during the winter

[@greenedyfrio338]

So, if i get it right... 10%-20% of LECA gone decrease the thickness( size) of the " table" of water on the total media "sistem"? Just let me know if i am close of true with my thought.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yup! Absolutely

[@Enn-]

It's been about a year now - will you be doing a review of the magidome?

[@GardeningInCanada]

i did one mid summer this year

[@Enn-]

@@GardeningInCanada I'll go find that now. Thanks!

[@thomaslytje8656]

I know its an old video, hope it's o.k. to ask here anyway. If you buy a plant and put it in a bigger container, - do you need to clean the roots and change the earth between them? It almost sounds like you say yes, because else the earth will be different, and there will be retained water in the "old" earth the plant came with.

[@mrittenb]

I wasn’t sure if you’re are saying to put the sponge within the pot or outside in the drip dish? Otherwise how do you squeeze out excess water? I.’m missing something here. I will look up your previous video. You’re great, love listening!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Inside the pot coming out a drainage hole. Sorry for the confusion.

[@MacroAggressor]

Just a note for the sake of ease of use for viewers, if there's a part 1 make sure you label part 2 the same way ^_^ thanks for the useful info.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Done and done! Thanks for the suggestion

[@seacoast4950]

👍👍👍

[@GardeningInCanada]

:) :)

[@MacroAggressor]

So I understand the capillary action and perched water table concepts, but I don't follow why an overly deep soil base would lead to root rot. Wouldn't this cause the water table to sit safely below the root zone?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yes your 100% correct it would lower the water table. But the issue is the volume of water in the soil overall is now increasing. Now what can happen is that the increased water may not all be taken up in time resulting in anaerobic areas in the soil in it’s entirety. These anaerobic areas (where air has been pushed out to hold water) will eventually rot the root because roots need equal parts of water and air. If the plant is actively growing and using up a majority of the excess water within the first 72 then your pot size is fine. But if you notice after 48-72 hours that you could still “wring out” the soil then there is to much soil for the plants current rate of growth.

[@MacroAggressor]

@@GardeningInCanada I see, so this scenario creates smaller pockets of localized microbial decay (in the small pore areas of the upper zone), and presumably a generally lower PH throughout the soil as a result (albeit not as drastically as a full waterlogged situation)?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea essentially

[@emmland]

So adding rocks (for drainage) to the bottoms of pots, with the soil directly on top, is not efficacious?

[@geraldblount4159]

And rocks create air spaces if you don't have too many in the soil itself not on the bottom so the roots can get air air flow

[@txpepper]

I would recommend that you go back to your Part 1 video and add this link in the description if possible.

[@GardeningInCanada]

sorry about that i though it was a pinned comment.

[@txpepper]

@@GardeningInCanada _ I will generally read the video description but not wade into the comments...so maybe I missed it. ~ Thanks!

[@Pixics]

I always thought you put rocks at the bottom for good drainage

[@GardeningInCanada]

Not necessarily but it does decrease the overall volume of water in the soil. So if the water usage is in balance with the amount of water in the soil it’s fine.

[@Pixics]

@@GardeningInCanada I didn't put enough holes in one of my metal container bins and it's always filled with water, or looks very wet. I should've put at least a layer of gravel underneath.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea and drilling holes after the fact is never fun.

[@liav4102]

Often plastic pots are designed with a not flat bottom, does that have the same effect as putting the cotton/sponge drain in?

[@GardeningInCanada]

So in general I’d say the slight changes pot diameter isn’t going to have a major effect on anything. However, if it’s a highly irregular shape it may. With a slight change such as a round bowl type pot you will still have it perched water table.

[@liav4102]

@@GardeningInCanada I was more thinking of the pots that have a concave bottom where the central bottom of the pot is 1-2 cm higher than the outside edge.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Okay yes. That would have a small effect but nothing dramatic

[@randy-U.I.O.G.D.]

Why do some plants DO NOT suffer root rot despite totally submerged in WATER?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Great question. Ands actually the type of putter later developed based on the growing medium

[@Darknamja]

😉😉

[@geraldblount4159]

Hi 👋

[@randy-U.I.O.G.D.]

Your increasing the height of the soil with plant by putting a sponge in between the soil and rocks ... in effect lowers the perch water table. I hope I got it right ✅

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yup!

[@AllanStockert]

i love your videos. are you aware you are a divo?

[@travisrthomas]

So basically I can put a sponge/wick between my soil and rocks type thing? Or is it a sponge layer in between?