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Rank: Member
Joined: 5/19/2010
Posts: 11
Location: China
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I will often be away from my home for a week at a time this summer. I have 4 plants now and am propagating/collecting as fast as I can. My goal is to have a small jungle in my home ;) Actually I want lots of plants to help improve the air quality as well as the mood in my home.
As I pot plants, what can I do to help minimize the need to water? - once a week is ideal. Would the green styrofoam that flower arrangers put cut flowers in help retain water? a sponge in the bottom of the pot? sand? Any other ideas or substances?
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 9/14/2008
Posts: 207
Location: Ankeny, Iowa
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Don't use green styrofoam, it will dry out very quickly. To help the plant retain water, use a product called soil moist. The only issue with that is some plants don't like to be kept wet that long and some can handle it. So, before you do that make sure some of the plants can handle it.
Operational Manager at Earl May Nursery and Garden Center in Ames, Iowa Visit my latest website Midwestern Plants
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 2/22/2010
Posts: 69
Location: Newmarket, On Canada
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I use a water nanny for alot of my large plants. It is a clay spout that you push into the soil and then just use a recycled water bottle or similar bottle with the nanny adapter. It controls the amount of water slowly released. The plants roots wrap around the clay and take what it needs. I only refill the bottles once ever two weeks or so. And for my African violets I use the small glass water globes. They seem to love them.
I hope that helps.
Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises ~ PEDRO CALDERON DE LA BARCA
fitmom68
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Rank: Member
Joined: 4/20/2010
Posts: 27
Location: New York City
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It is a rare plant that will not go a week between waterings, assuming the waterings are thorough, as they should be. If a plant cannot go a full week, then consider moving it up one pot size so that it will.
Will Creed wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.comMy website
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Rank: Member
Joined: 5/19/2010
Posts: 11
Location: China
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Thanks! Yes, one week should not be a problem...but anytime from July to the middle of September it can reach more than 90 degrees, with 90 percent humidity. I have found that even plants with very generously sized pots need to be watered about every 3-4 days during this kind of weather.
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Rank: Member
Joined: 4/19/2010
Posts: 10
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