[plantingplants]

I have 300 gals and the sides are dry and it keeps creeping inward. Since I haven't had to water much. I use sprayers. I wonder if I should add a drip ring along the edge. I tried hosing between the fabric and the soil but its way too slow since the water doesnt just easily absorb it.

[Ibechillin]

Ive been thinking about this as well. Drip systems seem to make the most sense, they release the water only as fast as the soil directly beneath can "drink" until its fully saturated and begin drip releasing to the next layer.

With really good draining soil like ~40% perlite. I imagine you could just really soak them from the top and feel confident they were watered thoroughly. Water taking the path of least resistance, the more drainage the more paths to distribute down. Kinda of similar to how an area will develop quickly because of the roads that pass by and through it.

[OrganicDisciple]

I come out and just water the sides if it gets too dry between waterings. But even then I'm finding myself bored. That's the incorporation of the air prune also. Comes with the territory. But I also find that once the root mass gets big enough you can actually go in and add more soil to the sides. I do it when I add more soil to mine in july.

I've also notice people piling hay around the pots. Which ill.probably do when I add more soil and top the pots off so I know there getting every bit of the dirt I built just for them.

[Limeygreen]

You could always use sprinkler stakes for the micro sprinklers or just zig zag a drip ring around the pot so you can get some water to the edges for when you do water. Mulch may help, or you could always wrap a white plastic around the pots to keep it from evaporating, but that will only do so much.

[Zarezhu]

You gotta talk dirty to it

[Kozmo]

Blumats is what I use. It senses dryness, it drips.

[HHILL]

Wrap the smartpot or fabric pot with one to two layers of tan burlap. If that's not enough, then wrap the burlap with thin clear/translucent painters plastic, that will help hold the water in. I don't know the mil on the plastic, 5 mil maybe... No real need for extra sprinklers

[Shovelhandle]

The pots can't 'air prune' if the fabric is wet and rapped up to prevent evaporation. One might just as well planted in a plastic pail...

[Jhhnn]

Originally Posted by Shovelhandle

The pots can't 'air prune' if the fabric is wet and rapped up to prevent evaporation. One might just as well planted in a plastic pail...

True. The real issue is to create a dry zone at the fabric that's as thin as possible. It can even be intermittent & have the same effect. I suspect that can be difficult in dry climates outdoors w/o constant watering so slowing down evaporation (not stopping it) could be helpful.

[Jhhnn]

Originally Posted by Kozmo

Blumats is what I use. It senses dryness, it drips.

Blumats indoors, fabric pots & the right soil mix upped my game in a Yuuge way. It's almost impossible to over water. Pour on some ewc tea & they quit dripping, start back up again the next day because of excellent drainage & fast evaporation thru the pots.

It's a three-way made in Heaven.