Successful Container Gardening

Step 3: Preparing To Plant

To provide a more efficient watering system that gets the water all the way through the soil to the roots and not just on top take a cardboard tube (toilet paper, paper towel or gift wrap core, depending on depth of the planter) stand it in the middle of the planter on top of your drainage material then pack your soil mixture around the tube so it stays upright. You can cut the tube level with the top of the soil.

Fill the tube with more drainage material.

Comments

[imstillatwork]

I commented on the front page about drainage also, missed the pics somehow.

You will find that by adding drainage material that you are effectively reducing the size (volume) of your container, and effectively raising the water level that the soil holds. The equilibrium between capillary action (up) and gravitational flow (down) in the soil remains the same, just now in an effectively smaller container.

Just a tip. You don't need a hole/tube in the middle of a pot if your soil characteristics promote drainage.

[friendorphobia]

Ever so often I run across an idea that is just so logical and obvious I can't help wondering why no one has thought of it before!  Awesome idea! Thanks!