Keeping outdoor potted plants watered

ThisIsWeird

Emmia said:

Ah, I see what you mean. The Artstone will just fill up and become water logged in the rain?

Shame, 'cos I preferred it's smoother design. I wonder if a few drain holes can be drilled at its back, just above reservoir height?! 

It's fine as long as you take the little plug out - but they are riskier in terms of under watering in my experience as they're more difficult to monitor by eye - I've got plants in them (salvias) which mind drying out less!

My concern, since there isn't an 'overflow' point between the pot and the reservoir so that the stored water level doesn't exceed the reservoir amount, is of saturating the soil. Yes, there's a bottom drain plug, but I presume that would turn it into a 'normal' pot with a hole in the bottom? Unless - gasp - it's cunningly designed with that drain plug outlet being raised inside the reservoir, so it will just overflow out that drain once the reservoir has filled to t'top? 

I fear that ain't the case, tho'.

The two-piece version has its fill point at that level, so presumably - if it's left outside in the rain - it'll overflow out that point too, so won't saturate.

Emmia

ThisIsWeird said:

Emmia said:

Ah, I see what you mean. The Artstone will just fill up and become water logged in the rain?

Shame, 'cos I preferred it's smoother design. I wonder if a few drain holes can be drilled at its back, just above reservoir height?! 

It's fine as long as you take the little plug out - but they are riskier in terms of under watering in my experience as they're more difficult to monitor by eye - I've got plants in them (salvias) which mind drying out less!

My concern, since there isn't an 'overflow' point between the pot and the reservoir so that the stored water level doesn't exceed the reservoir amount, is of saturating the soil. Yes, there's a bottom drain plug, but I presume that would turn it into a 'normal' pot with a hole in the bottom? Unless - gasp - it's cunningly designed with that drain plug outlet being raised inside the reservoir, so it will just overflow out that drain once the reservoir has filled to t'top? 

I fear that ain't the case, tho'.

The two-piece version has its fill point at that level, so presumably - if it's left outside in the rain - it'll overflow out that point too, so won't saturate.

The cunning design is exactly how it works... the artstone pot effectively has a false bottom with holes in which the plant/soil sits on and the water reservoir is below... in the reservoir section there is a spiked up bit which has the plug, (it sits a little below the false bottom) if the plug is removed, and water goes over that point, it drains out, until it is under that point... with the plug in, then yes it can overflow (but for indoor use, that's better to stop it leaking on your furniture/flooring).

The Elho pots with the built in saucer (its not a two piece, although it looks like it) I also linked to, will over flow in the rain, and they do so more obviously. 

Emmia

ThisIsWeird said:

mi-key said:

The irony of asking this given this weekends weather ! 

Ha-ha! I trust these reservoir pots will overflow at the base too, to mitigate against flooding?!

Yes they do, the Elho pots overflow from the built in saucer, the artstone pots require you to remove a small plug (which is raised up in the reservoir) to ensure this.

Emmia

I was going to add, I've considered a drip irrigation system on my patio, but haven't gone down that route, as it would mean I couldn't move the pots around easily,  to allow for rearranging the display of plants, weeding, bbqs, weather conditions etc., the pots with reservoir route is more flexible and allows for all of those things.

moneysaver1978

What kind of plants do they have? I have never tried https://www.homesandgardens.com/gardens/diy-drip-irrigation-system but apparently it worked for some.

ThisIsWeird

Emmia said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Emmia said:

Ah, I see what you mean. The Artstone will just fill up and become water logged in the rain?

Shame, 'cos I preferred it's smoother design. I wonder if a few drain holes can be drilled at its back, just above reservoir height?! 

It's fine as long as you take the little plug out - but they are riskier in terms of under watering in my experience as they're more difficult to monitor by eye - I've got plants in them (salvias) which mind drying out less!

My concern, since there isn't an 'overflow' point between the pot and the reservoir so that the stored water level doesn't exceed the reservoir amount, is of saturating the soil. Yes, there's a bottom drain plug, but I presume that would turn it into a 'normal' pot with a hole in the bottom? Unless - gasp - it's cunningly designed with that drain plug outlet being raised inside the reservoir, so it will just overflow out that drain once the reservoir has filled to t'top? 

I fear that ain't the case, tho'.

The two-piece version has its fill point at that level, so presumably - if it's left outside in the rain - it'll overflow out that point too, so won't saturate.

The cunning design is exactly how it works... the artstone pot effectively has a false bottom with holes in which the plant/soil sits on and the water reservoir is below... in the reservoir section there is a spiked up bit which has the plug, (it sits a little below the false bottom) if the plug is removed, and water goes over that point, it drains out, until it is under that point... with the plug in, then yes it can overflow (but for indoor use, that's better to stop it leaking on your furniture/flooring).

The Elho pots with the built in saucer (its not a two piece, although it looks like it) I also linked to, will over flow in the rain, and they do so more obviously. 

PERFECT! Thank you! :-)