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Post by debbiem on Jan 8, 2009 22:41:18 GMT 1
I know plants are dormant this time of year, but I've noticed during this cold dry weather that the soil in my pots is coming away from the edges and the plants are wilting a bit. I think it's been much colder down here for the last few days than it usually is and maybe that's why the plants are wilting a bit, but it looks as if they could do with some water. Is it a good idea to water them right now, or would this be a silly thing to do, as if there's another freezing night wouldn't the wet soil turn icy? In the same vein I don't know whether I should water the tree fern or not, which usually gets watered every day during dry weather.
I've just emptied all the compost out of one of my compost bins and noticed that all the moist soil has turned icy, I don't know if it would be a good thing to do any watering if they're going to end up freezing their socks off.
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Post by maggyd on Jan 9, 2009 23:34:44 GMT 1
I think there is probably enough damp in the air Mrs B. being on the dry side is preferable to frost damage dont youthink. If you get a mild day you could always dribble a bit of warm water on in the morning but most things are dormant arent they?unless you watered and mulched so as to protect the roots. You can probably see that like you I Dont Know.  |
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Post by Sweetleaf on Jan 11, 2009 17:19:33 GMT 1
I think there is probably enough damp in the air Mrs B. being on the dry side is preferable to frost damage dont youthink. If you get a mild day you could always dribble a bit of warm water on in the morning but most things are dormant arent they?unless you watered and mulched so as to protect the roots. You can probably see that like you I Dont Know. Dont worry Debbie there is milder wetter weather on the way very soon..... leave the whole thing to nature, I would.  |
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Post by Biggles on Jan 11, 2009 20:46:59 GMT 1
Hello Mrs B--
Most of my containers are like you describe but I am leaving it to nature as Sweetleaf has suggested.
It is better for the soil to be on the dry side during Winter--there is less chance for the Roots to get frozen solid if they are overwatered.
Do keep in touch and let us know how they get along--
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Post by debbiem on Jan 12, 2009 9:53:37 GMT 1
Thanks everyone. I did just leave them alone in the end and they don't seem any worse off for it. This has been a really exceptional year for the cold down here, usually there's no problem with frost affecting the plants at all. I remember one Winter battling with some fleece around some palms and a banana plant, I needn't have bothered it was so mild! I'm hoping the plants that have died down during those two or three days of freezing weather will survive, it really caught me out! Certain plants have gone grey and wilted almost overnight - hopefully it's just Winter that's come to them and not the Grim Reaper! Thanks for all the advice, and there's rain in the air today so they'll get at least a sprinkling of moisture. |
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