🌱 Care and Growing
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I switched to bottom watering because of fungus gnats, but now I am second guessing the whole routine. I put the nursery pots in a tray with water and leave them there until the top feels slightly damp. Sometimes that takes 20 minutes. Sometimes I forget and it is more like two hours, which I know is not ideal. A few plants seem happier, but one pothos looked droopy after I did it. How long do you soak? Do you still top water sometimes? Is bottom watering actually better or just another plant internet trend?
I usually do 20 to 30 minutes, then let them drain completely. If the top never gets damp but the pot feels heavy, I still stop. I do not need the top wet every time.
Top water occasionally to flush salts out. Bottom watering can leave fertilizer minerals hanging around the upper soil over time. I top water every third or fourth watering.
It works best with nursery pots. If the pot has one tiny drainage hole or a built-in saucer, it gets weird fast.
If the soil has gone hydrophobic, bottom watering may not fix it quickly. The water can creep up channels and still leave dry pockets. In that case I do a slow full soak once, then go back to normal.
Bottom watering is a method, not a personality. Use it where it helps. If a plant is heavy and droopy after, wait longer before the next watering.
I set a phone timer because I will absolutely forget a tray of plants. The timer is now part of the watering equipment.
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