How to Keep Soil Moist in Container Gardening
- 1). Use non-porous potting containers -- such as plastic, metal or glass (with drainage holes at the bottom) -- to house your container plants. These pots retain moisture, unlike porous containers. They are ideal for moisture-loving plants such as ferns and fuchsias. Plants housed in non-porous containers require less water compared to plants in clay or wooden pots.
- 2). Retain soil moisture in potted plants for a longer period of time by sprinkling peat moss or a light mulch mixture over the soil. The peat moss will also protect the fragile surface roots of the plant.
- 3). Use soilless potting mixes that contain peat moss or vermiculite. Soilless mixes have a high moisture-retaining capacity and provide good drainage. Avoid using 100-percent garden soil or clay soil mixes, as they are dense and dry out quickly.
- 4). To prevent moisture loss, spread mulch over the top layer of the soil in the container. Use organic mulching material such as shredded leaves, straw, pine needles, bark and sawdust to enable better water penetration, reduce evaporation and limit weed growth.
- 5). During hot or windy weather conditions, water container plants with potting mixes regularly. Potting mixes dry rapidly in hot weather, and should be watered twice a day with a watering can or a spray attachment on a garden hose.
- 6). Estimate the moisture requirements of your container plant's soil by placing a small wood stick inside the soil. Gently lift the stick out. If soil adheres to the stick, the soil is well-moistened; if not, it should be watered immediately.
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