A simple training aid for new growers to assist learning container plant watering skills.
Tools and Materials
- used food container with screw on lid, 5-6" diameter, 6 or more inches tall
- drill and bits
- scissors or aviation snips
1. cut bottom off container keeping top half and lid. The lid will become the bottom of your new container
2. drill drainage holes either in lid or in my case I chose the shoulder next to the threads where the lid screws on
3. Screw on the bottom and your done
How it works:
By "unscrewing" the bottom of the container carefully the grower can check the water content of the soil under the seedling where the roots are to determine if its time to water or not. Once that determination is made the bottom can be screwed back on.
Usage
1. Add soils and seed. A few days after germination unscrew bottom and check moisture content of the soil, screw bottom back on and adjust watering as necessary.
2. The important part. On watering days observe the plant's leaves and soil surface. How does the plant look different? Are the leaves droopy? Is there a visible gap between the soil and container sides like the soil has shrunk inward towards the plant's stem? These and other observations will help the grower in the future when they transplant their plant into a larger container.
3. Learning HOW a plant looks after watering and when it needs water is key with this project. Hope this helps somebody understand when its time to give their plants a drink.
Tools and Materials
- used food container with screw on lid, 5-6" diameter, 6 or more inches tall
- drill and bits
- scissors or aviation snips
1. cut bottom off container keeping top half and lid. The lid will become the bottom of your new container
2. drill drainage holes either in lid or in my case I chose the shoulder next to the threads where the lid screws on
3. Screw on the bottom and your done
How it works:
By "unscrewing" the bottom of the container carefully the grower can check the water content of the soil under the seedling where the roots are to determine if its time to water or not. Once that determination is made the bottom can be screwed back on.
Usage
1. Add soils and seed. A few days after germination unscrew bottom and check moisture content of the soil, screw bottom back on and adjust watering as necessary.
2. The important part. On watering days observe the plant's leaves and soil surface. How does the plant look different? Are the leaves droopy? Is there a visible gap between the soil and container sides like the soil has shrunk inward towards the plant's stem? These and other observations will help the grower in the future when they transplant their plant into a larger container.
3. Learning HOW a plant looks after watering and when it needs water is key with this project. Hope this helps somebody understand when its time to give their plants a drink.