tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post8674076160005776051..comments2024-03-28T18:58:47.880-07:00Comments on creative savv: Making My Coir-Lined Basket Hold Moisture So My Plants Don't Die Again This YearLilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-91053460555237125382022-05-26T18:43:37.956-07:002022-05-26T18:43:37.956-07:00Hi Kris,
I'll let you know if this helps this ...Hi Kris,<br />I'll let you know if this helps this coir basket.Lilinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-24686288808776805652022-05-26T18:00:01.948-07:002022-05-26T18:00:01.948-07:00Hi Live and Learn,
I'm not sure how they relea...Hi Live and Learn,<br />I'm not sure how they release the water, exactly. The crystals are a little like gelatin particles. When you water the crystals, they expand 50 fold or so. They're slightly sticky/damp once full of water. I suspect that what they do is two-fold:1) they slow evaporation by holding water better than soil does and 2) prevent all of the watering water from flowing out drainage holes in pots. One article I read described the polymers as being like sponges. The instructions say to mix the crystals into the bottom layer of soil in a pot, presumably to release water to the root zone of plants. <br />I don't know if my explanations help.<br />My basket experience here -- we're cooler in summers than many other parts of the US. And we have a lot of trees surrounding our house. I have to water them daily when it's sunny. But I don't have to water them more than two or three times a week this time of year when it's damp, cloudy, and cool. I discovered last year that I can get salad greens from the baskets through most of July. By the end of July, the baskets are pretty much done and it's just too dry and sunny. I suppose I could put something in that's more sun/heat tolerant in late July. We'll have to see if I have time for that this summer.Lilinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-52022710534874593382022-05-25T17:42:43.697-07:002022-05-25T17:42:43.697-07:00You'll have to keep us posted! I also have tr...You'll have to keep us posted! I also have trouble with hanging baskets and have given up on them. Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-24914370997239141932022-05-25T05:05:28.855-07:002022-05-25T05:05:28.855-07:00I hope your efforts pay off. I think they will. I ...I hope your efforts pay off. I think they will. I generally don't do hanging baskets because they seem to need constant watering. In the heat of the summer, I've had to water some 2x/day to keep them alive. But I didn't do anything extra to remedy the situation as you did. So after the water absorbing crystals absorb the water, when or how do they release it?Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.com