Any try this idea before?

redcabbage

TOH magazine suggested putting sponges in the bottom of container gardens to hold an extra reserve of water

nitaw

Interesting. I've not done that before. I did make a few self-watering planters just using some tupperware and pvc.

~NB~

Seems very pointless to me. The bottom of the pot is normally the wettest part. Soil dries from the TOP down, not the other way around. The last thing I want is a rotting sponge full of pathogens in my container.

FoxinFiji

~NB~:

Seems very pointless to me. The bottom of the pot is normally the wettest part. Soil dries from the TOP down, not the other way around. The last thing I want is a rotting sponge full of pathogens in my container.

This is exactly what I thought!  It's disappointing really because This Old House is one of my favorite shows but some of the articles in the magazine stink.    

~NB~

FoxinFiji:

~NB~:

Seems very pointless to me. The bottom of the pot is normally the wettest part. Soil dries from the TOP down, not the other way around. The last thing I want is a rotting sponge full of pathogens in my container.

This is exactly what I thought!  It's disappointing really because This Old House is one of my favorite shows but some of the articles in the magazine stink.    

MY issue with TOH is the landscaper, Roger Cook, who is called a Certified Arborist on the TV show. Well, he is certified by the Massachusetts Arborist Association, not by the International Society of Arboriculture, which has worldwide chapters. Cooke's credential is pretty meaningless outside of MA. As an ISA Certied Arborist this kind of chaps my hide.

redcabbage

~NB~:

FoxinFiji:

~NB~:

Seems very pointless to me. The bottom of the pot is normally the wettest part. Soil dries from the TOP down, not the other way around. The last thing I want is a rotting sponge full of pathogens in my container.

This is exactly what I thought!  It's disappointing really because This Old House is one of my favorite shows but some of the articles in the magazine stink.    

MY issue with TOH is the landscaper, Roger Cook, who is called a Certified Arborist on the TV show. Well, he is certified by the Massachusetts Arborist Association, not by the International Society of Arboriculture, which has worldwide chapters. Cooke's credential is pretty meaningless outside of MA. As an ISA Certied Arborist this kind of chaps my hide.

I puffy heart Roger, but he was the Ask TOH specialist that came to my house and fixed a drainage issue all for free. I just had to show my pretty face on the camera  :-)

~NB~

redcabbage:

~NB~:

FoxinFiji:

~NB~:

Seems very pointless to me. The bottom of the pot is normally the wettest part. Soil dries from the TOP down, not the other way around. The last thing I want is a rotting sponge full of pathogens in my container.

This is exactly what I thought!  It's disappointing really because This Old House is one of my favorite shows but some of the articles in the magazine stink.    

MY issue with TOH is the landscaper, Roger Cook, who is called a Certified Arborist on the TV show. Well, he is certified by the Massachusetts Arborist Association, not by the International Society of Arboriculture, which has worldwide chapters. Cooke's credential is pretty meaningless outside of MA. As an ISA Certied Arborist this kind of chaps my hide.

I puffy heart Roger, but he was the Ask TOH specialist that came to my house and fixed a drainage issue all for free. I just had to show my pretty face on the camera  :-)

I'm sure he's a nice guy and totally worthy of puffy hearts. I wasn't making a character judgement. I just think the Massachusetts Arborist Association is a tiny fringe group whose certifications get my side-eye.

mikeandnat

I have heard of doing this for non-traditional containers (like wicker baskets lined with plastic or something not created specifically for planting) to help with drainage. I've also heard of people using baby diapers for the same purpose. Haven't tried it & don't know if it works, but I'm sure there must be something to it if people are doing it & getting success...

FoxinFiji

~NB~:

FoxinFiji:

~NB~:

Seems very pointless to me. The bottom of the pot is normally the wettest part. Soil dries from the TOP down, not the other way around. The last thing I want is a rotting sponge full of pathogens in my container.

This is exactly what I thought!  It's disappointing really because This Old House is one of my favorite shows but some of the articles in the magazine stink.    

MY issue with TOH is the landscaper, Roger Cook, who is called a Certified Arborist on the TV show. Well, he is certified by the Massachusetts Arborist Association, not by the International Society of Arboriculture, which has worldwide chapters. Cooke's credential is pretty meaningless outside of MA. As an ISA Certied Arborist this kind of chaps my hide.

Huh I had no idea!  That would piss me off too.  I watch the show for their house/woodworking stuff though not their landscaping advice.  Some of his segments are so basic it's painful.