Potted palms/watering question

[sashaeffer]

When it comes to potted palms is there a benefit when watering to water from the bottom and let water soak up through the roots vs from the top?

[Gonzer]

Depends on the soil. A good porous mix will easily accept top watering if it isn't extremely dried. Heavier soils often benefit from bottom watering but the pots can be a %#!$ to lift afterwards. Also, depends on what kinda time constraints you're looking at.

[sashaeffer]

Yes, aware of the size of the palm/pot has a lot to do with it and all but was curious if it IS an option if it was a better way to water vs from the top. "most" of what I have the palms are easily lift able into a tray of water.

[rick]

If the pot has dried out you might end up with dry spots when you top water. Bottom watering has the advantage of ensuring the soil is saturated. Other than that I don't really see any advantage to bottom watering. Depending on the number and size of pots and their location top watering can be a lot faster and easier. I've been told that only bottom watering or only top watering the soil is a guaranteed way to get spider mites.

[NorthFlpalmguy]

^ I agree with Rick. It ensures the soil reaches field capacity when watering. Top watering is okay as long as the water quickly infiltrates the soil evenly. Adding a lot of top side quickly promotes channeling.

[tjwalters]

I generally water from the top, but if the soil has dried out too much and pulled away from the sides of the pot the water will quickly drain down the sides and out the bottom without actually wetting the soil much. If this happens, I will let the pot sit in water for an hour or so - effectively bottom-watering - to allow time for the soil to soak up the water.

Also, if you're not summering your plants outside, where rain water can flush out any salt buildup, it helps to periodically flush out the salts by over-watering and letting the excess water drain out the bottom of the pot.

Not sure how exclusively bottom-watering or top-watering would guarantee getting spider mites.

[sashaeffer]

I generally water from the top, but if the soil has dried out too much and pulled away from the sides of the pot the water will quickly drain down the sides and out the bottom without actually wetting the soil much. If this happens, I will let the pot sit in water for an hour or so - effectively bottom-watering - to allow time for the soil to soak up the water.

Also, if you're not summering your plants outside, where rain water can flush out any salt buildup, it helps to periodically flush out the salts by over-watering and letting the excess water drain out the bottom of the pot.

Not sure how exclusively bottom-watering or top-watering would guarantee getting spider mites.

I'm not sure either how top/bottom watering will affect spider mites.

I only use either rain water collected from my rain barrel, RO water, or since I'm on a well, from the outside spigot that I use a hose and whole house filter to remove iron/rust and fill a dozen milk jugs that I keep inside a bath tub so water is room temp when I need to use it.

I think for my more sensitive palms I'll stick with the bottom watering, and top watering for all others.

[rick]

From what I understand regular watering of the leaves knocks off spider mites before their populations can get high enough to cause problems.

[Hammer]

From what I understand regular watering of the leaves knocks off spider mites before their populations can get high enough to cause problems.

Watering palms leaves is nearly a guarantee for getting crown rot and other gnarly leaf issues. If spider mite prevention is a priority I would wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.

[sashaeffer]

I do avoid spraying/misting fronds.(when plants inside) creates fungus issues. I do use a damp micro fiber cloth when I want to remove dust from the fronds. When I have noticed spider mites I have put the palm in the shower or taken outside and sprayed off the plant to remove the imbedded ones.

[Josh-O]

Scott, send some pic's of the many potted palms you have in your house?? must be a jungle by now??

[Hammer]

Scott, send some pic's of the many potted palms you have in your house?? must be a jungle by now??

I had the chance for a PRA at his place in October. He has more species than I do and I live in a z10a climate!!!!

[sashaeffer]

Will do Josh, will do today and try and label most of the species.

[sashaeffer]

<a href="http://s305.photobucket.com/user/sashaeffer/media/My%20palm%20trees/MypalmsDec2014002.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn220/sashaeffer/My%20palm%20trees/MypalmsDec2014002.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo MypalmsDec2014002.jpg"/></a>

Easiest to just create a album on photobucket to get most all palm included.

Palms that I over winter in the ground all have either Christmas lights and or buried heat tape in the ground for warmth. Lights are

attached to thermocubes while heat tape has built in thermostats.

Edited December 7, 2014 by sashaeffer

[Pip]

<a href="http://s305.photobucket.com/user/sashaeffer/media/My%20palm%20trees/MypalmsDec2014002.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn220/sashaeffer/My%20palm%20trees/MypalmsDec2014002.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo MypalmsDec2014002.jpg"/></a>

Easiest to just create a album on photobucket to get most all palm included.

Palms that I over winter in the ground all have either Christmas lights and or buried heat tape in the ground for warmth. Lights are

attached to thermocubes while heat tape has built in thermostats.

Wow that is an awesome collection.

[sashaeffer]

thanks, quite a few I didn't list but wanted to include the more unique ones.

[Alicehunter2000]

What is your best advice for overwintering potted plants inside....looks like you are a go to guy for some potted plant advice

[sashaeffer]

1. not to over water....easier said than done with different species having different requirements

2. Not keeping it too warm in the house/room where palms are. I keep house at 68/69F

3. Keeping humidity up.

4. Wiping dust off fronds with damp cloth, never ever spraying with water.

5. Biggest pain in the butt, not using tap water. I use RO water or since I'm on a well, I use a under sink filter attached to a hose that I use with outside spigot and fill up to 10 1 gallon milk jugs and keep them inside at room temp to water palms when I can't use rain water, which is almost impossible to get in the winter.

6. Inspecting for pests, especially spider mites and Mealy bug.

[Alicehunter2000]

The watering thing is hard to determine....I know different plants like different amounts....but in general how often do you water...once a week?

[_Keith]

Assuming your mix drains, stick you finger to the 2nd knuckle. If it is dry, water it, and if it is wet, don't.

For your potted plant, never fear,

When its moist you hoist

Not a watering can, but a beer

[sashaeffer]

I check all of them once a week. Some water hogs I water every week, others I rely on my moisture probe.

[Funkthulhu]

I agree with all your pointers, pretty much completely.

I do use tap for the home plants because I can put them over the floor drain every so often and flush them. also, most of them spend 6+ months outside and get rain flushed as well. I buy distilled water by the gallon at the shop near my work so I can water my office palms. The water in Lincoln is even harder than Omaha and the scale buildup is incredible if you use tap.

I also find that, for my office palms at least, the bottom watering pots seem to work best. The dry dry office air means extra watering, but there haven't been any pest problems yet. Just make sure the bottom-watering pots are actually open on the bottom! I had a D.lutescens in the office that wasn't doing well at all in a new pot. I upended it last week and discovered that none of the "legs" were actually open to the water saucer!