Tips for moisture retention in containers

Hi,

Any advice what to add to baskets and troughs to help retain moisture. I saw a great tip on the TV but forgot what is was and did not write it down at the time - silly me.

Could adding chopped sponge help. I want something cheap. I know about vermiculite but looking for alternatives.

Thanks

 

I use moisture retaining gel.

Don't put it in the to couple of inches though, it will work its way to the surface and blow away!

Whilst I don;t doubt that a sponge holds water I wonder if it will actually yield it to drying compost? (which is what moisture retaining gel is designed to do - or so the adverts tell me!!_

 

Water retaining gel with a decent compost which will hold moisture - B&Q own brand is good

 

B and Q's water retaining gel is good. This does pre-empt a question I was going to ask . The gel expands arond 300 times when watered. Kristen noted its best to mix it half way down your container or basket , otherwise you get the jelly like substance on top of your container. I have been using it about 5 years now , but my question is does it make a noted difference How much longer would a basket last with gel before the plants start wiltng ?

 

I put a cereal bowl in the bottom of the basket and put the gell into that with some slow release fertiliser works a treat , plus in the autumn 99% of the gell I can re-use and it all in the bowl !!!

Spruce

 

I dont think you can beat containers with a water sump which feeds the compost via capillary matting.
I bought a few small ones years ago, not sure if you can still get them.

Re. the gel, not sure it can work, as it takes up space in the pot exactly the same as compost does, and compost holds water.

I'm thinking this has come about due to the poor water holding capacity of non peat based composts.

 

Thanks guys. A trip to B & Q it is then.

 

Line the basket with some impervious plastic sheet, such as some bin bag sheeting and punch some drainage holes about half way up.

 

I've not tried this one yet, I got the idea having received an order of shrubs recently. The roots of said shrubs were wrapped in polythene, but inside the polythene was lots of damp old newspaper. So, for my containers this year, I think I might line them with a few sheets of old newspaper. In fact, now I think of it, I seem to recall seeing someone do that on telly once.