Hey everyone! I've added a weed membrane at the bottom of my hanging basket to prevent water from just draining right through the coconut base, but it seems to be letting water flow down anyway. I'm looking for suggestions on what kind of gravel or materials I can use that will retain moisture better. Any tips would be really appreciated!
5 Answers
Don't forget, sometimes just soaking the whole basket in a bucket can help! If you have a larger basket, you could even use a 2L bottle with the top cut open and a strip of capillary matting. Just fill the bottle up through the poking-out nozzle from time to time, and it’ll keep your plants hydrated!
Your weed membrane is probably too porous, which could be increasing drainage instead of retaining it. Mixing in some vermiculite with your soil can help, though it might not be super visible. What I find works is soaking the baskets in a bucket when I water them, or using an automatic watering system that can slowly drip water in over time instead of flooding them at once.
You might want to try placing an old plate or saucer at the bottom of your basket. This can help hold moisture without drowning the plant roots since it won’t be too deep. Just make sure it's flat enough to let some water trickle through!
One trick I learned from my RHS tutor is to use the lining of a compost bag. It's plastic, so it won't allow water to pass directly through, but be aware that water could still seep through the sides. She also suggested those moisture-retaining gels—they actually do work! You could also think about using a good quality compost that holds water better, like Dalesfoot wool compost, and add a layer of mulch on top to help with moisture retention.
Getting a bag of vermiculite and mixing it with your soil is a solid idea! I’ve had luck soaking the whole basket in water for about 15 minutes during hotter weeks, which really helps keep the moisture in.
Thank you for the advice!
Great, thank you - this seems to be where I am going wrong. Will give it a try ?