Ignorance!

[Ideka]

Hello Gardening Forums! I'm a 24 year old Male from Florida Zone 9B. Over the last couple of years I've grown an interest in gardening but never really got around to practicing it, Until recently. Unfortunately I'm completely inexperienced, and I am finding it difficult to start from zero knowledge. It doesn't help that I am also a visual learner barbarian so a lot of information I receive is in one ear and out the other. I have a lot of questions, most of them probably pretty embarrassing, but questions none the less. At this current moment I am attempting to grow Sweet Basil, and Black Diamond Watermelon, Both from seeds. I welcome any tips and criticism, all of it helps, I prefer reading it from one of you to reading it off of google.

So I guess the first Question would be, How can i tell if my soil has enough water?

loaded question I know.

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome @Ideka

How can i tell if my soil has enough water?

.

Stick your finger in it...if it feels dry, probably not enough water.

Basil is easy to grow once you get it germinated. Black Diamond watermelon a good choice...needs full sun, hot weather, and bees to pollinate its flowers.

 

[Chuck]

The basic rule of thumb is if when you stick your finger into the soil and it is damp a knuckle deep that is plenty of moisture. Myself, I let the plant itself tell me if it needs water or not. If the plant is a little wilted in the mornings it needs water, If it is wilted in the heat of the afternoon and fine in the morning it does not. When you water, water slowly and deeply untill the water runs out of the bottom of the container. If watering an inground plant water very slowly until the soil is saturated. Too much water at one time will not hurt a plant but keeping the soil wet will kill a plant. It isn't the water itself that is harmful, it is the lack of oxygen that is fatal. It is just like a person who drowns. More plants are killed by overwatering and watering too often than by any other means. Look at Mother Nature. Does it rain every day? No, it doesn't so why water every day. Time and experience will tell you when to water. There is no timetable or schedule as to watering either.
Also remember that just because the soil surface is dry doesn't mean that it is dry 2 or 3 inches down where the roots are. That is what your finger is for. And don't waste your time and money on a moisture meter. I have been gardening for 70 years and I have never seen one that is better than a finger. In my experience I have found that a plant likes it better when on the dry side than on the wet side.

 

[Ideka]

Too much water at one time will not hurt a plant but keeping the soil wet will kill a plant. It isn't the water itself that is harmful, it is the lack of oxygen that is fatal. It is just like a person who drowns. More plants are killed by overwatering and watering too often than by any other means. Look at Mother Nature. Does it rain every day? No, it doesn't so why water every day.

Thank you, this took a massive weight off of my shoulders. I've heard of the finger technique before but I hadn't trusted myself to gauge dampness accurately.

 

[Ideka]

Stick your finger in it...if it feels dry, probably not enough water.

Basil is easy to grow once you get it germinated. Black Diamond watermelon a good choice...needs full sun, hot weather, and bees to pollinate its flowers.

Should I have propagated the Basil? I've seen how quickly it likes to grow from just a leaf.

 

[Chuck]

Thank you, this took a massive weight off of my shoulders. I've heard of the finger technique before but I hadn't trusted myself to gauge dampness accurately.

There is a trick about the finger technique. It is to leave your finger in the soil for about 15 seconds, pull it out and blow on it. If it feels cool there is enough moisture at that time in the soil. If you can't feel the difference it is time to water. If there is dampness at all you do not need to water as the plant is continually uptaking water. And a plant can only uptake x amount of water at a time. Water in soil forces out oxygen and therein lies the problem with overwatering or watering too often.

 

[Meadowlark]

Yes, it is easy to propagate...from a cutting. Also, healthy larger plants can be divided into multiple smaller plants by carefully dividing including root with each division/

Should I have propagated the Basil? I've seen how quickly it likes to grow from just a leaf.

If you want more plants, yes. It is easy to propagate...from a cutting. Also, healthy larger plants can be divided into multiple smaller plants by carefully dividing including roots with each division.

 

[Sheal]

Welcome Ideka. Trial and error is the way we learn as gardeners and like yourself we all started at the beginning. Good luck!

 

[Ideka]

There is a trick about the finger technique. It is to leave your finger in the soil for about 15 seconds, pull it out and blow on it. If it feels cool there is enough moisture at that time in the soil. If you can't feel the difference it is time to water. If there is dampness at all you do not need to water as the plant is continually uptaking water. And a plant can only uptake x amount of water at a time. Water in soil forces out oxygen and therein lies the problem with overwatering or watering too often.

I am absolutely fascinated by the science behind plant growth, but there are so many variables that effect plant health to learn. I only recently found out iron was an essential nutrient, but too much can lead to Iron Toxicity. Turns out my well water is packed with it. I don't think it will be a problem, but just another thing to consider.

 

[Ideka]

If you want more plants, yes. It is easy to propagate...from a cutting. Also, healthy larger plants can be divided into multiple smaller plants by carefully dividing including roots with each division.

Thank you! Someone told me the Basil that gets sold at big box stores are made to die off, So I suppose I made an ok choice in starting from seeds.

 

[Ideka]

Welcome Ideka. Trial and error is the way we learn as gardeners and like yourself we all started at the beginning. Good luck!

Thank you, I'll need it! Trial and error is my least favorite way to learn

 

[Ross M.]

Extra tips for watering patio plants...
- Make sure the water is "cool" before watering, bleed hose till heat is gone.
- If the pot has drains --
- Floor; Make sure runoff wont run where it will damage other objects/plants.
- Hanging; Same, stop watering when water trickles in center.
- If the pot is not drained --
- Ceramic; Needs re-potted to either a drained pot or the plant may never find balance.
- side rims and stationary pans; Usually reserved for house plants like African Violets. when the rim or pan has moisture
stop watering.
- Allow freshly potted plants to acclimate by watering the soil after planting.
- and last; keep track of what your plants are doing, especially in the heat.
- Leaves drooping; Dirt hardly stays wet "Tomatoes"; and dry weather forecast. Water accordingly...

 

[Sluggy]

Welcome. Do not worry every one was a beginner at one time. Yes you can use your finger as mentioned above but you can always buy a cheap water meter, you stick the rod in the ground and read the small meter at the top. I use this for my carniverous potted monkey cups to see if they need water as you are not supposed to stand them In water.
You can also buy a combined one that gives a soil ph reading ( how alkaline or acidic your soil is).

 

[GFTL]

The finger method works but I use a moisture meter. They're very inexpensive and confirm what your finger tells you. Even more useful if you're starting seeds in trays.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Thank you, I'll need it! Trial and error is my least favorite way to learn

Questions get answered, but there is often more than one definitive answer. The search function (top right) is a really good tool, for example , when I entered 'moisture' there are ten pages of posts, including sever from this page, it can be a very informative way of finding out about a subject from different points of view.