Episode: #9 28/10/2006
Presenter: Judy Horton

These days we are all taking a lot more care to choose drought hardy plants for our gardens but sometimes you will want to grow a special plant, like a fern or hydrangea, that is going to need a bit more water.

The answer is to grow it in a pot where you can easily take care of its extra water needs. It is best to choose a plastic pot like a Tuscan because it won?t lose moisture from its sides. If you really want to use a porous pot like terracotta, start by spraying it with Yates Pot-A Seal. That will seal the inside of the pot so that water won?t evaporate from the sides.

Next select a potting mix that holds extra water. Something like Yates Waterwise Premium Potting Mix which has added water-storing crystals and soil wetters. Note the premium standards mark that shows its top quality.

If you don?t have a special water-holding potting mix you can add your own water crystals. It is best to swell them in water first because they go a long way.

The water is held in the jelly-like crystals and if you mix them into the potting mix the roots will be able to extract moisture from them whenever the plant starts to get dry.

It is important to get the crystals down near the roots but if the plant is already in the pot, try this trick. Use some pipe to remove vertical plugs of mix and spoon in the swollen crystals. Top off with a small amount of the discarded mix.

There is another way you can help your precious plant cope with dry periods. Spray it with Yates Stressguard. Stressguard is a fascinating product. It puts a non-toxic, see through polymer film over the plant that reduces water loss and gives it some protection from sun and wind.

Keep the plant in a protected spot with shelter from the worst of the sun and, of course, don?t forget to water it regularly!

Featured Products

Waterwise Premium Potting Mix

• Wetting agents and water crystals help water penetrate into the mix and retain moisture in containers or in garden soil for release over time.
• Ideal for container grown and garden plants.
• Contains Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food for plant nutrition and to encourage beneficial soil micro-organisms and earthworms.
• Contains coir peat which stores water and nutrients and improves the structure of the mix.

Waterwise Water Storage Crystals

• When added to potting mix or garden soil, the crystals absorb up to 500 times their own weight in water
• The water is released over a period of time as the plants require it.
• Reduce water usage and increase the times between watering.
• Effective for up to five years and biodegrade harmlessly.
• Prevents the soil from drying out, improves soil aeration and drainage.
• Potassium based.

Yates Stressguard ? Ready To Use

• Protects plants from heat, water loss, drying winds, sunburn, droughts, frost and transplant shock
• Easy-to-use- trigger pack - no mixing required.
• Increases the survival rate of seedlings and newly transplanted plants.
• Reduces water usage by up to 50% and increases the survival of plants during dry times.
• Product is biodegradable and the protective film stretches up to 100% with leaf growth and lasts for up to 90 days.  Ideal for reducing frost damage.

Yates Pot a Seal

• For sealing terracotta pots to reduce water loss and improve plant health and survival.
• Convenient, ready to use aerosol.
• Bentonite's super fine particles form a clear barrier, that significantly reduces the loss of water from terracotta and concrete pots.
• If desired can be painted over with oil based paints.