How to tell when my substrate is in need of watering?

[It's Kev]

I water my trees with water from my fish tank because it's got some extra nutrients. So, even though I had typhoon weather all week, I'll still dunk them in fish tank water when I clean out my filter.

 

[rockm]

Do what Walter says... The end...

I would take Walter's advice, but I'd also keep in mind that his climate is mostly limited when compared to the U.S. Germany is roughly the size of Nebraska and although it has lowlands and mountains, the U.S. is vastly larger and more complex climate wise, with more extreme temperatures and humidity levels.

If you're using extremely free draining soil mixes, particularly with deciduous trees, in hotter areas of the U.S., you'd better be prepared to do A LOT of watering...

 

[M. Frary]

Do what Walter says... The end...

I follow his watering and fertilizing regimen to the letter.
For my trees and climate it's perfect.

 

[GrimLore]

Skewer all day for me!

But its really interesting seeing the different methods being used, I will try them out!

You will find that in a couple of seasons you will have a water routine that applies to most all of you plants that are outdoors all four seasons. Then you can grill some Kabobs with those skewers .
Indoors is a bit more tedious but again doable with no tool needed. I do have stainless chopsticks laying about but honest I don't know the last time I used them.

Grimmy

 

[StoneCloud]

You will find that in a couple of seasons you will have a water routine that applies to most all of you plants that are outdoors all four seasons. Then you can grill some Kabobs with those skewers .
Indoors is a bit more tedious but again doable with no tool needed. I do have stainless chopsticks laying about but honest I don't know the last time I used them.

Grimmy

I'm down to try some kabobs with overly ferted miracle grow skewers!!!!!

For our acid lovers we have the Miracid skewers

 

[wireme]

I follow his watering and fertilizing regimen to the letter.
For my trees and climate it's perfect.

I do as well, almost, not quite to the letter. My substrate mixes match, my watering practices match, my fertilizing not exactly. I just use organics. Walter has said in the past that organics are not effective when soil temps are too cold and that is fairly often here. I do fertilize often and overstrength but not as overstrength, maybe 2x, not 5 or 6x.
Maybe I would do better if I used masses of the blue juice, I've never had anything grow like those elms of yours that's for sure. Overall I'm pretty happy though, occasionall ups and downs.

 

[Paradox]

After some years one can tell by experience when is needed. In free draining or inorganic substrate like pumice is nearly impossible to overH2O. As long as container drains well.

This is my thoughts as well. Thats why my trees get watered every day via sprinkler on a timer unless we had at least 0.5 inches of rain late in the day before or it will rain that day. I put the timer on delay for those days.

 

[BPfeil]

Wow. I am blown away by the number of answers I've received!
And how thorough they are!
Thank you all so much for the information!

 

[sorce]

Wow. I am blown away by the number of answers I've received!
And how thorough they are!
Thank you all so much for the information!

Crazy Intelligent.

When in doubt, Walter...I mean water!

Unless it's a Jade....then don't water.

Or if your soil smells like the local roadkill dump....don't water....
Drill drainage holes....

Then water!

Sorce