How to Water your Winter Sowing Jugs:
Three Ways
Winter Sowing is an easy way to start seeds outside with recycled vinegar/water/milk jugs or other containers. It creates a mini-greenhouse so that you can start more seeds without the need for space or lights indoors. Learn more about Winter Sowing »
In some growing regions, you may have enough moisture and humidity to keep your jugs moist with no additional watering. But, here in the West, we have dry, warm & sunny days all winter long, so our jugs can dry out and need to be watered weekly or more often to keep them moist during warm and dry winter weather. It's very important with Winter Sowing to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Ensure there are enough drainage holes that the jugs don't hold water and stay water-logged, which can drown your seedlings!
On the other hand, when the weather is dry and sunny, check your winter sowing jugs often (daily, ideally) to ensure that the growing medium looks moist. The solar heat can quickly evaporate moisture, and bone dry soil can kill young seedlings quickly, so it's important to not let them dry out completely.
In some growing regions, you may have enough moisture and humidity to keep your jugs moist with no additional watering. But, here in the West, we have dry, warm & sunny days all winter long, so our jugs can dry out and need to be watered weekly or more often to keep them moist during warm and dry winter weather. It's very important with Winter Sowing to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Ensure there are enough drainage holes that the jugs don't hold water and stay water-logged, which can drown your seedlings!
On the other hand, when the weather is dry and sunny, check your winter sowing jugs often (daily, ideally) to ensure that the growing medium looks moist. The solar heat can quickly evaporate moisture, and bone dry soil can kill young seedlings quickly, so it's important to not let them dry out completely.
Winter Sowing Watering Method #1:
Water with a watering can with a gentle rain spout
Winter Sowing Watering Method #2:
Use a gentle misting spray bottle to keep the soil moist, but make sure to be gentle so you don't dislodge any seedlings once sprouted.
Winter Sowing Watering Method #3:
Gentle Watering Alternative – Soaking!
Soaking winter sowing jugs in a tray of water is a gentle and effective way to bottom-water seedlings, allowing them to absorb moisture as needed during dry spring spells, preventing soggy soil or displacing seeds.
However, don't leave them submerged for long periods (over 1-2 hours) to avoid drowning seedlings, and use shallow trays with about an inch of water to let the soil soak up moisture from the bottom. This technique is great for keeping soil moist without disturbing tiny sprouts, especially when natural moisture is scarce.
Soaking helps when Transplanting:
Soaking Winter Sowing Jugs in a tray of water before transplanting is also ideal, as it loosens the growing medium and makes it easier to separate roots and seedlings for transplanting.
Making sure your Winter Sowing jugs are moist is vital for success!
Native plants tip:
With native plants, we've heard that it's ideal to plant them with bare roots, so soaking the jug and rinsing away most of the potting soil can be helpful for native plants to establish more quickly into native soils.
Soaking winter sowing jugs in a tray of water is a gentle and effective way to bottom-water seedlings, allowing them to absorb moisture as needed during dry spring spells, preventing soggy soil or displacing seeds.
However, don't leave them submerged for long periods (over 1-2 hours) to avoid drowning seedlings, and use shallow trays with about an inch of water to let the soil soak up moisture from the bottom. This technique is great for keeping soil moist without disturbing tiny sprouts, especially when natural moisture is scarce.
Soaking helps when Transplanting:
Soaking Winter Sowing Jugs in a tray of water before transplanting is also ideal, as it loosens the growing medium and makes it easier to separate roots and seedlings for transplanting.
Making sure your Winter Sowing jugs are moist is vital for success!
Native plants tip:
With native plants, we've heard that it's ideal to plant them with bare roots, so soaking the jug and rinsing away most of the potting soil can be helpful for native plants to establish more quickly into native soils.
Learn more about Winter Sowing »
Happy Winter Sowing & Growing!
Happy Winter Sowing & Growing!
