Hydrophobic Potting Soil-Symptoms & Solutions

This is a major issue in the desert. I constantly battle this issue, and over the course of years, I have come up with some.e tips and tactics to minimize extreme dehydrated soil to the point of being hydrophobic.
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#hydrophobicsoil #desertgardening #naturalfarming #deserthomestead #desertpermaculture #greeningthedesert #permaculture #fruittrees #mulching

[@usahero9465]

Very well done sir.

[@Eduardo-xi7xp]

Thank you another great video my amigo❤❤❤❤😂

[@mintycactus1152]

Thanks Josh for the solutions to issues, appreciate it

[@DesertGardensHomestead]

Thank you for taking the time to watch.

[@ourrockydreamontheelephant4188]

Another great and informative video, thanks brother.

[@DesertGardensHomestead]

Thanks for checking it out Jamey.

[@stevejohnstonbaugh9171]

Good foundational knowledge for beginning and novice gardeners - especially those in the desert. My method is to do my best to not let the soil dry out completely. That's why I advocate for drip irrigation with timer. That's the best way to manage "I forgot".
Depending on the size of the container, as little as 10 minutes every other day at sunrise will do the job. In the short run, timed drip irrigation is a huge water saver. In the long run, it is a huge time saver. All the best!

[@DesertGardensHomestead]

Excellent points. I've considered Drip in the nursery, but just haven't gotten around to it.

[@stevejohnstonbaugh9171]

@@DesertGardensHomestead Success is proportional to organization and keeping it simple. Experiment with a $20 timer, 1/2" poly pipe and ~1/2 gallon an hour emitters.
If you decide to go big - I would try to use the 1/2 pipe with emitters molded in. :)

[@Smithhands2727]

Coco coir hydrates better then peat also mix in sand is what helps

[@rishtunkhwa8990]

There is another way to hydrate ' dry hydrophobic " soil. I take a 3 to 5 lite plastic bottle and make small hole at one corner at the bottom and fill it up with water keeping the hole in the middle of the pot so the water can trickle out slowly giving it time to soak the soil.

[@DesertGardensHomestead]

Great idea!

[@insAneTunA]

I have been experiencing these issues with my hanging baskets. I recently started dunking them in my rain barrel when I feel that they are light. I do not push them otherwise the soil comes out of the basket because it intends to float, ask me how I know. I just let the basket float without pushing it and while holding the basket upright, and I let it slowly soak up the water until I can clearly feel that the basket has becomes much heavier when I slowly lift it. It takes about half a minute to a minute or so. The difference is that the light basket can be lifted with just your pinky, and for the fully saturated basket you need a very ferm grip with your entire hand.
For some of my pots I use plastic trays which I fill with water until it reaches the bottom of the pot. The pots stand on a plastic spacer that is about half an inch thick.
We went from 63F with constant rain to 91F in a matter of days, and on those hot days the hanging baskets can dry out and the soil can shrink rapidly. But even on moderate warm days with a lot of sun it can happen quickly. Now we have very moderate temps around 75F with mostly sun and a few clouds, but next week we go back to the cold temperatures with 63F. These severe unusual temperature fluctuations confuse me.
Thanks for sharing. I was just following my intuition on this, but I wasn't sure if I was doing it right. 👍

[@DesertGardensHomestead]

Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@heronthere]

I just lost every leaf on a potted fig tree from letting it dry out. Uggh. It should releaf.

[@DesertGardensHomestead]

Yeah, it likely will. They are pretty tough.

[@knowledgeandmultiskilled]

Try a dead plant. Dry soil is not good, for most plants, and since you are located in the desert then I assume it is hot where you are. There is a method I came across to grow plants in hot temperatures, and it is not what you are talking about. Frankly I think the method I came across is more simpler than yours to grow plants in hot temperatures.

[@DesertGardensHomestead]

I appreciate you watching and commenting. I am always open to new methods. Please share any experience to help the community, as well as myself, if not familiar to it.

[@knowledgeandmultiskilled]

@@DesertGardensHomestead Providing confined shade outdoors to plants should keep them cooler than leaving plants outdoors, and exposed to the sun. This method is new to me, but not to some gardeners.
I listened to what these people had to say, and I watched how they were maintaining their plants, and to be honest I thought it was weird what I saw.
It does require some work to setup outside, and it is not hard to do either. Unfortunately, for people who do not have the space then what I am thinking of is going to be a problem, and I am one of those people by the way.
I am working on trying to get a piece of property, so if I can get it then maybe I will show exactly what I learned from other people on the internet.

[@DesertGardensHomestead]

@knowledgeandmultiskilled OK, thanks for sharing!