Fearless Gardener

Watering used to be one of the most difficult skills to learn for growing. The conventional method of potting and 'top watering' leaves your plants with an inconsistency in the uptaking of nutrients, not to mention the mess. With the Fearless Gardener Soiless Mix Layering Method you are permitted a wider margin of forgiveness with higher accuracy giving your plants the optimum delivery of nutrients and oxygen when every growing minute counts.

WATER is the solvent that carries minerals through the plant is a raw material used by the plant to process more complex compounds such as the process of photosynthesis for the production of food. cools the plant through transpiration.

NUTRIENTS are carried by the water into the root hairs by electrostatic forces and active / selective transport. They are then carried up through the plant by capillary attraction where they are used by the plant. The water is given off into the atmosphere as a vapour (transpiration).

The primary way to develop watering skills is to learn to judge the moisture content of the pot by feeling down into the top of the soil or the weight of the pot. If the water or nutrient solution is absorbed within 20 minutes, more is added to the saucer to bring the level up halfway. A couple of days after this is used up and when the moisture content starts drying up at the top 5 cm./2 inches determined by feeling the soiless mix. The process is repeated.

If you have got more than one pot you should gauge the feeding of your plants by the one that needs watering first and then topping up the remaining saucers whether they need it or not. Using this method you will then be able to set up a watering interval schedule according to pot type, temperature, and humidity. This schedule will allow for accuracy within a day or two. This combined with the layering method gives a virtually foolproof way to optimize the nutrient delivery to your plants.

NOTE: This method allows for an occasional off-schedule watering. If you plan to be away from home on a watering day, simply water in advance using a smaller quantity, readjusting the watering schedule accordingly.

Underwatering is a common mistake for many beginners growing in containers. Often after being given advice from an experienced grower, the novice grower is so afraid to water his/her plants that they end up being deprived. The fearless gardeners method reverses the old adage from "when in doubt, don't feed." To "when in doubt feed." As the different layers of medium allow extra space for air exchange and free access to nutrients. The roots actually adapt to accomplish the specific tasks in each of the layers. They have air even if overwatered; but also hold enough moisture if underwatered. Almost exact amounts of nutrients and the intervals for their addition can be visually determined. Just enough solution is added to the saucer to sustain the plant in optimal growth until the next feeding day. For growers in soiless mix wanting to step up their performance and increase the margin of forgiveness this is the ultimate in soiless mix high performance gardening.