So cross, my poor dried up pots….

I’d stand the pots in something to catch the water rather than just let it run through and away. That should help to rehydrate the compost as it’s drawn back up into the pot.

Peat free and peat based composts are both very difficult to re-wet once they’ve dried out. A bit of loam in the initial mix would help.

Our pots are all in saucers (not sure that is the correct name)
Not only has this helped to keep them hydrated it ensures water for birds, bees, squirrels and foxes (I do not feed the foxes, but I wouldn’t like to see them thirsty)

We only have shrubs (greenery with white or very pale pink flowers, boring to some, but I like the sameness and serenity) in our borders, might need to give them a good drink from the rainwater harvesting tank.

MaizieD

I’d stand the pots in something to catch the water rather than just let it run through and away. That should help to rehydrate the compost as it’s drawn back up into the pot.

Peat free and peat based composts are both very difficult to re-wet once they’ve dried out. A bit of loam in the initial mix would help.

Yes, that’d be good, but the pots are quite big and as yet I don’t have saucers for all of them.

In this situation I’d be inclined to fill plastic bottles, pierce small holes in the sides and lay them down on the surface of the pots………the water would drip through into the compost hydrating the plants gradually rather than the water flooding out because the compost is solid. Alternatively, if you’ve no plastic bottles, old clean cotton rags drenched with water and placed on the compost would do it.

I bought some cheap washing up bowls from the local pound shop and put the pots in them. I can keep the pots topped up from the bottom. They are black and round so don't shout washing up bowl at me. And will stack in the winter in the shed.

HelterSkelter1

I bought some cheap washing up bowls from the local pound shop and put the pots in them. I can keep the pots topped up from the bottom. They are black and round so don't shout washing up bowl at me. And will stack in the winter in the shed.

What a fabulous idea! cheap as chips too and practical for other things!

It's amazing how many people just don't gave a feeling for gardening.
I've been given plants to restore to health and have done so only to find that when returned to their owners -they've died .
Put your seedlings in bowls of water in the shade to ensure adequate conditions.

We’re in a climate crisis so we now have to start adapting what we grow and if some plants die that’s the reality of things. This isn’t a one-off something to be cross about . The planet is in crisis. We need to drive less, use public transport more and not idle our engines when not necessary; small things like that. And as for water , reuse washing up water- grey water and bath water - when possible for our plants. Just a few thoughts , haven’t read
every post on this conversation So I’m sorry if this has upset some people.

My daughter (aged 40!) agreed to water my two big tomato plants a couple of times whilst I was away for four days but clearly didn't bother much. Although they're in very big pots with reservoirs in the bottom the tips of all the growth was wilting and some of it didn't survive. Some people just are not natural gardeners I'm afraid.

I rang the water company to see if I qualified for the priority register as I have a lung condition. They told me I was automatically on it because of my age and so is OH. There's no way I could lift and carry watering cans if we get a ban. Worth knowing too that you can use a hose for fruit, veg, herbs, and also to clean after animals and wash dirty car windows for safety, even if there's a hosepipe ban. HTH someone and worth ringing to check.

Despite being watered 2-3 x pd in our small walled south facing garden, the plants are in an awful dried state. Even the lavender!

sazz1

I rang the water company to see if I qualified for the priority register as I have a lung condition. They told me I was automatically on it because of my age and so is OH. There's no way I could lift and carry watering cans if we get a ban. Worth knowing too that you can use a hose for fruit, veg, herbs, and also to clean after animals and wash dirty car windows for safety, even if there's a hosepipe ban. HTH someone and worth ringing to check.

Thanks for that. I’m on the priorities register and would have a problem carrying watering cans. Thinking ahead, if we do have to rethink the sort of plants we grow we need to think of the bees and insects. The butterflies do like sedum. My garden is dry and overshadowed by trees anyway so I tend to only grow sedums and salvias.

I wonder if the permission to use a hose for fruit and veg applies everywhere - does anyone know? We really only need to water those apart from pots which have geraniums and things which seem to be able to cope with the heat. Some years ago we had a really good strawberry bed and DH arranged for someone from his work to come and pick the berries whilst we were away. We came back to find that this hadn't happened and I can still remember the disappointment of finding that a fine crop of strawberries had been wasted.

Worth checking your own utility website singingnutty to be sure.

Soaking the whole pot in a bucket of water is best method whether for holiday absence or at home. Then you can reuse that water for several more pots

I watched an Asda employee “ watering “ the many plants out side the store. He was just waving the hose from side to side ! The plants all looked so pitiful and I don’t think anyone would buy them in that state. Non gardeners don’t realise that the water has to be directed at the soil where the roots are. I didn’t say anything as probably would be seen as a nosey old woman.

We don’t have a hosepipe ban where I live , but we’re being very mindful of water wastage . my dh set up a watering system for the pots on our patio and my tomato plants . It waters 3 x day for 3 minutes.
We’ve given up on the lawn. And I’m saving washing up water for the beds .

Witzend - I don't think you can compare this young girl with her sister who did the watering job previously as there are different variables at play here. I don't know if you've been on holiday in the UK or not but frankly it's been as hot here in a prolonged way as in the southern Mediterranean, and the job of watering has required a different approach. So if you didn't tell this person to water between the hours of around 7 pm and 7 am, then you're at fault, not her. Next time you go away you might want to enhance the task to include topping up the pots with a handful of compost every few days to ensure no roots become exposed. I understand it's very disappointing to go away and come back to pots bearing dead flowers but how and when you water and top up and feed whatever you have in your pots is extremely important and in continued heatwave conditions you can't leave anything to chance. Another tip for next time is to get a sprinkler, put all your pots together and ask somebody to turn your sprinkler on for an hour between 7 and 8 pm. Good luck salvaging what has managed to withstand the drought.

BrandyGran

I watched an Asda employee “ watering “ the many plants out side the store. He was just waving the hose from side to side ! The plants all looked so pitiful and I don’t think anyone would buy them in that state. Non gardeners don’t realise that the water has to be directed at the soil where the roots are. I didn’t say anything as probably would be seen as a nosey old woman.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen plants outside any supermarket that are being watered properly (if at all). I honestly don’t understand why they bother selling them. There was an exception the other week and it was probably Aldi or Lidl. All I can think is that they’re sold on a sell or return basis and the shop isn’t all that bothered about selling them. I find it really sad seeing such sad specimens.

What amazes me is how lawns recover so well after heavy rain but not if they’re watered with tap water.

Quite a lot of mine have died in spite of my best efforts. I am rethinking what I might put in in the autumn that would survive another hot summer.

You can complete an online form with your details and be exempt from the hosepipe ban, if you have health problems that would mean you cannot carry heavy watering cans. I am now exempt. This is the first year I've thought of doing this, although my health problems have been here for about 25 years, maybe more. I have a prolapsed bowel and also within the last year or so have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hands and wrists, so two reasons why I cannot carry heavy watering cans. I'm now on their priority list and if there is a water stoppage for some reason, they will deliver bottled water to my door.

If we’re going to continue to have dry summers think terracotta flower pots need to have the option of having a plastic inner pot so they hold more moisture. And the saucers need to be made deeper, again to hold more water. Just a reminder if anyone does put their pots into another container with water in, to put a stick or something in them. In the past I’ve found mice in mine that have drowned and I’ve felt awful about it. I always put a stick in my watering cans if I think it’s going to rain.

This year I've had to water my tomato plants 2 to 3 times daily and they consume an incredible amount of water. Not been as bad previously even in hot summers so I expect that it is also related to that useless peat free compost.

I was once asked to water a friends cucumber plants while they were away. I did the best I could but they all died. I felt terrible. I think you’re at fault for giving a young girl so much responsibility. We’re in an unprecedented heatwave so you are being very unfair and the poor girl probably feels mortified.