ADVICE PLEASE Dirt will not absorb water !!!

[B-LO]

I just transplanted into bigger pots with Miracle Grow and when i water the soil it is like the water just flows right through the dirt out the drain hols with out staying wet or absorbing and moisture.
Any advice on what I should or could do would be helpful , have never had this happen. Someone told me to add dish soap to the water , does this work or is it harmful to the plant.

[11vanilla11]

I just transplanted into bigger pots with Miracle Grow and when i water the soil it is like the water just flows right through the dirt out the drain hols with out staying wet or absorbing and moisture.
Any advice on what I should or could do would be helpful , have never had this happen. Someone told me to add dish soap to the water , does this work or is it harmful to the plant.

Are you using different kind of soil some kinds have less water retain for plants that need less water. Soil isn't very expensive, if it's the soil itself, change it.

[B-LO]

It is regular Miracle Grow Potting Mix. So I dont know what the problem is , I have never had this happen before so any advice from some advanced growers would be helpful.

[pushit]

This might seem a little weird but try putting a drop or two of dishwashing soap per 1 gal of water and water slowly. Ive personally never tried it but ive heard very experienced growers recommend it to others so im just parroting. If you google or bing "something to help soil absorb water" you will see multiple post referring to soap also. Just something you might wanna check out. Good luck.

[B-LO]

ive heard that too about dishsoap if u read my first post i just dont know how it effects the plant and also do u mix it stir it in the water or just put a few drops and water?>

[pushit]

ive heard that too about dishsoap if u read my first post i just dont know how it effects the plant and also do u mix it stir it in the water or just put a few drops and water?>

Damn i totally missed that haha. I copied this off the internet.


Absorbtion

The addition of two or three drops of dishwashing soap per gallon of water in your watering can or sprayer is especially helpful when watering during hot spells or drought. Soap helps soil absorb water more efficiently. When potting soils that contain a lot of peat moss dry out, they become very hard and cannot easily absorb plain water. Soapy water loosens such soil.





(http://www.ehow.com/facts_7936015_can-plants-grow-soapy-water.html#)




Overuse of Soapy Water

Soapy water helps remove bacteria (http://www.ehow.com/facts_7936015_can-plants-grow-soapy-water.html#) and pollution from soil, but it may also build up in soil and cause the same problems. It is best to use soapy water only once every two to three weeks to prevent soap buildup.

[B-LO]

I guess all I can do is try the dishsoap method and hope it doesnt effect my plants haha fingers crossed i guess , unless someone else has any other ideas.

[Weezard]

No problem.
I've done this first-hand.

One or two drops of dish detergent per gallon will lower the surface tension of the water and wet the soil thoroughly.
Then, if you don't let it dry out completely it will moisten easily in the future.
So, do it one time and problem solved.

Aloha,
Weezard

[B-LO]

Do I need to mix it in the water after i put it in? or just put a few drops in and then water? Also what effects does this have on the plants ?

[Weezard]

Put it in the water.
There is no effect on the plants.