A “swamp” is just as undesirable for plants as drought. When overwatered, the roots begin to suffocate and rot, mold appears on the surface of the soil – and soon the plant will wither. And if there is a lack of moisture, all life processes inside are disrupted, the tissues are dehydrated, and the plant dies.
Fortunately, there are 3 life hacks that can solve both problems – they were shared by the author of the Zen channel “Exotica – an encyclopedia of house plants.”
#1: Sponge
If your plant prefers drier conditions (succulents, ficus, nepenthes), place a sponge at the bottom of the pot. It will absorb excess moisture, but the roots will not rot or suffocate, even if they touch it.
No. 2: Hydrogel
This substance will provide the ideal level of humidity – without drought or overwatering. The hydrogel absorbs excess moisture and then feeds the plants with it. Upon contact with water, the initially small, tiny granules swell and look like clear jelly. If the soil dries out, the hydrogel will begin to release water.
#3: Sphagnum
This is moss that protects the soil from drying out. It is useful for begonias, ferns, and carnivorous plants. If the soil suddenly dries out, the plant will begin to take the missing moisture from the sphagnum.
A pleasant side effect is its bactericidal effect. In the soil, sphagnum destroys pathogenic microorganisms, and on its surface it repels soil gnats and protects the soil from the outer crust.
By the way, today there are automatic drip irrigation systems on sale with strict water dosage. Thanks to such devices you will avoid overfilling and underfilling. There are both mechanical and electronic devices.
