So you know how it gets all hot out during the summer and you feel like you’re constantly having to water your flowers or they look like they are ready to shrivel up and die? Especially the potted plants in your container gardens that dry out super fast.
Well, I have a super simple little trick to help you water those potted plants less frequently.
You won’t believe how simple this is!
Ready?
Put rocks on your soil!
That’s right, those little smooth river pebbles that you can buy in bulk from just about anywhere (including Walmart and your local craft store).
The rocks prevent the sun from sucking the moisture out of the soil so quickly and help keep the soil cool.
Thus your soil will stay moist longer and you can water less frequently!
I actually discovered this trying to reach a different goal with the rocks, which also worked by the way.
I would get annoyed when I would water my potted plants and dirt would splash everywhere from the stream of water from my watering can. So messy! Especially with the indoor potted plants. Plus it made indentions in my soil which I was not particularly fond of.
By adding the rocks, the dirt splashing and indentions were gone!
Then I realized that I wasn’t needing to water as frequently because the rocks were keeping the soil moist longer.
There is also one more benefit to using these rocks in your potted plants:
It will prevent the squirrels from digging in them!
I have never had a squirrel dig in one of my potted plants that had rocks.
However, it will not stop them from eating what is in your pot (see above) if that is what they are after.
I keep a collection of these river rocks and use them in all of my small and medium-sized potted plants.
The large pots I have are typically pretty efficient at keeping themselves hydrated for several days.
Elle says
June 5, 2019 at 5:34 PMIf you use red pepper flakes, they don’t wash away as quickly as the cayenne pepper.
I came home to a beautiful large orange begonia completely eaten off stem today
;( Does anyone know if it will grow back?
Anne says
June 23, 2019 at 8:38 AMIt should. I have a huge begonia in my back yard that dies back in the winter and comes back in the spring
magpie says
October 8, 2019 at 7:16 PMTry Coyote urine, I get mine from Fleet Farm O put it in small bottles with a sponge in half way. It drives the squirrels nuts but they stay away from my plants! Bone meal is good too along with the red pepper.
Robert YOUNG says
June 21, 2018 at 9:15 PMI’m going with the pepper. Thanks.
Shelby says
December 20, 2016 at 9:55 PMHi, you are probably going to think that I have gone nuts some where along the line. Here goes. I have close to three hundred potted plants in my backyard. (I’ve done this thirty years) Yes I have lost a few here and there due to elements but not to squirrels until this year 12/2016. I have nurtured these plants for years and now I have holes six inches deep in just about 99% of my pots. These are not small or medium pots they 22 to 28 inch pots. I have put mulch in the pots to help winter them. I have cayenne in the pots, Repel, Animals be gone. I am getting to desperate measures . Someone even mentioned rat poison. I have not tried the blood meal or bone meal. Because I don’t really know how much to apply without putting to much would hurt my plants. The plants are hydrangeas, Camillas, Hostas, roses, Japanese Maples, viburnums. Annabelle hydrangea, ferns, hardy hibiscus, day Lily’s, oriental lilys, rose of Sharon,lots of clematis, even gotten brugmansias to return each year by putting them on a morning sun side of the house, all kinds of sedums oh well the list goes on and on. I can’t do the chicken wire because the plants are already in the pots and it is already winter her in zone 7a. Hate the thought of having to replant them all in the spring…….. CAN ANY ONE HELP ME ??
Ellen says
May 14, 2017 at 2:43 AMI have put larger rocks around the base of plants and have not had any problem with digging, now in the one bed without rocks, there is some digging going on but not in the pots with rocks to cover the soil. I would just fill in the dug out holes and make sure no air is getting to the roots of the plants and then put the rocks on. Hope this helps. Keep on gardening
.
Lilette Bagwin says
May 15, 2016 at 10:30 PMWhat a great idea to use the Cayenne pepper for the squirrels. Of course overtime I water, I will have to replace the pepper. I am going to try the pebbles. I think they would work well with the Cayenne pepper under it. I think it would be too difficult to plant with chicken wire in my pots. If i plant the plants first and then put the chicken wire, I would have to be cutting it to fit in between the plants. Met a gapped idea for ,u big planters where I put a Spike plant in the center and 6-7 impatiens around the Spike.
the cape on the corner says
June 6, 2013 at 11:27 AMthis is a great idea, especially for the squirrel idea! i’m so going to do this!
litlsis says
May 22, 2013 at 9:05 AMGreat idea! Thanks so much for sharing – they look nice too!
Kayla Janachovsky says
May 21, 2013 at 1:11 PMGreat tips! I’d love if you’d like up to The DIY’ers: http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-diyers-and-some-favorites.html
Colejo32 says
May 21, 2013 at 8:43 AMSo smart!! Thank you so much for sharing! I will have to give this a try 🙂 Found you at Get Your Craft On party 😀
Nicole
http://coleyscraftingcorner.blogspot.com/2013/05/annabelle-simply-charming.html
Sharon Hodge says
May 21, 2013 at 7:58 AMThis is a fabulous tip! I have a plant in my windowsill inside that keeps drying it. I need to try the rocks in it. Perhaps, it will help that poor plant. Thanks for sharing.
Sharon
http://makeitorfixit.com
Rita says
May 20, 2013 at 9:23 PMGreat tip! Thanks for sharing.
Randi~Dukes and Duchesses says
May 20, 2013 at 4:25 PMGreat tip … I need to do that with my outdoor plants. Our crazy hot weather means we’re watering all the time!
Jen says
May 18, 2013 at 8:39 PMWhat a great tip and I love that you figured it out by trying to fix something else! That’s always the way isn’t it?
moorethanamommy says
May 18, 2013 at 1:34 PMMy plants are currently thanking you for this great tip!
Kate Spencer says
May 18, 2013 at 7:49 AMOk, absolutely going to try this. Two years in a row my husband buys me these huge potted flowers for Mother’s Day. Alas, the heat zaps them and I lose them. I’ll try this. Thanks.
Michelle Robblee says
May 17, 2013 at 10:33 AMGreat tip! Love your ideas to keep the squirrels away, too!
Julia @ It's Always Ruetten says
May 17, 2013 at 9:58 AMHi! Love your potted plants tip; just what I needed! Just stopping by to let you know you’ve been featured on my Finding Friday Favorite Finds.
Be sure to swing by and grab my featured button; you deserve it!
http://itsalwaysruetten.blogspot.com/2013/05/finding-friday-my-favorite-finds_17.html
Cheers,
Julia
It’s Always Ruetten
Crystal says
May 17, 2013 at 12:20 AMAwesome!! I’m going to try this tomorrow. Thanks so much!! Whoo hoo!! I might actually be able to keep my plants alive!!
Heather @ Southern State of Mind says
May 15, 2013 at 11:01 PMAnything to help my black thumb! Thanks!
Jennifer Schmitz says
May 15, 2013 at 10:00 PMgreat idea. thanks for sharing!
jennifer @ decorated chaos
Beverly {Flamingo Toes} says
May 15, 2013 at 1:16 PMThis is a great idea! I am always forgetting to water lol, so maybe this would help the poor things stay alive just a little longer!!
Natasha says
May 15, 2013 at 12:36 PMI only have one potted plant, because mine always die. One of our dogs keep eating the soil, so I’m going to try adding rocks.
Sam Dull says
May 15, 2013 at 9:34 AMMulch helps too – but I would only use it outside.
Thanks!
Sam
http://cooksandcreates.blogspot.com/
(New follower and found you on Someday Crafts)
Gail Wilson says
May 15, 2013 at 8:29 AMwoohoo! genius! I have a problem with a huge hibiscus that I overwiner indoors and move outside each spring. I will be repotting it this year with miracle-gro moisture control, but in addition to that I will be adding some river rocks. I bought a huge (too heavy for me to lift) bag at Home Depot for next to nothing… so I have several to spare.
for squirrels (and my cats indoors) I use skewers poked into the soil of the large pot to discourage the critters. 😉
wow, longest comment ever!
pinning!
gail