Question

Pot with reservoir   Dear Jeff,

I use large pots with water reservoir for my carnivorous plants.

However, when the reservoir is empty, water in the tray cannot be absorbed anymore. It seems that the water in the tray is not high enough to reach the inner part of the reservoir and therefore be able to be absorbed by the soil...

I tried to fill the drainage hole with dead sphagnum, but it won磘 help either and actually only stuck the hole and water cannot flow out anymore... So the only way for me to fill the reservoir is by watering from top. Once it is empty, soil with start to dry out, although water is still in the tray...

I guess that the only way would be repotting in ordinary pots, right? Or do you know another solution? I have done all the potting this spring, so I did not really want to repot so soon again...

Thanks and have a nice week!

Cheers,

JP

Answer
Hi JP,

I wish I had and easy answer for you, but going back to regular pots is probably the best option.  The only other thing I can think to do is to see if you can lift the soil out in-mass, remove the insert, then put the soil back down in the pot.  This is going to be difficult at best.  Otherwise you will just be doing lots of top-watering until winter rains return.  You could also put your pots on a drip system.  Sorry I didn't have any better solutions.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com