Plant Care

Should Nitrogen Levels be Reduced for Tomatoes, as They Grow?

Here is a quote that was posted in our Facebook Group: “If you give a tomato plant too much nitrogen, it grows lots of green stuff, but not many tomatoes. Apparently, for maximum production, you have to intentionally starve it of nitrogen a little bit to force it into fruit mode. What is the “right” amount of nitrogen and when?”

I have seen this claim before. Too much nitrogen produces too many leaves and little fruit. But is the claim correct? Should gardeners reduce nitrogen levels as the plant starts producing fruit?

Watch the video version of this post: https://youtu.be/IyKjz77edm4

Key Takeaways
  • Garden advice for feeding tomatoes is wrong.
  • Increase nitrogen as the plant grows.

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Is Your Tap Water Suitable For Plants?

I see a lot of online comments from people who feel their tap water isn’t suitable for plants. People are moving towards distilled, RO water, or rainwater instead. Is this necessary? Is your tap water a problem?

The following are some concerns people have.

  • Chlorine
  • Fluoride
  • pH
  • Hardness (high calcium and magnesium) & alkalinity
  • Sodium
  • Water Softener
  • Lead

Tap water is rarely a problem for outdoor gardens growing in real soil, but it can be a problem for houseplants and plants growing in soilless mixes, and that is the focus of this post.

girl filling watering can at the sink
Key Takeaways
  • Chloride is usually not a problem.
  • Hardness and alkalinity can be a problem.
  • Lead is usually not a problem.

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Providing the Right Humidity for Plants

Humidity is a form of water, and water is critical for plant growth. We can all sense high and low humidity, but what effect do these extremes have on plants? How does a gardener control humidity to help plants grow well?

Let’s clarify the misunderstandings and myths about providing humidity for plants.

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Are Clear Pots Better for Orchids?

I have been growing orchids for over 40 years, and at one point, I grew over 1,000 orchids. Whenever I was asked about the best orchid pot, I responded with the same answer. Any green plastic pot will work just fine. If it had a raised bottom with drainage holes at the bottom rim (azalea pot), to allow better water drainage, that would be better, but any pot will work.

That answer is still correct. We know that because most hobbyists use that kind of pot.

However, there is some new research that suggests a clear pot may be better. Let’s have a look at what the new science says.

The clear pot on the left shows green roots that photosynthesize. The roots on the right are a slivery-white color because they are dry.
Key Takeaways
  • Opaque has been the standard for many years and still works great.
  • New science says there are some benefits from clear pots.

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Water Hardness and Alkalinity – Why They Both Matter

Is your tap water suitable for plants? Unless you know something about both hardness and alkalinity, you can’t tell if your tap water should be used.

Is RO water, distilled water, or rainwater suitable for plants? You probably think it is, but they also have problems that relate to hardness and alkalinity.

Let’s have a closer look at water and these two properties.

girls watering houseplants in front of a window
Key Takeaways
  • Hardness and alkalinity are not the same thing.
  • Tap water may not be suitable for plants.
  • Pure water may also not be suitable

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How Much Light is Best For Tomato Seedlings?

How much light should tomato seedlings get? If you give them too little, they will become tall, skinny, unhealthy plants, a condition called leggy. If you give them too much, the leaves will be damaged. How much is the best amount?

The new science of growing tomato seedlings will surprise you.

12 tomato seedlings with several red tomatoes in front.
Tomatoes and tomato seedlings, source: Depositphotos
Key Takeaways
  • Tomato seedlings grow best with a PPFD of 250 to 300.
  • A DLI of 10 to 13 works best.
  • All plant seedlings need 8 hours of darkness.

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Should You Use Drainage in Your Pots?

It used to be very common to add drainage material, such as rocks, Leca, or clay pot shards in the bottom of pots for added drainage. Then it was claimed that this is a myth and it does not work. But then some new science this year upsets everything by showing drainage material may actually work.

Should a gardener use drainage material? What kind of material works best?

lady's hand putting leca beads into a pot.
Leca being added to the bottom of a pot of succulents, source: Depositphotos
Key Takeaways
  • Drainage material reduces the water in the soil.
  • It is best not to use drainage material in most cases, but it can be useful in the right situation.

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Does Gravel in Pots Increase Drainage – The Latest Science

Logic would have you believe that adding gravel or pot shards in the bottom of a pot or container will increase drainage and this has been a common practice for a long time. More recently some gardening experts and scientists have declared this to be a myth, claiming that gravel does not increase drainage when placed in the bottom of a pot. That is the current thinking.

New science has now been published that debunks the claimed myth and concludes that drainage material in the bottom of a pot or container does increase drainage.

Does Gravel in Pots and Containers Increase Drainage?
Does Gravel in Pots and Containers Increase Drainage? source: North Dakota State University
Key Takeaways
  • New science shows that drainage material in the bottom of a pot increases drainage.
  • Highly porous soils are affected more.
  • Sand at 60 mm worked best.

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What is DLI – the Daily Light Integral 

In the good old days, it was easier for gardeners to talk about the artificial light plants required because most gardeners used fluorescent bulbs and most manufacturers produced about the same quality of bulbs. We could easily say that, for example, African violets should be grown 6 inches below a two-bulb fixture, and that would … Read More

Biochar – Does it Really Work in the Garden?

Biochar is a special kind of charcoal that seems to have many benefits as a soil amendment. It holds water, acts like a fertilizer and grows bigger plants. While doing all this it is also eco-friendly and sequesters carbon in the soil for many thousands of years. Sounds like a win-win-win.

What is biochar? Are the claimed benefits real? Should gardeners be using this product to amend their soil? Let’s check it out.

Different samples of Biochar, photo from UC Davis Biochar Database
Different samples of Biochar, photo from UC Davis Biochar Database

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Pros & Cons of Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Kratky, Aerogardens

Hydroponics is becoming much more popular with home gardeners and there are a number of different systems including regular hydroponics, aeroponics, kratky hydroponics and indoor hydroponic gardens such as AeroGardens and LetPot. This post will examine the differences between these systems and provide a pros and cons list for each one. Armed with this information you will be able to select the right one for your situation.

girls slicing tomatoes beside a counter hydroponic system
The LetPot aerogarden hydroponic system

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