Having responded to a question about a fig in a pot (where the problem may
be insufficient watering) I thought I would raise again the subject of
'inicator plants/weeds' where you are growing large shrubs or small trees in
pots.

It is very difficult to tell by looking at a shrub or tree if it is getting
enough water and food.
Smaller plants will start to wilt then revive when watered.
Trees don't usually act like this.
By the time they are showing obvious signs of distress then major damage
(sometimes terminal) can be done.

I have found that if you have a small plant (if you want) or just few weeds
or bits of grass in the large pot along with the tree/shrub then they react
much more quickly and visibly to changing conditions.
If the grass is wilting then the soil in the pot is too dry.
If the weeds are looking pale and weedy then there is probably a lack of
nutrients.
It helps to remove most of the growth from time to time to avoid taking away
too much food and to allow easy watering but a few things growing alongside
the tree can be a very useful indicator.

I'm doing this at the moment with our olive and our fig and both seem to be
surviving O.K.
There are a few times when I've noticed lack of water when I didn't expect
it, so I think the strategy works.

Cheers

Dave R

--
No plan survives contact with the enemy.

Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

On 31/07/2010 20:54, David WE Roberts wrote:
Having responded to a question about a fig in a pot (where the problem
may be insufficient watering) I thought I would raise again the subject
of 'inicator plants/weeds' where you are growing large shrubs or small
trees in pots.

It is very difficult to tell by looking at a shrub or tree if it is
getting enough water and food.
Smaller plants will start to wilt then revive when watered.
Trees don't usually act like this.
By the time they are showing obvious signs of distress then major damage
(sometimes terminal) can be done.

I have found that if you have a small plant (if you want) or just few
weeds or bits of grass in the large pot along with the tree/shrub then
they react much more quickly and visibly to changing conditions.
If the grass is wilting then the soil in the pot is too dry.
If the weeds are looking pale and weedy then there is probably a lack of
nutrients.
It helps to remove most of the growth from time to time to avoid taking
away too much food and to allow easy watering but a few things growing
alongside the tree can be a very useful indicator.

I'm doing this at the moment with our olive and our fig and both seem to
be surviving O.K.
There are a few times when I've noticed lack of water when I didn't
expect it, so I think the strategy works.

Cheers

Dave R



Only just seen this. It's a really simple but brilliant idea! I shall
definitely make use of it. Thanks, David.

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay