After watching your videos, my work efficiency improved by 1000-fold. I can't thank God enough for introducing you to me. Being my teacher, you will always be in my prayers. Stay blessed! 💕
My wife is Filipino, and we use the 'finger method' to make sure the rice has enough water to cook it. She's going to love this rule for the garden, too! Love your videos.
Yes. This is sound advise on watering your plants. I exsecially like the direction given for plants in containers. Often that aspect of gardening isn't covered at all. Very good.
I wish I has seen this video 30 years ago. Thank you for all your hard work putting it together for folks like me. I learn so much easier by looking at graphics than by hearing instruction or reading books. I’ll put your book, “Soil Science” on my wish list.
This is a good video. I watched 10 videos and I get 10 different answers. But I have learned that I am overwatering. This is the best video that I have come across.
yes thank you!!! I had been getting blight every year cause I was watering every day! I live in Georgia where the summer temps can reach into the 100's! My finger I hate to say was unreliable due to painful artheritis. So I bought a water meter. Now I only water what needs to be watered! Great advice, I will NO longer be watering every day! Well unless my plants need it.
I’ve been fingering plants for weeks now before I watched this video and now I’m reassured. I think it’s been working great except my lavenders which someone told me never to water it. Thanks for the video!
This is an old vid, but I’ve seen some of your newer ones…I experienced bottom end rot. I knew there is enough calcium I’ve often hear you need calcium if that happens. Well I remembered what you said. TO MUCH WATER ran through my head. You were right, I over watered. Since I have paid more attention to my watering I have not had that problem.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Finally some good advice about the soil moisture and root depth. No body ever talks about the stuff that really counts !!!
Thanks. I have lost plantings from both extremes: waiting for leaves to wilt and too much watering. Do you have tree roots coming up from below to strangle your perenials? My woods is a backdrop for my gardens.
Once again, you are 'spot on' sir! In my Master Gardener class it was described as, think of your soil profile as a glass of water. When the glass gets down to half full, fill it up again. This will change throughout the season, as temperatures and wind will affect how fast the water is lost or consumed. You cannot (should not) simply water with more water, because once the glass is full you can't add more. That would make a muddy mess causing the soil to lose it's structure.
So a farmer goes around his land and sticks his finger on all land to check moisture level? Does it hurt the plant if the top roots are dry but the bottom roots are in moist soil? Does your tips apply to indoor plants with peat moss? For indoor plants they say keep plants completely wet then wait until it completely dries out. Is this correct?
Awesome and simple video to explain....i know now why my plants look the way they do. I am overwatering on a "schedule" and now that i know that is my problem...it frees up more time for something else. Thanks!
Good morning and happy Friday! This video earned you a subscription. Now how do I mediate the flak I’m getting from my significant other that scream’s at me to water, water, water?
This was awesome information, thank you so much. My flower beds don’t last very long, I think it’s because I’m over watering, so this was really helpful. :)
if i have clay soil and its hard to put my finger into the soil because the clay is hard would it be time to water? Or should I get a screwdriver to see how far the moisture is?
Pretty good, i water when my plants tell me. Certain ones have lower leaves droop when its time to water. They all have tells when you get to know them
I learned so much of your great video. Really appreciate it! By the way, does this rule work on tomato plants which are bearing with 70-100 cherry tomatoes each? Some say we should keep the soil moist when they are bearing juicy fruits.
you said that for the new transplant and young plants we need to use first knuckle of our finger. so how long we use the first knuckle after the transplant.
My wife and I, mostly my wife who has the green thumb, have been planting a large garden (1/4 acre) since 1997. Every year we learn from our mistakes and try to find a solution. Some work, some don't, but we usually have a decent harvest. Our soil is Capona Loam, verified by the Department of Agriculture. It perks very well and is not muddy shortly after irrigating. I have 2 sources of water, Irrigation district water and residential water. We have to use both because the irrigation water is not available during the entire season. I put in a sprinkler system every spring and it is controlled through a manifold for each section of the garden and is either pumped or uses the residential system. I have tried many different methods and it worked fine as far as I knew. It always over watered the potatoes from the over spray caused by the wind, and I always had swollen lenticels from the excess water. I always had shorter plants at the ends of the rows, and I watered them well, or so I thought. Anyway it was what it was until 2 years ago the irrigation water was shut off to "save the suckers", and the residential water is expensive if you have to use it during the hot months so I looked for some alternate method instead of the sprinkler system and I found the Hoss Watering System. (growhoss.com/blogs/study-hall/simple-drip-irrigation-system-garden?gad_source=1) It is a controlled under the soil drip system with distribution lines down each row from a mainline perpendicular to the rows. It uses a flow system based on pressure controlled by a regulator. The only vegetable I don't use it on is potatoes, and without the wind blown over spray I no longer have swollen lenticels. I also do not have any variation in the plant size on either end of the rows. I use a chip mulch over the plants after they get well above the soil level, but otherwise I haven't done anything differently. My corn always suffered because of the difficulty of consistent watering after it gets above your head. Sprinklers won't reach in between the rows and flood doesn't work well so the corn was always taller on the outsides. We always plant our corn in a "cube" configuration to help pollinating. My question is, have you heard of the Hoss System and are you planning on doing a video on it? For the record, my harvest across my garden is at least 30% better and in some cases, 50% using the Hoss System and the mulch, plus my water bill is far lower than it has ever been using the residential water during the hot months of July and August. When I am able to use the irrigation water, I have to use a filter system I built from the filters available from Hoss. It is a parallel filter system with pressure gauges on the inflow and outflow to the regulator. When the pressure on the outflow starts dropping I clean the filters. I usually run the water for a half hour, but if it is hot I may run it for a couple of hours, all depending on the moisture content of the soil. The soil is never very dry except near the surface and is evenly distributed throughout the garden. My garden is a "run of the mill" vegetable garden that includes asparagus, strawberries, and artichokes. We harvest our garlic in July and our onions as they fall over. The rest of it is a typical garden. We harvested 50# (weighed) strawberries last year. They are the Wyoming variety, my wife knows the name, I don't! 80 quarts of bush beans, 90 packages of broccoli, 300# of potatoes, both red and russet, 150# onions, and 80 large packages of corn not counting what we ate fresh. Most of those items are 20 to 40% more than ever before! The only major change was the watering system and the mulch, but we have used mulch for years and it never made that much different in yield.
But wait. What if you have a irrigation line or drip system. All the plants get watered at the same time. And wait what about succulents. If you just feel the soil with your finger you haven't accounted for the fact that these plants store water in their leaves- or the ponytail palm that has a big base that holds water I love the simplicity of your idea but as plant roots grow deeper and deeper how can you use your finger method? Won't it be dry at the top but the roots once established will be bringing the plant water from deeper levels? I'm a bit confused Thx
God help us. It breaks my heart to see even one plant die in my garden. I pray everyday for wisdom and mercy. I've got seedlings and also one inch and 5 inch. I give my seedlings a little water everyday. From now on, for my other ones I'm going to use the one knuckle or two knuckle. Trying hard to let go and let God. Thank you for your common sense, myth busting video.🙏
Hi i have recently repotted some bougainvillea and geraniums that I propagated and I watered them a long time ago and the soil is still damp. How do i know when they need watering and why is the soil staying wet so long. Its been really cold here and my back yard doesnt get much sun so i put them in the best sunny spot i can but only for about an hour. Do you have any tips for helping my plants
One thing I don't understand is a row of trees I planted usig soil that was delivered never dries out. The trees I planted on the other side of my house that get a ton of sunlight dry out perfectly after a week and then I water and they grow really fast. The other wet side grows slower.
I don't have one of those automated things, so i use a hose and put my finger at the tip to make it like its raining, sprinkling this all over my small garden. My question is, how long do I do this for? A minute or 2? Not usually sure when to stop
Until the soil is wet down to 6". Water some soil until you think it is enough - then do some digging to see how deep it got. Nobody can give you a time since it depends very much on your soil.
Great info thanks for sharing - such an honour to have advice and experiences handed to us the present and future generations, especially now... I'm new at gardening, im guessing i did the following incorrectly: took out a full lavender and sunflower and coriander bush from the roots and planted on the other side of the garden which has very hot day sun with wind early evenings, its 2 weeks now and bushes are brown and dry even though watering the whole garden daily...? Please assist with a cure 🌱 Anything I can do with all the brown dry stalks and flowers? 🍃 Also I've planted a bunch of thick leaved plants that grow just by sticking a piece in the ground eg Aloe - i water these daily too...?
Great video, but there IS one rule for watering: Water when the plants need it. It's too short for a video, but this video is a good guide for determining when plants need water. Nothing beats giving the soil the finger... test. ;)
For outside plants just use a cubic inch to gallon converter. In container plants measure from the soil to the lip of your pot 1-2" and water to that line. And leave it alone until the next week or until the top level of soil dries out. Method always works for me
"my finger doesnt need an app to work." Love that line!!!
"damn" app!!! LOL
Yessssssss for real tho
@@Juli-n-DavidJohn 3:16
After watching your videos, my work efficiency improved by 1000-fold. I can't thank God enough for introducing you to me. Being my teacher, you will always be in my prayers. Stay blessed! 💕
Now I know why my outdoor flowers die even though I water them everyday.. Overwatering!!! Thanks for this video!
Finger App not included! Love all this!
Wow, have I ever been watering wrong! Thx, Robert!
Maybe that works for his soil, but try sticking your finger into soil hereabouts and you'll break your finger. If it's dry on top, it's like concrete.
My wife is Filipino, and we use the 'finger method' to make sure the rice has enough water to cook it. She's going to love this rule for the garden, too! Love your videos.
Thanks ole mate you explained this one million times better than any teacher could have
I learned a long time ago that there is no substitute for know how. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Finally, the video that clears all doubts on watering schedule. Thank you
Yes. This is sound advise on watering your plants. I exsecially like the direction given for plants in containers. Often that aspect of gardening isn't covered at all. Very good.
I wish I has seen this video 30 years ago. Thank you for all your hard work putting it together for folks like me. I learn so much easier by looking at graphics than by hearing instruction or reading books. I’ll put your book, “Soil Science” on my wish list.
This is a good video. I watched 10 videos and I get 10 different answers. But I have learned that I am overwatering. This is the best video that I have come across.
Boy - I’m I learning - u really are a great teacher - thanks March 2024
yes thank you!!! I had been getting blight every year cause I was watering every day! I live in Georgia where the summer temps can reach into the 100's! My finger I hate to say was unreliable due to painful artheritis. So I bought a water meter. Now I only water what needs to be watered! Great advice, I will NO longer be watering every day! Well unless my plants need it.
One of the best watering advice vids I’ve seen
I'm a new gardener here. God bless you sir❤
I’ve been using the fingering method for years. It’s helpful to know it works in the garden as well.
😂😂😂
The most helpful video that I've watched in regards to watering my trees. You're amazing! Thanks!
ua-cam.com/video/RE_TU3vapeI/v-deo.html
I’ve been fingering plants for weeks now before I watched this video and now I’m reassured. I think it’s been working great except my lavenders which someone told me never to water it. Thanks for the video!
I've been doing it all wrong but now I know. Thanks for the great information.
This is an old vid, but I’ve seen some of your newer ones…I experienced bottom end rot. I knew there is enough calcium I’ve often hear you need calcium if that happens. Well I remembered what you said. TO MUCH WATER ran through my head. You were right, I over watered. Since I have paid more attention to my watering I have not had that problem.
WOWIE - All these years (90) I've been doing something right.
Starting in june in Arkansas. The soil dries hard after one day leaves droop. I water every other day. The trees only get watter when it rains.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Finally some good advice about the soil moisture and root depth. No body ever talks about the stuff that really counts !!!
Honestly sound advice thank you. I’ll water once a week with miracle grow Monday and do the finger trick throughout the week
Finally, a good explanation of how often to water
Thanks for the post Sir my grandparents love gardening 👍 tips medical student Malaysia God bless.✌
Thanks. I have lost plantings from both extremes: waiting for leaves to wilt and too much watering. Do you have tree roots coming up from below to strangle your perenials? My woods is a backdrop for my gardens.
Thank you! Finally, something that makes sense to me.
Sir may I ask, does it apply when it's in potted in bucket containers?
What about newly propagated cuttings with no roots. How wet do they need to be at all times. Ive been given so many mixed opinions.
Once again, you are 'spot on' sir! In my Master Gardener class it was described as, think of your soil profile as a glass of water. When the glass gets down to half full, fill it up again. This will change throughout the season, as temperatures and wind will affect how fast the water is lost or consumed. You cannot (should not) simply water with more water, because once the glass is full you can't add more. That would make a muddy mess causing the soil to lose it's structure.
So a farmer goes around his land and sticks his finger on all land to check moisture level?
Does it hurt the plant if the top roots are dry but the bottom roots are in moist soil?
Does your tips apply to indoor plants with peat moss?
For indoor plants they say keep plants completely wet then wait until it completely dries out. Is this correct?
Your advice is much appreciated my friend
You’re the man, thanks for explaining everything 🎉
This finger trick is such a brilliant idea thank you so much for sharing your knowledge I learned a lot!
Thank you so much for this! This is the first video that makes sense.
Yay! Finally someone who makes sense! Thank you! :)
I water if there has been no rain for 3 days. I find this is about right. Thank you for sharing!
👍Thank you so much for your knowledge of watering. I learned a lot from your helpful video !! 🍃🌺🍃
Nice video after searching about 20 diff ones found what i was exactly looking for. Thanks for the advice!!
Thank you! Simple and easy and the tool is always "at hand". This will be especially good for my new garden customers.
Awesome and simple video to explain....i know now why my plants look the way they do. I am overwatering on a "schedule" and now that i know that is my problem...it frees up more time for something else. Thanks!
Good morning and happy Friday! This video earned you a subscription. Now how do I mediate the flak I’m getting from my significant other that scream’s at me to water, water, water?
This was awesome information, thank you so much. My flower beds don’t last very long, I think it’s because I’m over watering, so this was really helpful. :)
The single most helpful video I’ve watched on the topic! As a new gardener I can’t thank you enough!! Subscribing!
Love your advice - the 1st real & practical solution for all gardeners. - thank you
Thank you! learned so much from your video, simple and to the point!!
Thank you so much for your valuable information. This has truly helped me a lot!
if i have clay soil and its hard to put my finger into the soil because the clay is hard would it be time to water? Or should I get a screwdriver to see how far the moisture is?
Thank you for this information. Great informative tips.
This is the best video I've seen yet! Thank You!
Perfect! Thanks
Such good info I use this finger method for indoor stuff I’m more them happy to do this outside thanks!
Awww I love him
so much to watch, so much to learn
Thank you very much!!!! You help me a lot already.
Okay I learned that the finger testing would be the best watering thank you
Thank you brother. God bless you!
Love it! Great logic!! Ty
Your videos are brilliant. Subscribed!
Pretty good, i water when my plants tell me. Certain ones have lower leaves droop when its time to water. They all have tells when you get to know them
I like your style sir, if it's stupid we got to call it stupid. TY.
Hi. Do recommend that same process for super blue lavender?
Super helpful thank you
Excellent advice. Thank you! You have the talent to explain things clearly. Very didactic👍
I learned so much of your great video. Really appreciate it!
By the way, does this rule work on tomato plants which are bearing with 70-100 cherry tomatoes each? Some say we should keep the soil moist when they are bearing juicy fruits.
works on all plants
How do you apply this to lawns?
Fantastic video for a new gardener! Thank you!
you said that for the new transplant and young plants we need to use first knuckle of our finger. so how long we use the first knuckle after the transplant.
My wife and I, mostly my wife who has the green thumb, have been planting a large garden (1/4 acre) since 1997. Every year we learn from our mistakes and try to find a solution. Some work, some don't, but we usually have a decent harvest. Our soil is Capona Loam, verified by the Department of Agriculture. It perks very well and is not muddy shortly after irrigating. I have 2 sources of water, Irrigation district water and residential water. We have to use both because the irrigation water is not available during the entire season.
I put in a sprinkler system every spring and it is controlled through a manifold for each section of the garden and is either pumped or uses the residential system. I have tried many different methods and it worked fine as far as I knew. It always over watered the potatoes from the over spray caused by the wind, and I always had swollen lenticels from the excess water. I always had shorter plants at the ends of the rows, and I watered them well, or so I thought. Anyway it was what it was until 2 years ago the irrigation water was shut off to "save the suckers", and the residential water is expensive if you have to use it during the hot months so I looked for some alternate method instead of the sprinkler system and I found the Hoss Watering System. (growhoss.com/blogs/study-hall/simple-drip-irrigation-system-garden?gad_source=1)
It is a controlled under the soil drip system with distribution lines down each row from a mainline perpendicular to the rows. It uses a flow system based on pressure controlled by a regulator. The only vegetable I don't use it on is potatoes, and without the wind blown over spray I no longer have swollen lenticels. I also do not have any variation in the plant size on either end of the rows. I use a chip mulch over the plants after they get well above the soil level, but otherwise I haven't done anything differently. My corn always suffered because of the difficulty of consistent watering after it gets above your head. Sprinklers won't reach in between the rows and flood doesn't work well so the corn was always taller on the outsides. We always plant our corn in a "cube" configuration to help pollinating.
My question is, have you heard of the Hoss System and are you planning on doing a video on it? For the record, my harvest across my garden is at least 30% better and in some cases, 50% using the Hoss System and the mulch, plus my water bill is far lower than it has ever been using the residential water during the hot months of July and August.
When I am able to use the irrigation water, I have to use a filter system I built from the filters available from Hoss. It is a parallel filter system with pressure gauges on the inflow and outflow to the regulator. When the pressure on the outflow starts dropping I clean the filters. I usually run the water for a half hour, but if it is hot I may run it for a couple of hours, all depending on the moisture content of the soil. The soil is never very dry except near the surface and is evenly distributed throughout the garden.
My garden is a "run of the mill" vegetable garden that includes asparagus, strawberries, and artichokes. We harvest our garlic in July and our onions as they fall over. The rest of it is a typical garden. We harvested 50# (weighed) strawberries last year. They are the Wyoming variety, my wife knows the name, I don't! 80 quarts of bush beans, 90 packages of broccoli, 300# of potatoes, both red and russet, 150# onions, and 80 large packages of corn not counting what we ate fresh. Most of those items are 20 to 40% more than ever before!
The only major change was the watering system and the mulch, but we have used mulch for years and it never made that much different in yield.
But wait. What if you have a irrigation line or drip system. All the plants get watered at the same time.
And wait what about succulents. If you just feel the soil with your finger you haven't accounted for the fact that these plants store water in their leaves- or the ponytail palm that has a big base that holds water
I love the simplicity of your idea but as plant roots grow deeper and deeper how can you use your finger method? Won't it be dry at the top but the roots once established will be bringing the plant water from deeper levels? I'm a bit confused Thx
When you feel the soil - you also adjust for the plant. For succulents you don't water until it has been dry for a couple of days.
God help us. It breaks my heart to see even one plant die in my garden. I pray everyday for wisdom and mercy. I've got seedlings and also one inch and 5 inch. I give my seedlings a little water everyday. From now on, for my other ones I'm going to use the one knuckle or two knuckle. Trying hard to let go and let God. Thank you for your common sense, myth busting video.🙏
Thank you so much for making this video
Hi i have recently repotted some bougainvillea and geraniums that I propagated and I watered them a long time ago and the soil is still damp. How do i know when they need watering and why is the soil staying wet so long. Its been really cold here and my back yard doesnt get much sun so i put them in the best sunny spot i can but only for about an hour. Do you have any tips for helping my plants
One thing I don't understand is a row of trees I planted usig soil that was delivered never dries out. The trees I planted on the other side of my house that get a ton of sunlight dry out perfectly after a week and then I water and they grow really fast. The other wet side grows slower.
Thank you!
I only if if I can get my husband to follow this video , thank you !!
great advice!
Great vid! Subscribed!
I don't have one of those automated things, so i use a hose and put my finger at the tip to make it like its raining, sprinkling this all over my small garden. My question is, how long do I do this for? A minute or 2? Not usually sure when to stop
Until the soil is wet down to 6". Water some soil until you think it is enough - then do some digging to see how deep it got.
Nobody can give you a time since it depends very much on your soil.
@@Gardenfundamentals1 alright, I'll do that. thank you
Very helpful
So helpful thanks 🙏🏼
Well explained
Great info thanks for sharing - such an honour to have advice and experiences handed to us the present and future generations, especially now...
I'm new at gardening, im guessing i did the following incorrectly: took out a full lavender and sunflower and coriander bush from the roots and planted on the other side of the garden which has very hot day sun with wind early evenings, its 2 weeks now and bushes are brown and dry even though watering the whole garden daily...? Please assist with a cure 🌱 Anything I can do with all the brown dry stalks and flowers? 🍃
Also I've planted a bunch of thick leaved plants that grow just by sticking a piece in the ground eg Aloe - i water these daily too...?
Wait - they may recover. You can't do anything to help.
Thanks 🙏
Excellent. Thank you!
Many thanks
Thanks for this good advice and I''ll be following it.
Great video, but there IS one rule for watering: Water when the plants need it. It's too short for a video, but this video is a good guide for determining when plants need water. Nothing beats giving the soil the finger... test. ;)
Thank you for your video. Why did you not use glove for the index finger?
It would get wet!
For outside plants just use a cubic inch to gallon converter.
In container plants measure from the soil to the lip of your pot 1-2" and water to that line.
And leave it alone until the next week or until the top level of soil dries out.
Method always works for me
You didn’t listen to the video in the slightest did you..
I don't my mahi wowie doing good...just listen too ur plants
I knew he was going to tell me to stick my finger in it haha
Nice advice
thankyuu for sharing
Thank You
Thank u
Finally I get it haha. Thank you