A Trick For Watering <em>Soilless</em> Mix

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Don't you hate it when you go to water plants and the soil doesn't get wet, and the water just floats around and then the dry soil washes down over the side of your pot and makes an ugly drippy mess?

This happens a lot with planters because we often use what's called a 'soilless mix' in those - it contains a lot of peat moss which is nice and light to carry home from the store, but peat moss actually repels water when it's dry.

The good news is that there's such a simple solution - you just add a DROP of liquid soap - like dishwashing detergent - to your watering can and then water your pots - TA DA! The water soaks in!
You only need a DROP - NOT a big squirt. That little bit of soap breaks the surface tension so that instead of beading up, the water can easily soak into the peat moss and potting mix.

Reported By Phran Novelli, KYW Newsradio