Overwatering

[DopeyAlex]

Can you overwater fruit trees in 25L pots???

My cherry tree and pear tree seem a bit unhappy. Some of the cherry tree's new shoots have died and some of the pear trees new folege seems to droop a bit. Have also noticed wit the pear that a couple of the new shoots have been what looks like snipped off (i know this is not water issue, prob some bird im guessing?)

when i stick my finger in the holes at the bottom of the pots, the soil is soaking wet. They get watered every day with about 3L

Cheers, Alex

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Alex, yes you can overwater fruit trees in containers and drooping leaves is a typical sign of overwatering which can also cause root rot. I would give the soaking wet soil chance to dry out a good bit and rather than go off how dry the top of the soil in the container is, check how moist the soil is around the roots by sticking your finger into the soil and also the bottom of the containers.

[vegetable-gardener]

You are water-logging your trees and if you don't let them dry out they will die. You should only water if the soil is really dry. By the sound of it you should let the soil dry for a few days at least. If the pot hold the water with a tray then the roots stay constantly wet and they will start to rot.

Over watering can be just as bad as under-watering.

Happy gardening

[Hollie the Wollie]

I imagine if they are in pots and the water is then trapped inside, overwatering could actually be pretty easily done.

With plants inthe ground I guess that the water moves away alot easier and quicker. I'd never thought of it like that!

Good luck with them, I hope they perk up!

[Ian240356]

Originally Posted by DopeyAlex

Can you overwater fruit trees in 25L pots???

My cherry tree and pear tree seem a bit unhappy. Some of the cherry tree's new shoots have died and some of the pear trees new folege seems to droop a bit. Have also noticed wit the pear that a couple of the new shoots have been what looks like snipped off (i know this is not water issue, prob some bird im guessing?)

when i stick my finger in the holes at the bottom of the pots, the soil is soaking wet. They get watered every day with about 3L

Cheers, Alex

Something else to think about - All nitrates are soluble in water, as are most, if not all bought in fertilizers. When you over water, it is not just the water than leaves the container via the drainage holes underneath the container, you are also wasting the nutrients you paid so much for !

[aikenjones]

I think over-watering is not good for these trees. I never done this kind of job for my plants..