solid7 said:
That won't work if the root structure has matured. The problem is that the roots become like a drainage amendment, unto themselves. The soil dam won't do anything to fix that.
The way to fix it, is to put the bag in a container that will catch the overflow, and then let it reabsorb.
it does work, ive been using this method for 10 years, have a dozen multiyear plants in bags and never have spillage out the sides or bottom... as i stated above, plastic bags for the re absorption... it doesnt matter what kind of "drainage amendment" you add to soil or if the roots become them, soil will always absorb the same amount of water it always has before starting to spit it out as the amount of soil has not changed and nothing you add to it whether in the begining or slowly growing into it like roots will keep it from absorbing that same amount... the problem is not mature roots, the problem is dry soil with air pockets...
anyone that grows has seen it when you pour water on top of dry soil it just sits there or will roll off the side... in a plastic container thats no problem cause its forced next to the soil still... runs out the sides on fabric... bt everyone has also seen that once the water breaks the air barrier and starts flowing into the soil suddenly any soil you place in that area just flows right in...
creating a bowl shape puts the most water pressure around the base of the plant in the center and that breaks through first sending all the water down the middle filling outwards as it goes... indoors i have no need for my bags to be in any saucers or plates for run off and only outside do i use the plastic bags to stop the wind from wicking away moisture...
done right smart pots dont need any more watering than any other type of pot and they do a better job of root growth... which brings me to my last thing, "mature roots"..
mature root systems in buckets and mature root systems in bags are 2 different thing... in bags they become like giant balls of hair cause they stop growing when the reach the edge... in buckets they never stop growing just circling so the get thicker and thicker nearer the plant the farther the root tip travels... a mature system in a bag DOES NOT become a soil amendment onto itself cause the roots are more,but the roots are also hair like holding the soil in place not pushing it out the way like in buckets...
bottom line is bags are no different than buckets besides 3 points which i remedied above... wind wicking away the moisture (plastic bags), water running out the sides before breaking the air soil barrier (funnel bowl shaped soil), and better, more expansive, more evenly laid out root systems....
that will be my last post on this topic... the op can decide on his/her own...
