Why do some plants require ‘well draining soil’? Wouldn’t less watering have the same result?

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Citrus plants usually require well draining soil, but they also need a lot of water. Wouldn’t it make more sense if the container held the right amount of water?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

> Wouldn’t it make more sense if the container held the right amount of water?

It would – if you only think in terms of water.

Unfortunately, plants need air, too, to get that sweet, sweet CO2. They get that via the roots. Some plants need a lot of air, and those ones want well draining soil, because when the water drains out, it is replaced by air from above.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Not necessary. Some plants want to be moist but not wet. Frequently watered well draining soil is different than dry soil

Anonymous 0 Comments

> Wouldn’t it make more sense if the container held the right amount of water?

It would – if you only think in terms of water.

Unfortunately, plants need air, too, to get that sweet, sweet CO2. They get that via the roots. Some plants need a lot of air, and those ones want well draining soil, because when the water drains out, it is replaced by air from above.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Not necessary. Some plants want to be moist but not wet. Frequently watered well draining soil is different than dry soil

Anonymous 0 Comments

Two major issues. Plants need to breath through their roots so they need air contact, second too wet of a soil can promote rot in the roots which will also kill the plant.

You can control water enough to strike that balance like in hydroponics but in that case you would want a medium that drains even faster than soil.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Two major issues. Plants need to breath through their roots so they need air contact, second too wet of a soil can promote rot in the roots which will also kill the plant.

You can control water enough to strike that balance like in hydroponics but in that case you would want a medium that drains even faster than soil.