There are a million and one gardening hacks out there, but not all of them actually result in the effective outcomes they promise. That being said, I'm always keen to learn more about the tricks of the trade that claim to make my gardening efforts easier, and one that's been doing the rounds lately is the "sponge" hack for potted plants. The question is, does it work?
The saying goes that if you cut up sponges and place them in the bottom of your container-grown plants, they'll help soak up excess water or create a little reservoir when extra is needed. It's certainly an appealing idea, especially since overwatering is the most common mistake when it comes to container gardening. Since your plant lives within the confines of a compact pot, root rot is a common problem, even with adequate soil and drainage holes. Is this trick too good to be true, though? I set out about demystifying it.
