Nursery – Pod 5

Pod #5 – Watering

• Igloo – This is a word that means ‘house’ or ‘shelter’ and at WSBN we use igloos to keep our seedlings in the best possible environmental conditions to promote germination and growth and this is where the seed-raising trays are kept.
• Yard – This is the outdoor space at WSBN that is fenced where the tubestock and wetland plants are kept.
• Propagation Days – These are the days when the nursery Volunteers are on site creating new plants and what watering needs to be undertaken to facilitate this activity and general stock maintenance.
• Every Day – Watering that is undertaken every day in the igloos and the yard (or at least checked) regardless of environmental conditions.
• Seasol – Is an environmentally friendly product with its main ingredient being seaweed. It is considered to be a health treatment rather than a fertiliser.

Propagation Days

Propagation Days – The Process

Before any propagation can begin, the media must be prepared and watering (having an ideal amount of moisture in the ‘soil’) is a key element to successful propagation. Watering is not just about watering the foliage, it may also be about watering the media! Volunteers maybe allocated the task of preparing the media for propagation or you may help a Team Leader with this activity. Sometimes if there are many tasks to do, if you have been allocated a propagation task you may need to pre-prepare the containers for your propagation method.

• Media in tubes should be watered before Pricking Out or Tubing Up, usually done by Volunteers who fill and carry racks of tubes to propagation tables, but always check that the propagation Volunteers have moist media that they are working with.
• When a rack of tubes is filled with seedlings/cuttings it should be watered, with a fine spray on the hose or watering can.
• Before the racks go to the yard or igloo, they should be watered again with a mixture of appropriately diluted Seasol in a watering can.
• Seasol water is done by whoever puts the racks in the igloo/yard. Seasol and watering cans are kept in Igloo 1.

Safety

• As this activity occurs in a reasonably exposed position, it can get windy. It is good practice when working with media that could become airborne to wear a mask.

Propagation Days – Tips for getting it right

• Water the propagation tubes in their racks on the trolley outside.
• Water gently to avoid flushing out the media from the tubes or trays.
• Ensure that the racks or trays are watered right to each edge and that enough water penetrates the media to create moisture on the underside of the containers.

Propagation Days – What can go wrong

• Volunteers, either the people preparing the media and racks or those who are propagating forget to ensure that the media has been watered.
• Water pressure is too high.
• Moving hoses about the yard, without first checking where the other people are located.

Every Day

Every Day – The Process

Watering needs to happen every day of the year and given that the Nursery Team is on site usually only for one day a week, WSBN has a roster of Volunteers who attend to the watering. Watering is undertaken every day (even in winter), or at least checked to ensure the tubes, seed-raising and cuttings trays are wet.  Rain does not always penetrate the tubes or trays, and on windy days especially, the tubes dry out.

NOTE: Watering takes time. Please ensure that if you take on this important task that you have time in your day to complete it adequately (1 – 11/2 hours) and in summer when the weather conditions are hot/windy, watering may be required twice a day. The WSBN nursery is located at the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine and our watering sessions must be undertaken within their opening hours (Gate opens at 8.00am and closes at 4.30pm). In Summer watering is undertaken in the morning and again sometimes in the afternoon. Volunteers watering in the afternoon will need to start at around 3.00pm. Whilst this is not ideal especially on a hot/windy day, there is not really an alternative so we do the best we can and give the plants a really good ‘soak’ for these conditions.

WSBN has two igloos for plant germination. The igloos are labelled and have their own water misting system that is operated automatically by a timer. A Team Leader will demonstrate how the misters operate, if you are allocated or volunteering for this task.

WSBN also has a fenced yard at the rear of the igloos. The fenced area has sections covered with shade cloth in the warmer months and sections that are open. Plants in the yard may need watering in both sections, however, some areas are designated to be watered on certain days, these areas are signed accordingly. A Team Leader will demonstrate how the hoses operate if you are allocated or volunteering for this task.

Wetbeds are positioned around the Yard and the igloos. From time-to-time these also are topped up with water and also checked carefully in the warmer months.

What tools do you need

• Hand watering wand – You need this if any of the plants are dry for hand watering. It is kept on the table top next to the igloo entry.
• Watering can – As above. The can is kept in the igloo under the table.
• Watch – To keep track of the watering (misting) time.
• Codes/keys for locks
• Hydrometer (kept in letterbox at front of the shed)

Yard

• Before starting walk around the yard and check the plants on the tables (and sometimes under the tables) to see if any plants are dryer than others. Take special note of the plants that are more exposed to the sun and near the fences. These plants if they feel dryer will need several watering passes. Test with the hydrometer first.
• All tubes in the yard should be watered twice with the hoses E.g. water all tubes in the racks on each table by watering from one end of the table to the other end, and then from the other side (where it is possible) of the table water all again, paying particular attention to tubes on the outer edges as they are more exposed to the heat and wind.
• To check if sufficiently watered lift a few tubes and look underneath, some moisture should be seen at the bottom.  If still dry another run of watering should be done.  Remember to water racks and poly boxes on the ground near the tables.

What tools do you need

The yard has three hoses positioned around the yard to minimise the amount of awkward manoeuvring, heavy lifting and to ensure that you can reach all of the plants for watering. In principle we aim to hose gently from both sides of the table walking down one side and then up the other.

You do NOT need to have the pressure up high, adjust the tap or valve to get desired result.

Safety

The yard has uneven surfaces that you need to be mindful of. Be especially careful when moving about the low tubs with the wetland plants and that ‘pathways’ may have tubs/racks that protrude. The hoses can be very heavy and awkward to handle so please ensure that you can physically manage this equipment if you are undertaking watering tasks. Watering can be very pleasurable but it can also be physically challenging so please let a Team Leader know when you need a break or are not able to undertake this task – safety first. Finally as well as thinking about your own safety when watering, watch out for the enthusiastic propagating Volunteers who may also be in the yard, weeding, feeding, rationalising and chatting! Before you yank/pull/snake the hose to move it along check that the other Volunteers are clear.

Every Day – Tips for getting it right

• To ensure adequate watering do a physical check. Lift a few tubes and see if there is water/moisture at the bottom and use the hydrometer. If not re-water.
• After watering always check that the taps are securely closed.
• Allow time to undertake the watering tasks – especially if it has been hot or windy (both) as the watering routine may need to be repeated 2-3 times to ensure that moisture adequately reaches the bottom of the tubes/trays – watering ‘harder’ will cause damage so it is all about repeating the watering routine gently and methodically.

Every Day – What can go wrong

• Assuming that the tubes and trays are adequately watered if it is raining or has been raining and therefore not watering adequately and or checking moisture conditions under the tube/tray.
• Assuming in a watering pass, that all tubes have been adequately watered – outer edge tubes/trays need to be physically checked that they have received adequate watering, especially during hot and/or windy weather conditions as they are more exposed to these environmental elements.
• Missing racks or the poly boxes with plants that maybe ‘hiding’ underneath (stored on the ground) the igloo racks.
• Not turning the taps off.