On your garden variety potted plant, say a small ficus tree or whatever, how much of the water it is given gets evaporated from the top of the soil?
If substantial, what are good ways to prevent this?
I travel a lot so I'm trying to come up with ways to reduce watering needs. I've heard of people putting rocks on top of the soil to reduce evaporation. And I was thinking that I could fit a plastic picnic plate to the top of the pot. But then there would be a dark and damp place between this and the soil. Might mold grow here?
What's the best way to reduce evaporation losses?
Thanks for you help.