When I talk to other gardeners about the best time of day to water the plants, there always seems to be a lot of confusion. There are many myths about the time of day and irrigation technique. In this article, I’ve sorted the facts from the fiction on the best time to water plants.
What is the best time of day to water plants? The best time of day to water plants is in the morning before the sun is hot. This allows your plants to absorb water without excessive loss through evaporation as the foliage dries overnight, reducing the risk of plant disease.
Why water your plants in the morning?
All gardeners want their plants to thrive and look their best. And yet, it can sometimes be difficult to know what to do to keep your plants looking their best. And yet, if you think about it a bit, it makes sense that watering in the morning is the best strategy.
These are some of the main reasons why it is best to water plants in the morning;
- Watering early in the morning avoids excessive evaporation, which can waste large amounts of water.
- The foliage has ample time to dry out before nightfall, which prevents fungal and bacterial diseases.
- During the day, plants absorb water faster, so more water is taken up by the roots instead of disappearing into the ground.
When you water your plants, the water is absorbed by the soil and much of it can quickly move out of reach of the roots. It is ideal to water your plants in the morning, when their growth rate and metabolism increase, because their water needs will increase and the roots will be ready to absorb water.
In addition, the sun is relatively cool early in the morning and surface water evaporates more slowly. These two factors ensure that enough water is available for your plants.
As the day progresses and the daytime heat reaches its peak, the excess water in the foliage evaporates. This is important because it means there is no excess water in the leaves and stems of your plants at the end of the day. Fungal and bacterial diseases like moist environments, so plant leaves that stay wet overnight can attract nasty diseases that can quickly destroy your beautiful plants.
Is it okay to water plants at night?
Despite what I said about watering in the morning, remember why you water your plants in the first place. Water is essential to their survival, and although it’s usually best to water in the morning, if your plants are crying out for a drink, it’s best to water them regardless of the time of day, rather than in the morning. wait for the perfect time for water. Water.
However, you have to be a little more careful when watering the plants in the evening or at night. Ideally, if you are watering at night, be sure to only water around the roots and avoid getting water on the leaves, where it can collect on the foliage.
If your plants really need moisture and the soil is dry, it’s better to water them rather than letting them dry out further. Watering in dry soil is much less likely to cause problems. The risk is much higher if you water at night in combination with too much water, as the plant is already at risk of disease and watering at night will only make things worse.
With houseplants, you have to be even more careful if you water at night. The main reason for this is ventilation. Outdoors, the evaporation rate will almost always be higher due to air movement. Indoor air ventilation can be very poor, so the humidity in the immediate vicinity of your houseplants can be very high, and with temperatures dropping at night, evaporation can come to a complete halt. .
If you’re concerned about the foliage of your houseplants getting wet at night, consider improving ventilation by opening a window or installing a fan nearby, which will greatly reduce the chance of problems.
The best time to water plants when it’s hot
The same rules apply for watering plants in warm weather as in cold weather, but contrary to popular myth, it is safer to water plants in warm weather than in relatively cool weather.
Many people have been told that water droplets on a plant in very hot weather can act like little magnifying glasses and burn the plants. very happy, there is no truth in this old myth. If your plants can tolerate hot weather when the foliage is dry, they won’t be worse off when the foliage is wet.
The main reason watering in hot weather is not recommended is the rate of evaporation. The rate of evaporation in hot climates is much higher and the humidity is generally lower. This means that more water than you supply to your plants will evaporate into the air, instead of being used by your plants.
With so many parts of the world facing water shortages, watering your plants during the hottest part of the day is really inefficient and wastes a lot of water.
Do you need to water the leaves of a plant?
While some plants can take up water through the stomata of their leaves, the vast majority of water is taken up by the roots. Watering the leaves can help remove dust from the foliage, but the rain will do that for outdoor plants, so it’s not necessary.
If you water your plants during the day, do not hesitate to water the leaves, it will not hurt. If you water indoor or outdoor plants at night, avoid watering the foliage of most plant species, as it is prone to opportunistic fungal and bacterial diseases.
How often should plants be watered?
Most observant gardeners have a hard time fighting the urge to overwater their plants. For most indoor and outdoor plants, it’s best to let the plant and soil dry out completely, then water thoroughly.
By regularly giving plants small amounts of water, they discourage the development of a deep and robust root system.
When I see people struggling with how often they water their plants, there are usually two extremes. First, there are those with good intentions, myself included, who have a hard time remembering that too much water can be bad.
Then there are those who simply get out of the habit of watering their plants or forget something too often. It’s especially easy with houseplants and potted plants. It’s so easy to buy a nice houseplant at the store, put it in a prominent place in the house, and then forget about it until it’s too late.
I see it often and have a bad habit of watering other people’s houseplants when I visit. I hope people take it the right way!
Where I work we have quite a few houseplants and I have to inspect them regularly to see if they are being killed off or completely neglected. I regularly do unofficial plant rescue missions.
Should I water drought resistant plants?
Plants adapted to live in hot, dry conditions can certainly water less often, but in times of extreme drought they still need water. Also, in their early years, or after repotting, their root systems will be underdeveloped and you will need to take special care of them to ensure they grow tall and strong.
The best time to water houseplants
The timing of watering indoor plants is even more important than that of outdoor plants. Indoors, without rain, your plants depend entirely on you for their water and their well-being. Also, with lower ventilation, they are much more likely to water too much or at the wrong time of day.
The best time of day to water indoor plants is in the morning, just like outdoor plants. Don’t water your houseplants on a schedule, as every plant and home environment will be different.
Instead, observe your plant and learn how it responds to your care. Watch for signs that he needs water. Monitor the dryness of the soil and the state of the foliage.
I often use pot weight as a guide to help me know when my indoor plants need water. Lifting the pot to check the weight will let you know with a reasonable degree of certainty over time when the potting soil is drying out.
Also, stick a finger into the potting material and feel the moisture on it. Learn how much your plants love soil and water them as needed.
What causes plants to wilt?
If you watch your plants for signs that they need water, you can see that they sometimes start to wilt. Keep in mind, however, that this just means the leaves aren’t getting enough water, not necessarily that there isn’t enough water in the soil.
Wilting may be due to root rot caused by too much water. In this case, there is too much water, but the roots cannot absorb it and the plant wilts.
Alternatively, various diseases and pests can also affect water uptake and cause leaves to wilt, but that doesn’t always mean your plants need more water.
Wilting is a sign to watch out for, but there are several factors you need to assess to see if your plants need water. Look at the leaves, stem and flowers and feel the soil before deciding if your plant needs water. Look for signs of pests and disease and be sure to treat them promptly.
Would you like to know more about caring for your plants? This website is full of plant care guides and gardening tips. Check out my latest articles here and check out my resources section if you want the tools and skills needed to grow great plants.