We all know that morning is the best time to water, right? Do you know why? And how do you recognize over-watering, when too much of a good thing is wreaking havoc with your flowers? What are the signals your plants use to let you know they are in need of water…or are drowning in too much? A vital element in the health and longevity of your flower garden, water is not a mystery, but crucial to understand.
Water is literally the lifeblood of your plant. Just like the blood that flows through our veins, water carries nutrients from the soil, through the roots of the plant, up through its stem into leaves and contributes to its bloom. But there needs to be a healthy middle ground; too little water and the ground is dry, making it impossible for the roots to break down nutrients and transport them throughout the plant. Too much, and your plant runs the risk of drowning, since the oxygen in air is also necessary to the plant’s good health.
Contributing Factors
The type of plants in your garden, the soil, weather, size of the plants and how long they’ve been there all contribute to your watering decisions. Annuals will require more rigorous watering than perennials, since they have not had the time for their root systems to establish. Large plants will require more water than smaller ones, needing to send nutrients to a broader base of leaves. Dry, windy weather will cause water to evaporate quickly and necessitate more frequent watering. Water will drain through sandy soil faster than it will through rich, loamy soil and plants will be looking for watering more frequently.
When you water in the morning, plants have all day to absorb through their roots and dry off their leaves before temperatures drop in the evening. With nightfall comes the greater likelihood of insects, fungus and other leaf-eating troubles, so you’ll want your garden to be in great shape going into evening hours. You don’t want water sitting on the leaves of your plants overnight. However, if not possible to water in the morning, late evening, after facing a hot, drying sun is better than no water at all. Keep your aim low to the ground, avoid leaves and soak the soil in order to cool off roots and get nutrients flowing again.
Playing Detective
Look for clues! Leaves that are wilting are an obvious cry for water. Touch the surface of the soil, pushing your finger down, about an inch below the surface to see if the soil is dry to the touch, another signal for watering, or moist, which signals you can go another day. Look for leaves that are turning yellow or falling to the ground. This is a sign of too much watering, that roots are drowning in water and unable to provide oxygen to the plant. If soil is slow to drain, retaining water and appearing muddy or constantly wet, slow down your watering regime.