Ideal Watering Time for Plants During a Heatwave: Expert Insights Revealed
Sizzling Sun, Best Time to Water? A Quick Guide in a Heatwave
Embrace the break of dawn, the calm before the storm, or the comfort of twilight—opinions revolve around the perfect time to hydrate your verdant companions. And when the mercury's climbing, knowing your plants' hydration needs could be the difference between bloom and droop.
In the words of Stuart Thompson, a senior lecturer in plant biochemistry at the University of Westminster, plants lose their weight in water under the sun. He clarifies that plants in the ground, rather than pots, benefit most from morning or evening watering, allowing time for droplets to seep down into the soil.
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Contrary to popular belief, water droplets don't magnify and scorch leaves when they're wet. This notion is debunked by Thompson, except in leaves with hairs that can hold water far enough away from the leaf surface, focusing sunlight on it. Generally, it's advisable to avoid watering in direct sunlight as water will evaporate before it can penetrate the soil.
When it comes to potted plants, they consume water at a rapid pace, so moving them into the shade or increasing watering frequency is recommended.
Pro Tips for Watering in Hot Weather
- Load up on watering during sunny days
- Water your ground plants in the early morning or evening
- Avoid watering in direct sunlight
- Keep potted plants in the shade or water them multiple times a day
- Cold tap water is perfectly acceptable for plants
- Prioritize hydrating shade plants and those from cool or damp environments, which may struggle to adapt to the current weather conditions
Thompson concluded, "Arid environment species like succulents and yuccas have systems to minimize water loss, making them less susceptible to the weather stress."
For more dry gardening suggestions, explore our pieces on dry-friendly plant combinations and our drought-tolerant plant list.
- To ensure your plants are thriving, particularly during hot weather, consider shifting potted plants into the shade and increasing their watering frequency.
- In the home-and-garden lifestyle sphere, the time of day plays a crucial role in watering plants effectively; ground plants benefit most from morning or evening watering, while gardening techniques for potted plants require regular watering throughout the day, especially when in the shade.
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