The Golden Rule of Watering
When you’ve attempted everything, but your plants look dry and dull, Your watering habits may be to blame. We’ll discuss the fundamentals of watering plants to aid in reviving your plants and allow them to thrive.
How Much Water Should I Give My Plants?
We don’t have a predetermined formula you can apply to determine the amount of water your plants require. However, some guidelines can aid you.
When a plant constantly receives too much water, its roots will not have enough oxygen and could drown. On the other hand, if the plant is getting insufficient water, the roots will dry out and eventually end up dying. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that plants receive the proper amount of water in order to thrive.
Different varieties of plants require different amounts of water. How much water a plant requires depends on the kind of plant it is, its age, climatic conditions, environmental circumstances, weather conditions, the type of soil, and drainage.
Certain plants require a lot of water, while others require only a little. Other plants are in between these two extremes. We’ll refer to them as needing a moderate volume of water.
High Water Requirement
Certain plants flourish best when their soil is constantly wet. Therefore, they are classified as plants with high requirements for water.
They include perennials, bulbs, and other kinds of plants.
Additionally, plants native to tropical regions require a lot of water. A majority of vegetables and herbs belong to this category.
If the plants are outside and the weather is hot, humid and dry, they will need plenty of water. They’ll require at least half a gallon or more water every time you water them.
If you water these kinds of plants, ensure that the soil is well-drained. Also, make sure that the water gets approximately 4-6 inches in the dirt.
Medium Water Requirement
The plants in this category don’t require more water. They require some moisture; however, it’s not nearly as many as those that are in the high-water requirement category.
Many house plants fall into this category. The majority of these plants are planted in pots.
If you water these plants, get the soil to soak. The excess water will flow from the holes for drainage.
They can tolerate less water content than plants with higher water needs. Therefore, you won’t have to water them as often.
Low Water Requirement
The plants that thrive in desert-like, dry conditions do not require a lot of water in order to live. They usually conserve liquid water inside their leaf, or other structures of the plant, in order in order to keep them alive for lengthy periods.
The succulents, as well as cacti, belong to this category.
They have relatively small root systems, so it isn’t necessary to cover your soil. Also, ensure that water drains efficiently. Even if you add a large amount of water, it will not sit on the root.
Signs of Over-watered Plants
A lot of water robs the roots of plants of oxygen. In the absence of oxygen, plants can’t thrive and eventually die.
- In case your garden is receiving excessive water, you may observe the signs below:
- Leaves begin to change colour and then fall off.
- Leaves turn brown and begin to rot;
- Soil is always moist or extremely damp.
- Moss that is on its surface
Signs of Under-watered Plants
Plants that do not receive enough water start to get dehydrated. The most obvious signs are:
- The leaves will begin to turn brown.
- Leaves begin drying out and begin to turn brown
- Plants begin to lose their shape.
- The leaves and flowers begin to fall;
- Very hard and dry soil
- The plants grow slowly
The Best Time To Water Plants
Morning in the early morning
If you water in the morning, it provides water for plants throughout the daytime. It also gives the plants time to absorb the water before it is evaporated through the sun or heat.
The ideal time to water plants is during the evening. This allows plants to have a longer time to soak up the water before it gets evaporated by heat or the sun. But overnight water isn’t always the best option for all plants. It creates a favourable environment for plants to be infested with fungi and other bugs. It also limits how much oxygen the plant’s roots absorb during this period.
