What is the best time to water the plants

If this year you want to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the garden, but you don't know what is the best time to water the plants, you're lucky. This time we are going to talk about a topic that can create many doubts for beginners, as well as for those who have been taking care of their ornamental plants or those they have in their garden for a long time.

Mastering irrigation is not always easy, but knowing when to carry out this task will help the plants to maintain a good state of health, and that we can see them grow.

When to water the plants?

As it is not watered at the same time in summer as in winter, it is important that you know that, the more heat there is, the faster the water evaporates. For example, in the middle of August (northern hemisphere), if a plant is watered at noon, the substrate will not take long to dry again, especially if the plant is in a plastic pot in full sun.

Taking this into account, as a general rule (it will vary depending on the weather in our area) the most suitable time to water is:

• Spring: half morning
• Summer: first thing in the morning or in the evening
• Fall: mid-morning or noon
• Winter: midday

If we cannot water at those times, either because we are working, studying or have gone on a trip, nothing will happen if we water at another time. But, as far as possible, I recommend that whenever you can water your plants at those times, since the water temperature will be different, warmer. Especially if we have tropical plants (indoor), if we water it with water at room temperature in winter, it could be a problem for it as it is not adapted to this water temperature, and its leaves could present symptoms of cold such as dry tips.

In summer it happens that the water is too hot during the day, and it could create problems for the root system. Thus, it should be watered either early in the morning or when it is about to get dark.

Can plants that are in shade or indoors be watered at any time?

When it comes to watering, there are some plants that can certainly be hydrated at any time of the day: they are those that are in the shade or indoors. As they do not get the sun directly, when they are watered we can be sure that the earth will remain wet for a longer period of time than if a plant that was exposed to the sun directly was watered.

Therefore, If one day you have things to do and you need to water your shade plants or those you have at home, do not hesitate to rehydrate them when you have a while. I do it myself. On days when I have very little free time, I water the plants most in need (which in my case are the maples and other trees that I have under the shade net) in the afternoon, and the rest later.

What happens if I water when it's sunny?

The short answer is that plants could become dehydrated. With the sun, the stomata remain closed in order to avoid the loss of water by evaporation; however, when they receive water, whether from rain or irrigation, they open. Although in certain places, where the insolation is very high, the water remains so short time in the earth that the roots can hardly absorb it.

In addition, if the leaves get wet when the sun hits them, the water will act like a magnifying glass, which will end up burning them.

What do you need to know before watering the plants?

Watering is not just pouring water. What's more, whether we water too much or too little, the plants are going to have problems. Therefore, it is very important to know when to water, because it will depend on whether they are good ... or bad. But for that, several things must be taken into account:

Pots

Plants grown in pots have limited space. What's more, Keep in mind that if these containers are made of plastic, we will have to rehydrate them more often than if they were made of clay., since the latter is a material that does not heat up so much so it keeps the earth moist for a little longer.

Another important issue is that of plate or tray. Many are those who choose to put them under the pots, especially if they are indoors. And it is normal, since they are a good way to avoid dirtying the soil when watering. However, can end up being the cause of the death of the roots, because the water that remains stagnant in them is in contact with them, something that not all plants tolerate.

Earth

Soil or substrate surface dries faster than the layers that are more inward, which can often give the impression that it is time to water when in fact it is not.

What is the correct way to water the plants?

So, based on everything we have said so far, we recommend that you follow our advice:

• Use pots that have holes in their base. Always, unless they are aquatic plants. It does not matter what material they are made with.
• Fill them with the right substrate for each type of plant. For example, a carnivore will live in blond peat or esphagnum moss, but in black peat it will have its days numbered. You have all the information here.
• Avoid putting a plate or tray under them, unless you remember to empty them after watering.
• Water whenever you can with rainwater. If you have acid plants (Japanese maples, azaleas, camellias, gardenias, etc.) and you cannot get rain, use a water suitable for human consumption. If you have carnivores, use distilled or osmosis water.
• Check the moisture of the soil before watering. This can be done by introducing a wooden stick for example. Insert it to the bottom, and once you take it out if you see that it is practically clean, water.
• Pour water until you see it coming out of the drainage holes. But beware, it is very important that the water is absorbed by the earth; if not, put it in a basin of water for half an hour, until it is well soaked.
• Do not water from aboveas the blades could be damaged. It is better to pour the water on the ground.
• And although this does not have much to do with irrigation, plant your plant (worth the redundancy) to a larger pot every time roots grow out of the holes, or when you see that it has occupied all of it and cannot grow any more. If you have a garden, a good alternative could be to plant it in it. Spring is a good time to do this.

We hope that now it is easier for you to know when and how to water.