The freshman gardener
Watering 101:
The very basics
Watering can be a tricky thing to manage when gardening and it’s pretty important to do it correctly. Plants need water to survive but they need the right amount, timing, consistency, and application methods to really thrive. I’ve had so many plants struggle and as soon as I changed my watering methods, they improved immediately. This lesson is about the very basics of watering in gardening.
Frequency
Do I water everyday? Once a week? What about plants that are indoor vs outdoors? So may questions right! They are all dependent on your climate, soil type, the season you’re in, and that particular plant. The very basics I live by are
- Make sure you have good drainage. This is SO important with indoor plants. With outdoor plants you’ll want to make sure you plant your plants a little bit higher than ground level and if your soil is clay or doesn’t drain well, you may need to add some sand or dig a bit more and refill with better soil. If you dig a hole and water it and come back in a few hours and water is still sitting in the hole, you may need to work with your soil a bit.
- If it’s hot, water more. Where I live we get 90+ temps for a good part of the summer. I water every single day when it gets that hot and when its over 100 degrees, I will sometimes give my plants a little afternoon drink (just on the roots)
- Generally most plants need 1-2 inches of water a week but I tend to give them more than this. As it cools down, I taper this off gradually.
- It’s better to deeply water than to give a small amount daily. You want the roots to reach down towards the water. This makes the plant stronger and more resilient.
Time of Day
The very best time to water your outdoor plants is in the early morning or at night. This allows the water to sit longer before it evaporates in the sun and allows your plants to absorb more moisture. I like to run my drip lines for my landscaping in the early early morning. This gives the plants a chance to get the water they need without it evaporating but doesn’t have them sitting in water all night long.
Roots or Leaves
Focus watering your plants on the roots if you can. This is why I love drip watering systems because it waters the roots and not the leaves. Soaker hoses are another great way to accomplish this. If that’s not an option, do what you have. If all you have is an overhead sprinkler, use that. Just make sure you’re doing it not in the heat of the day. When the water sits on the leaves and then the sun beats down on them, they can burn.
Consistency
We want our plants to be able to count on consistent watering. They can get stressed if you’re under-watering and get root rot if it’s too much. This is especially true with indoor plants as they solely count on us for their water source. A good water meter is really helpful for this. If you have a potted plant outside, it will need water more frequently that one in the ground because the soil dries out faster. Check on these ones often.
Mulch
Mulch outdoors keeps the moisture in your soil better and helps retain water. If you have a good mulch layer, you will not need to water quite as much. Mulch can be bark, pine or wood shavings, wood chips, bagged mulch, or even leaves.
Plant Age
Newly planted plants need more water. Their roots are trying to grow and stretch out and need water to help them do that. More established plants, trees and shrubs have already made themselves at home and their roots have spread out extensively. This is especially important for newly planted trees.
What Is Deep Watering?
Deep watering is my favorite way to water. With indoor plants, I use a drip pan or bowl to catch the excess water that drains from the bottom of the planter. (Always make sure your potted plants have drainage holes in the bottom of them.) I’ll give the plant enough water that it will drain out the bottom and then I’ll let it sit in that water for 20-30 minutes. After that I’ll remove it from the drip pan or bowl and at that point it will have soaked up all the water it needs. I only water my indoor plants when they are dry (get a water meter) and I really only use this method.
For outdoor plants I try to do the same thing, working with nature. I’ll water my trees by setting my hose to just a drip and then I’ll set it at the base of the tree for hours. I do this maybe once a week when it’s hot out and less when it cools off. Then I know the trees are stretching their roots to get the water. By just letting the water drip, it’s not running off away from the roots, but instead going down into the soil. I use my drip lines in a similar way with my outdoor landscaping.
Watering can be tricky but don’t overthink it. If you have a plant struggling, adjust the way and timing of when you water and see if that makes a difference. Pay attention to the weather and adjust accordingly. It’s typically either a water or a SUN issue if your plants aren’t surviving. You can do it!
Watering 101: A+
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