I’m sure you know this, but it’s important to keep your plants well-hydrated. But did you know there is the best time for you to water your indoor and outdoor plants?
Water early in the morning
You want to give your plants a good dose of water at least once a week, but not right after they’ve been watered. This is because there’s less risk of overwatering if you wait for several days after the last time you watered them before doing so again. You’ll also have time for the soil around their roots to dry out slightly between waterings, which helps prevent root rot from occurring.
Water indoor plants at night
Indoor plants need water to survive. While there is no exact formula for watering, you should make sure that your plants are getting enough water.
You may think that watering your indoor plant in the morning will ensure that the plant gets enough water during the day. However, this is not true. It is best to water your indoor plants at night because they will have more time to absorb the water and won’t dry out as quickly.
The reason why it is best to water your indoor plants at night is because they don’t need as much sunlight as outdoor plants do. When you water your indoor plant during the day, it will lose moisture quickly because of sunlight exposure and temperature changes throughout the day. Indoor plants need less sunlight than outdoor ones because they lack natural sources of light such as windows or skylights.
Avoid watering during a heatwave
If you have a garden and live in a drought-prone region, you may be tempted to water your plants during a heatwave. But experts say it’s best to avoid watering plants during a heatwave.
In fact, watering plants in extreme heat can actually kill them.
“Watering during extreme heat is not good for plants,” says horticulturist Sarah Bremner of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension Service. “Plants need more water than they do in cooler weather because they lose more moisture through their leaves during hot weather.”
But because hot days are short, there’s less time for evaporation from leaves on hot days than there is on cool days. So if you water heavily at home during a hot spell, you risk overwatering your yard — which can lead to root rot or other problems for your plants.
Don’t water outdoor plants during the hottest hours of the day
Watering plants during the hottest hours of the day can be fatal for your lawn and garden.
The heat of summer is just around the corner and it’s time to start planning how to keep your lawn, garden and trees healthy. As temperatures rise, so does the need for water. But not all plants need water at the same rate. Some plants are more tolerant of dry soil than others, so you may not need to water as often or as much as you think.
“Water needs vary by plant type,” said Brad Vogel, owner of The Lawn Care Company in Conroe, Texas. “The best time to water is early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler.”
By watering during these times, you’ll also limit evaporation from your lawn and reduce potential damage caused by fungal disease spores that thrive in hot temperatures.
Water outdoor plants on cloudy days
Water outdoor plants on cloudy days, rather than on hot, sunny ones. Watering on cloudy days will allow the water to penetrate more deeply into the soil, which is especially important for shallow-rooted plants. It’s also less likely to evaporate quickly, saving you time and money.
Watering in the morning is ideal because it allows time for your plants to dry off before nightfall. This helps prevent fungal growth on leaves and helps reduce the risk of diseases like powdery mildew and rust.
Gardeners should be careful when watering newly planted seeds or seedlings because they have shallow root systems that can easily be damaged by overwatering. Instead of watering every day or two, give them a good soak once every three days or so until they grow larger roots and become established in their new homes.
Avoid watering outdoor plants when it’s windy
It’s important to avoid watering outdoor plants when it’s windy, as this can promote the spread of disease.
If you must water during windy conditions, make sure that you do so in the morning or evening when the sun is not at its brightest and harshest. This will help to prevent water from evaporating quickly (and taking nutrients with it).
In addition, try to water only what you need rather than over-watering plants. If the soil is moist to a depth of 6 inches (15 cm), you’re probably good to go.
Don’t water garden plants after a rainstorm
It’s a common misconception that you should water your garden plants after a rainstorm. In fact, watering your garden after a rainstorm can cause more problems than it solves.
Here are three reasons why you should stop watering after rain:
It’s a waste of time and money. Watering after a rainstorm is an unnecessary step in the gardening process. If you’re worried about your plants becoming too dry, set up a drip irrigation system so they can be watered automatically without any effort on your part.
It causes disease and fungus problems. Watering after rainfall can create an environment where fungus and disease thrive because it washes away spores from infected leaves and spreads them to other plants in your garden. This can cause serious damage to your garden over time and cost you more money than if you had just left well enough alone in the first place!
It damages soil structure and fertility levels. Soil that has been soaked with water will suffer from compaction; this means that there won’t be enough air circulation for healthy root growth or for beneficial soil organisms to thrive and do their job properly (which allows plants to get nutrients from the soil). This leads to nutrient deficiencies which stunt plant growth and cause leaves
Final thoughts: It’s important to know the best times to water your plants.
Consistency is key, as is not overwatering or letting your plant go dry. A good way to know when to water is checking the soil’s moisture level. For most plants, if the soil feels dry at approximately a half-inch into the pot, that’s when you should add a bit more water. With knowledge on when to water your plants, you can save yourself money and an overwatered houseplant. You just have to avoid these common mistakes.