When to Water - Southern Living Plants (2024)

FAQs

When to Water - Southern Living Plants? ›

Water plants only when the soil feels dry to the touch at a depth of one inch and follow deep watering methods. You can also use a water meter to test soil moisture. If wilting plants are in containers, make sure the pots have drainage holes.

And there's your answer. The best time of day to water plants is early morning. This allows roots to fully absorb moisture rather than it going to waste through heat or evaporation and lets them process water more efficiently.

Morning watering is actually preferable to evening watering as the plant has time to dry before the sun goes down. At night, water tends to rest in the soil, around the roots, and on the foliage, which encourages rot, fungal growth, and insects.

Check for soil moisture.

If the soil feels dry three or four inches below the surface, water. A common rule of thumb is that most plants need the equivalent of one inch of rainfall a week, on average—enough to soak into the soil about six inches.

When stomata are closed, the plants do not draw in significant water. So having the limited water you are using fully available in the morning when stomata open and the plant begins transpiring is a best bet for maximizing uptake.

The notion that wet leaves on sunny days cause scorch in plants was disproved nearly ten years ago. But there is no doubt that watering in full sun is not water efficient – as much of it will evaporate before entering the soil. In the current hot breezy weather it is probably best to water in the early evening.

Plants transpire — and thus lose water — both day and night. However, they transpire at a much lower rate at night. During daylight, with photosynthesis in full swing, the stomata are fully open to allow the abundant gas exchange it requires, resulting in higher rates of water loss.

You'll be able to tell if your plant needs watering by observing the dryness of the soil surface, as well more accurate techniques like poking your finger in the soil and picking pots up to determine their weight. You can also use a moisture sensor to quickly and accurately check soil moisture levels.

Water in the late afternoon if the morning is inconvenient.

This way your plants won't get burned, and there will still be time for them to dry out a little before nightfall. If you wait until the afternoon, aim to water from 4 pm on, since before that time the sun may still be strong enough to burn your plants.

Now that you've identified your overwatered plants, it's time to nurse them back to health. In mild cases, you can simply stop watering for the next few weeks and wait for your plant to recover. Don't water until the soil is completely dry throughout all of the soil, not just at the top surface.

What are the three rules of watering? ›

Run your sink into a watering can, cup, or bucket, and let it sit for a good 24 hours. This will allow chemicals like chlorine and fluoride the time to evaporate from the water. We like to have a full watering can ready to go with still water so that if our soil seems dry, we can water our plant without waiting a day.

The best time to water outdoor plants is in the morning when temperatures are usually cooler. This gives the plants time to absorb the water so they can get through a long, hot day. The second-best time is late in the afternoon or early in the evening.

Watering in the early morning hours means you will lose less water as the air warms and evaporation occurs. When you water vegetables during the morning hours, any water that accumulates on leaves will have the opportunity to dry. This means you will have healthier plants that require less maintenance.

According to our Lawn Specialists, the best time to water grass is in the early morning, between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. This is because the temperature is cooler, which means that the water is less likely to evaporate before it can be absorbed by the grass.

Usually, the best time to water your tree is at after the sun has set or in the early morning, before the sun is high in the sky. Watering your tree between sunset and sunrise will help it replace any moisture it lost during the heat of the day and minimize that amount of water that evaporates.