Watering Plants


Watering plants mean more than sprinkling water or splashing water on them. Plants tend to wilt and dry if they do not receive adequate water. A little effort to water the plants correctly will let them stay healthy and vibrant. Your house will just be a piece of heaven with green plants swaying and colorful flowering plants blossoming. How beautiful it is! Isn't it? So get the tips in the following content and let plants derive complete benefits of water.

Tips for Watering Plants

Before you pour water on plants, you must know the time of watering, so that they receive complete benefits from water. The water must penetrate their root system and should get distributed throughout the shoot system.
  • Water plants early in the morning or in the evening, when the rate of evaporation is minimum. Avoid watering plants in the presence of sun and wind.
  • You should water the young plants and saplings regularly, as they need water to establish their root system.
  • Plants require less water if the soil is moisture laden. Dry soil requires frequent watering, so that the plants do not wilt or dry away.
  • Plants require more water during summer than in winter.
  • Disease susceptible plants should not be watered at night as water retention will make them vulnerable to fungus and bacterial attack.
  • Grass beds require an inch of water for few days to prevent from drying. It also enhances luxurious growth.
  • Mature plants can be watered heavily or even less frequently water, they can survive for long time due to their extensive root system.
  • Over watering the plants chokes the root system. Roots are unable to breathe and their leaves turn yellow with mushy stems. Plants die when over watered.
  • Container gardening require more water than those planted in grounds.
  • Shrubs, landscape plants and trees should be water just outside the drip line while vegetables and perennials require heavy watering as they have shallow roots, when young.
  • Before you start watering, you should also know the age of the plant. Young samplings require vigorous watering, while older plants require comparatively less water.
Significance of Watering Plants

Scientifically, water is necessary for supporting the most vital processes that sustain life in plants. Water is essential for plant photosynthesis and respiration. Much water is lost from plants by a process called transpiration. So to supplement the water need, external watering is essential. Water has many dissolved minerals and salts in it that are important for overall healthy survival of plants. These are taken up by the root system of plants.

Watering plants with different liquids can be done using different liquid fertilizers or fertilizers mixtures. This can be done along with water or separately according to the instructions on the pack. Water plants by pouring water at the base of the plants so that it penetrates deep into the root system. Do not throw or splash water on the plants. Use a pouring can to water plants smoothly. After you have poured water, allow the plants to dry for some time so that their root system do not get clogged.

While on Vacation

Watering plants while on vacation is also a great idea. You can utilize your holidays by taking care of your plants and practice gardening. But how to take care of the plants if you are away from your home for a couple of days? No worries, here's few ideas that will help your plants survive even if you are out. You can device a sprinkler system that can store water, and water the plants automatically. For your houseplants, you can hang an inverted bottle, containing enough water to last a few days. Keep it capped and prick few holes on it. In this system, the water will drip slowly over the plants and the root system can soak it completely. For outdoor plants, cover the plants completely with plastic bags and water the plants before leaving. The plastic bags shall prevent evaporation of water. The moisture will be retained, preventing the plants from wilting.

If you are an avid gardener, you should always know the appropriate methods of watering plants, as water is the most vital element to sustain life.

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