Watering tips that your plants would tell you if they could

Most people are incorrectly watering their gardens. The amount of water needed varies substantially based on the plant species’ original environment, and the age and history of the plant. Plants that have evolved in tropical regions with high levels of rainfall require substantially more water than arid plants such as cacti and succulents.

If you have just transplanted a tree or shrub from a pot in the last year, it will need a fair bit more water than an established tree, and it is critical to the plant’s future health that you are consistent in watering the correct amount while it adapts to its environment and grows new roots.

Instead of watering a little bit every day, water deeply a few times a week. When you only water a little bit at one time, even if you do it regularly, a lot of the moisture near the surface of the soil will evaporate leaving your plants perpetually parched. Watering deeply encourages deep roots and hardy, more drought resistant plants.

Preferably water early in the day to allow leaves to dry in the sun. Making a habit of this helps avoid issues such as mildew that can take hold on some plant species when they are regularly watered at night, leaving their damp leaves open to disease and fungal attack.

Ensure the soil is accepting the water. You may find that your soil repels water, which tends to roll off without penetrating the surface, or it may find a few cracks to run through without really soaking the soil. In this case you may want to turn the soil or use a soil wetting agent.

Be careful not to over water. There is such a thing as too much love, so avoid drowning your poor plants and make sure you’re giving them the correct amount of water. Each species has different water requirements, so you need to check the tags when you buy the plant or do some research to ensure you are correctly watering. Poke your finger into the ground to the second knuckle or use a moisture meter to check for moisture in the soil before you barge ahead with your watering can.

Add a seaweed solution such as seasol every now and then to your watering can and treat your plants to a health solution to help them thrive and absorb the nutrients already present in the soil more efficiently. Check the instructions on the bottle for dosage

With a little bit of information put into practice, we can give our plants the amount of water they need to live a longer, healthier life saving us money on constantly replacing them.