Thirst Quenching

‘How much water do I need to put on it?’ This is the most common question I am asked as a gardener. The answer, like a lot of answers in horticulture is ‘It depends’. Some factors to consider include what the plant is; where it is planted; has it been raining; or has it been hot. I’m guessing you get the picture.

There is however a rule of thumb that I use to work out how much water your plants need, and it doesn’t involve running to the nursery to buy a moisture meter. The way I work it out is by placing my finger in the ground and feeling how dry or damp it is.

More specifically, if you grab some of the surrounding soil and can squeeze water out of it, it is too wet. If you can mould the soil in your hand, and it keeps its shape, it’s just right. I like to think of it as having the moisture consistency of a slice of chocolate cake.

Judging the look of the leaves also can give you an indication. For example, if the leaves are wilting, then they are asking you for a drink! But be careful – too much water can show the same symptoms. The classic example of this is when the diligent office worker gives the indoor plants a drink, and then another does the same and so on. Each consecutive officer may be watering the plant because they see wilted leaves and assumes it needs another drink. However, all that is happening is a systematic drowning of the poor plants! If unsure, take my previous advice and feel the soil or potting mix with your hands.

This brings me to the other aspect of watering that clients ask me. ‘Do you need to water pots as much as plants in the garden?’  The answer is YES.

Potting mix dries out quicker than your garden. (I will discuss potted plant maintenance in more depth in another blog). When watering potted plants, make sure you are generous. Water all the potting mix until it drains out the bottom of the pot. If your plant isn’t pot bound, the excess water will simply drain out meaning that you can’t overwater.

Summer is a particularly difficult time to keep plants hydrated so here’s a few tips that I tell my clients to ensure their plants survive.

1. It’s better to water a few times a week for long periods compared to a short sprinkle every day. Longer watering times means the water infiltrates deeper into the soil making contact with more of the roots.

2. Don’t water during the heat of the day as much of it will be lost to evaporation.

3. When the temperature is expected to be in the high 30s, water the evening before, after the sun goes down or before sunrise.