Know the principles and correct method of watering plants
How to irrigate plants is very important and in many cases the cause of death of plants is incorrect irrigation. So you need to know the correct method of watering plants and the best time to water plants to prevent this from happening and losing your plants. It is better to know that watering houseplants is different from outdoor plants and this is due to the difference in their conditions and environment.
One of the biggest concerns of people interested in maintaining flowers and plants is how to irrigate the plants. In fact, they do not know what the best time and method of watering plants is, and if they do not have a regular schedule, they may lose their plant. You should know that there is a fine line between dry and thirsty soil and wet and saturated soil (soggy), and both are harmful to plant health. Instruments such as a hygrometer can be effective in determining irrigation time.
The important point in irrigating houseplants is to adjust the irrigation intervals in different seasons of the year. According to the latest studies, the cause of death of most houseplants is excessive irrigation. Therefore, in the following, we will examine how and when to irrigate properly.
Best time to irrigate plants:
- According to studies, the best time to irrigate plants is early morning or early night because at these times the plant has more opportunity to use water before it evaporates. Irrigation in hot weather causes water to evaporate faster and provide less water to the plant.
- You should also water the plant when the potting soil is completely dry, but it may be too late for the plant.
- Watch out for wilted and wilted leaves, loose, drooping branches, falling petals, and dry, discolored leaves.
- In hot and dry weather, you should take care of your plants every day and be careful about the amount of dryness.
- In most cases, when the soil is dry to a depth of 2.5 cm (this is about the equivalent of a fingertip), it is a good time to water the plant.
Frequency of Irrigation:
- The number of times the plant is irrigated depends on the type of plant. Succulent and succulent plants need less irrigation because they are drought tolerant. So first get acquainted with your plant type.
- Plants that have taken root, become stronger and have deeper roots, are more tolerant of dehydration than freshly planted plants.
- In hot seasons, such as summer, plants outdoors
- should be watered more than plants indoors, and this amount can reach twice a day, especially at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius.
- Plants such as cacti and succulents do not need much water and excessive watering can cause root rot and death.
- Carnivorous plants and cactus need longer watering intervals than thin-leaved species such as Hassan Yousef. The wider and larger the leaves and the faster the plants grow, the more water they need.
Proper irrigation rate:
- The amount of water required by plants varies according to their type and species.
- First you need to know the amount of moisture your plant needs.
- After learning about the plant’s moisture needs, a hygrometer can be a useful tool for you. The instrument consists of a rod that is embedded in the soil and shows the amount of moisture.
- For example, if your plant needs moderate moisture and the hygrometer shows drier conditions, it indicates the time of watering the pot.
- In the case of most plants, it is best to water the plant slowly but thoroughly so that water reaches all parts of the soil and roots.
- Low volume and light watering causes the plant and soil to come out of the holes at the bottom of the pot before they can absorb moisture. In fact, most potting soils, if completely dry, pass water without adsorption.
- Deep and slow watering causes both water to reach the roots of the plant and the dry soil of the pot to be reabsorbed.
- When watering heavily, make sure the pot drainage hole is open.
- Be sure to empty the water collected under the pot, as it prevents the roots from breathing and eventually causes them to die.
- Avoid giving plants too cold and chlorinated water.
- If you forget to water your plants and the soil of your pot is completely dry, it is better to immerse the whole pot in a water pan so that the pot is in water for up to an hour. In this way, the thirst of the soil is quenched and the soil is forced to absorb moisture.
- If you use wicker, fiber or moss pots such as Kokdama, it is best to immerse the entire pot in a container of water.
The correct method of irrigating plants:
- Be sure to use lukewarm water to irrigate the plants and do not use cold water in any way.
- Before using tap water, allow the water in the container to stand slightly to allow chlorine to escape and do not irrigate with chlorinated water.
- You can also use chilled boiled water to irrigate plants.
- Do not irrigate in direct sunlight as it will cause stains and burns on the leaves of the plants.
- Never water the plants with a high pressure water hose. This will remove the soil around the base of the plant and may damage the roots.
- Irrigation of garden plants and even flowers and plants inside the apartment is directly related to the climatic conditions of the season. For example, as mentioned earlier, irrigation in the summer during the hot hours of the day and under intense sunlight is incorrect.
- Outdoor pots need more water than indoor pots because the outside environment has higher temperatures, sunlight and wind, all of which dry out the soil quickly.
- Make sure the pot has good drainage for water to escape.
- If water collects under the pot, be sure to empty it immediately as it will cause the root of the plant to rot and die.
- Water resources in the world are very limited and limited. When irrigating plants, we should prevent it from being wasted.
- Use glossy, glazed pots to prevent soil moisture from evaporating.
- For plants that need more moisture, spray a layer of mulch or gravel on the soil surface to reduce the rate of moisture loss.
- The soil surface of the pot should be evenly wet during irrigation and avoid spot irrigation.
- Excessive water causes soil oxygen deficiency, paleness, yellowing of leaves and leaf fall.
- Low water and low humidity also cause the tip of most leaves to burn.
- Spray with lukewarm water is recommended on hot days of the year at least once a day.
- It is recommended to use a damp sponge to pull on the leaves and under them.
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