Finally, summer’s heat has arrived! The time is now to get your houseplants ready to weather the heat and go into summer plant care mode because temperatures in the Pacific Northwest are expected to surge into the mid 90s and low 100s this weekend.
Even though some sun-loving plants, like succulents and cactus, can tolerate high temperatures, indoor plants are not accustomed to the sweltering summer heat. This includes your cacti and succulents, unless you’ve taken them outside into your patio or porch for the summer. Tropical plants with leaves are especially vulnerable to heat damage, and if hurt too badly, they might not recover.
Do not fret! There are several things you can do both before and during the heat wave to ensure that your indoor plants survive. Here are the top 5 summertime plant care suggestions to get you started.
- amplify the humidity During hot spells, it is advisable to often water plants that prefer high humidity, including many epiphytes and tropical plants like fittonia, calathea, and the majority of ferns. In order to create a small humid microclimate for your plant that will give humidity and assist your plants survive summer, you may also fill a shallow dish with stones, fill it with water, and place your pot on top.
- Water deeply and effectively. The key to caring for indoor plants is proper watering, as you have surely read on our blog before. The most effective way to kill a houseplant is to overwater it, but heat and sunlight cause water to drain from soil at considerably higher rates. Give your plants a thorough watering in advance of a heat wave. If you water too much or too little, the soil will frequently just get wet on top, with the remaining moisture escaping out the bottom and down the pot’s edges. By watering carefully and letting the plant soak up extra water in a bowl for 10–20 minutes after watering, you may ensure that the water is actually absorbed.
Check your plants’ soil moisture level more regularly than usual while you’re in summer plant care mode. You can use a moisture meter or the tried-and-true “finger testwater” method when the soil feels dry at 1-2 down for most tropical plants. When the earth starts to slide away from the pot’s sides, that’s another telltale sign of rapidly drying, compacted soil. Rehydrate if there is a space between the soil and the pot’s side.
Keep in mind that if you have air conditioning, the dry air can dry up pots just as quickly as the sun. Watch for thirsty plants and water them thoroughly.
Protect delicate plants from too much sunlight
And plants get sunburned. During the heat wave this weekend, plants that are housed in south and west-facing windows will benefit from an unusually bright vitamin D dose. To protect them from this direct sun exposure, it is better to relocate them a little bit closer on your house because you cannot apply sunscreen to their leaves. This also applies to succulents and cacti that haven’t become accustomed to direct sunlight, as was said in the beginning.
- Remain calm If you’ve ever experienced heat exhaustion, try to image how your plants may be feeling! When caring for your plants in the summer, try to keep them away from the areas of your house that are the hottest. This can entail removing them from windows or perhaps transferring them into different rooms during warm weather.
Additionally, although it may seem contradictory, closing your windows during the day when the heat is on and opening them again at night when it cools down is actually the greatest strategy to keep your house cool in the summer (assuming you don’t have A/C). You’ll feel a lot better and so will your plants if you can make the house a few degrees cooler!
In the heat, should you water outdoor plants daily?
Compared to their in-ground counterparts, potted plants typically dry out more quickly. The pot’s design and narrow soil area result in an extremely low moisture storage capacity. The best times to water your containers are typically in the early morning or early evening. This will give the plant enough time to absorb the water before the heat of the day sets in, but it will also allow any extra water to drain rapidly so that the plant is not susceptible to fungus.
When the earth is completely dry to the bottom, it is also definitely time to water, but the plant might be too late by then. Look for dropping petals, feeble stems, shriveled leaves, and leaves that are dry and discolored. Potted plants should be checked every day in warm, dry environments. Usually, it’s a good sign that watering is required when the top inch (2.5 cm) or so of soil is dry.
Most types of outdoor potted plants require daily (and sometimes twice-daily) watering in the summer, especially when temperatures rise above 85 degrees F. (29 C.).
How can summertime outdoor plants be preserved?
How to maintain plant life in this oppressive July heat
- deep water. Advertisement.
- Don’t overwater, though. Advertisement.
- The sun has no water.
- Create some cover.
- Leave damaged foliage alone.
- Leave no pruning until the fall.
- Leave the fertilizer alone.
- such as tomatoes
In the heat, how frequently should I water my outdoor plants?
She advises drip watering three times a week for 18 minutes in Southern California’s spring and summer, then modifying as necessary if the soil is excessively moist or dry. Have no idea how to tell? Insert your finger into the ground. Your plants will be alright if the soil is 2 inches down and regularly moist. Bring out the hose if it’s dry.
With drip irrigation on a timer, you can water your garden consistently, although Kranz advised checking on it frequently to make sure it’s getting enough. When it’s particularly hot, you might need to water more frequently.
In her beds, Kranz typically utilizes organic potting soil, compost, and an organic mulch that prolongs the retention of moisture. To preserve moisture in the soil, Savio also incorporates a lot of compost into the soil, mulch on top, and a thin layer of coffee grinds (about a half-inch thick). (She obtains from neighborhood coffee businesses. She advised against applying coffee grinds too heavily since they can get crusty and resist liquid.)
How can I keep the plants I have outside alive?
In the spring, many of us can’t wait to plant our favorite flowers, but as summer draws near and drags on, we start to lose interest in our outdoor plants. They soon develop crispy leaves and dried-up flowers. And we realize that not everyone enjoys gardening. However, we also understand how valuable an investment plants are, so we’ve gathered some of our favorite advice on how to maintain outside plants throughout the summer (or at least until the first of August).
Select Plants That Suit Your Climate You will never succeed in growing a bloom that was never meant to flourish in your area of the country, no matter how hard you try. Ask a dependable source, such as the staff at your neighborhood nursery or even a neighbor with a beautiful yard, if you are new to gardening. Start by learning what is effective in your area. Start small when experimenting with a new kind of plant so that you don’t lose a lot of money if it doesn’t work out. If it does well, you will know what kind of plant to purchase more of the following year.
Be judicious in your placement. Pay special attention to the instructions’ section about the sun when you’re plant buying. Once you get home, it’s simple to forget, but if you preserve the insert that came with the plants, you’ll always be aware of where to put them and how much light they require.
When Required, Deadhead When the blooms on some plants, like petunias and geraniums, fade, deadheading is necessary. As a result, you will need to pinch or clip the stem that is slightly above the healthy leaves and below the dead bloom. Deadheading ensures that you’ll get a robust, full plant rather than one that’s sickly or vine-like because it’s thought that dead blooms weaken the plant.
Drink plenty of water, but not too much. Plants typically perish in the summer because they don’t receive enough water. It’s best to water your outdoor plants first thing in the morning, and creating a pattern for watering will help you be consistent. The sun will absorb all the water if you water your plants too late in the day, depriving them of the chance to use it. Make sure to moisten the soil and roots rather than the blooms themselves when you water. By doing this, you can prevent your plants from looking burned and make sure they’re getting enough water. Your potted plants need to be watered regularly, if not twice daily, during the summer heat. On particularly hot days, you can also put a little water to the saucer to offer some more moisture.
Make Travel Plans for the Summer Prioritizing plant watering before the influx of summer tourism is common. Ask a friend or neighbor to water your plants while you’re away in advance. Before you go, move any potted plants out of the direct sun and give them a good soak in water. You may even install a drip watering system for your potted plants if you have a sprinkler system, and you can schedule it to run automatically while you’re gone.
Understanding how to keep plants alive for the majority of the summer is well within reach with a little bit of preparation and commitment. And by August, everyone in the area will be envious of you!
When is the optimum time to water plants?
The optimal time to water the garden with a sprinkler, garden hose, or any other tool that wets plant foliage is in the early morning (5:00 to 9:00 am). The leaves of the plant dries up fast once watering is finished. Plant foliage that dries out quickly helps prevent the growth of fungi that cause illnesses. A early application also allows for little water loss due to evaporation and deep soil penetration.
Due of the quick evaporation, watering during the middle of the day is less effective. Midday watering with a sprinkler can also be inefficient because high winds might blow water onto the patio, driveway, or other nearby locations.
Greater disease issues can result from evening sprinkler or garden hose watering because the foliage of the plants is likely to stay wet all night.
When using a drip irrigation system or soaker hose, the mornings and evenings are the best times to water gardens. Given that these techniques avoid wetting plant foliage, watering in the evening is not a problem.
Is it advisable to water plants at night?
The time of day, temperature, the soil, and the age of the plants are crucial elements in determining when and how often your plants need water, even if different Southern Living Plant Collection kinds have varying requirements.
The best time to water plants is in the morning or evening.
Watering the plant in the morning gets it ready for the day, and watering it in the evening gets it cool. More significantly, watering during these times actually aids in water retention for the plant. When you water a plant in the afternoon, especially in the summer, the water will evaporate rather than soak into the soil and roots of the plant because the sun and heat are at their strongest. As the plant has time to dry before the sun sets, morning watering is actually preferable to evening watering. Water tends to rest in the soil, around the roots, and on the foliage at night, which promotes insect proliferation, rot, and fungal growth.
Heat and dry soil are always indicators that a plant needs more water
Your plants are baking with you when it’s hot outside and the sun is out. Your plants agree that there is nothing better than a pleasant drink of water. The plant is already dehydrated if the soil is dry, so you should water it more frequently to promote healthy growth. The soil should ideally be both moist and well-drained.
A plant’s age also helps you know when to water
“Age” refers to both the length of the plant’s life and the amount of time it has lived in your yard. The young and newly planted plants require more water to develop a strong root system. In order to encourage root strength and expansion, shallow and delicate roots need greater water. Mature plants require more water all at once so that their established roots can flourish deep in the ground. They want less water more frequently.
It can be challenging to determine when to water because there are so many different kinds of plants, but look out for the warning signals. Your plant may be receiving too little or too much water if you notice a general decline in its health, yellowing or browning foliage, unblooming flowers, or falling petals. Most importantly, keep in mind to set aside a little additional time in the morning for thorough watering—your day can end up being healthier as a result!
When it’s hot, should you water your plants?
In hot weather, it can be difficult to water plants or a vegetable garden. In periods of high heat, many plants are susceptible. To maintain the health of your plants, proper watering is essential. The good news is that the task will be simple with some advance planning and the appropriate equipment.
Understanding How Plants Lose Water in High Heat
Understanding the basics of watering in hot weather may help you better understand how your plants absorb and use water. In terms of plant maintenance, knowledge is a potent ally.
The process through which plants hydrate themselves with water is called evapotranspiration. Transferring water to the plant’s surface is necessary. More transmission is necessary when the temperature is higher.
This procedure can be compared to your own need to cool yourself during a hot day. The air conditioner can be turned down. The proper use of water and other elements is necessary for plants.
The short of it is that during periods of intense heat, plants require more water, but it’s not just the quantity that matters. Water must be applied to plants in the best method possible.
Amazing beings, plants. They will perform most of the labor-intensive tasks. All you need to do is make sure to offer water in the right amounts and at the right intervals.
Water Early
It’s possible that you have heard opposing opinions on this matter. Let’s make it clear once and for all. The cooler morning hours are ideal for watering in hot weather. By doing this, more water will be able to reach the roots before it evaporates in the heat.
You might occasionally be unable to plan watering in the morning. In this situation, water the plants just before going to bed in the late evening. If you must water in the evening, don’t overdo it, and make sure to keep the water off the plants’ leaves.
Be Consistent
Contrary to popular belief, one day cannot make up for a week’s worth of missing watering. Your plants suffer any time they aren’t getting enough water. They might be revived several times, but eventually the harm will be too great.
Check the moisture content around the roots of your plants. Establish the watering schedule you must follow to maintain the proper moisture level. Watering regularly is far more important than watering every day or every two days. Establish a timetable and follow it. Plants that appear sickly or dry are a hint that you need to adjust your schedule.
Soaker Hoses for Deeper Irrigation
In hot weather, watering your plants’ leaves won’t do them any good. The first liquid to evaporate from a plant’s surface is its surface water. Water needs to be delivered to the plant’s base so that the root system can benefit.
A strategically placed soaker hose is a great technique to ensure that the ground beneath your plants gets adequately moistened. Even better, you may activate a slow soaker hose and let it work while you attend to other household duties. Soakers are less expensive to purchase and are better for the environment.
Slow Down the Application of Water
Another advantage of utilizing a soaker hose is that it enables you to gradually water your plants. Too much runoff is produced when you water too quickly, providing poor irrigation for the soil around your plants.
Today, there are a lot of great low-pressure hose options. When trying to water as efficiently as possible in a hot climate, slow and steady surely wins the race.
Know Your Plants’ Behavior
The most knowledgeable landscapers and gardeners can recognize changes in a plant’s behavior. You must be able to distinguish between when a plant needs water and when it has absorbed too much moisture.
When the temperature is high during the day, some plants are prone to drooping. This sort of protection mechanism is used. The plant can utilise its resources more effectively by slowing down. When more water can be absorbed, which is in the morning, it will normally recover.
Other plants only show signs of wilting when they are severely dehydrated. These plants might be stressed if they start to droop. It’s critical that you start giving out water right away.
In hot weather, it is still possible to maintain a lovely garden. In fact, certain plants may even thrive in extremely high temperatures. Equip yourself with the appropriate equipment and knowledge for effective gardening in hot climates.