Gardening is nothing short of an art. It takes considerable amounts of discipline and perseverance to take care of your plants. Watering is a crucial element of gardening and, like all other factors that contribute to the better growth of the plants, must be done rather carefully.
Watering is not just an exercise or obligation where you can simply sprinkle a certain amount of the solution all over your garden and be done with it. There are many minute details that need to be considered, in order to optimize your plants and flowers to receive the best care they can get.
This article by Elitech Drip discusses some of the important things to keep in mind while watering your plants and is going to help you make note of your watering methods, thereby guiding you on how to take care of your garden better.
Contents
Type of water
People majorly like to think that tap water of any kind can be used to water their plants, but it is not true because the tap water we use should have fewer salts. What this means is that it shouldn’t be soft enough to cause the building up of soil, which can be a problem in the long run. So if you aren’t sure about what to use, then go for using rainwater. Collect rainwater during the monsoons, and be sure to use it at room temperature because either extremely hot or cold can cause you big problems.
Amount of water
Not everyone is sure about how much they should water their plant. If you aren’t sure either, don’t worry. Just check or do some research to know which part of the world your plant belongs to. If it is from the tropical regions where it rains very often, you would have to water your plants regularly because they take more water to the big leaves. Some plants only need mild amounts of water to grow into fully-fledged plants (For instance, the cacti).
Many plants grow well during the summer and spring months so if you notice some sort of fall or deterioration in growth, then slow down a little on watering your plant.
When to water your plants
To find out the exact time to water your plants, you should practice looking at the leaves. If you notice that the leaves are wilted, then it may be time you start watering your plants on a short basis. It is a better practice to not wait till your plants get affected and after that, you start taking the efforts. Instead, start doing it from now on.
Make sure that you keep a track of when you water your plants, and go around your garden once or twice a week to check which plants look like they require more water. Make a note of that as well. Another good practice for the benefit of your plants is to insert a finger about an inch inside the soil mix and check that if it feels dry water very well and detects dampness.
Best ways to water
As mentioned earlier, there are certain ways when it comes to watering plants, that are simply better suited for growth. Because most of the plants aren’t well versed at any type of watering. For instance, sometimes you may find your plant thirsty and the soil feels dry. Here, you do not want to overwater your plants. Instead, it is better if you soak your soil, and then lightly water them.
Also, sometimes if your saucer is full, it is not an issue. You just have to let it be for about 10 minutes and after that dump the water out. Don’t let it stay there for a longer time as it can cause you and your plants different issues. Another thing you can do is that you can fill the saucer or any other type of container around it so that the water will drain itself into the soil. Keep filling the saucer until the water isn’t able to be absorbed by the soil.
Are you are overwatering your plants?
Many of us don’t know why there are drainage holes in the pots. Well, they mainly exist for the excess water to go out and also that the roots need oxygen for them too. Even if there is good drainage of soil make sure you have a better type of soil and often keep them wet.
We’ve already mentioned that overwatering of the plants is indirectly due to the sign that the wilting of leaves takes place. However, this is not the best solution, because it’s not the same for all plants. The best way to find out is by checking your soil.
If you find your soil wet, you need to slow up on the watering. If they are dry, your plants need more amount of water. Also by smelling to see if there are any fungi or bacteria, you can find out lots of moisture, as this causes fungus to grow. It means that overwatering of the plants can cause them to grow for a longer period. And if you find out that your plant has been overwatered then it is okay to get it back to normal. You would have to let your plant dry out a bit for it to get normal.
Rules for watering of your plant
See to it that your soil has its moisture level always maintained.
Don’t water often, but make sure to water your plants thoroughly.
The best time to water your plants is in the morning or evening. Learn why you shouldn’t water your plants at night.
To save your plant from diseases, you have to keep the leaves dry as it won’t attract another sort of disease.
Make sure that the water reaches the roots of your plant.
Allow water to reach the core of the soil so that they grow to better heights.
Make sure you water evenly around the plant as you can’t let the water of the other soil be affected.
Use simple methods like drip irrigation which saves water and at the same time ensures the betterment of the plant. Drip automation kits like the ones at Elitech Drip are definitely the way to go.
See to it that there is no waterlogging. This causes air to suppress the amount of air from the roots.
Use quality ensured and rich type of soil for the water to be able to penetrate easily through the system.
Remember to keep the focus on the roots of the plant as they are an important part of the plant that needs water, so while you are watering make sure you water the roots more not the leaves.
Water only if there is a need for water so that they don’t get overwatered or dried out. For this cause, the best solution is to use automatic timers and irrigation kits.
Use the right amount of tools for the watering of your plant so that they grow on a very good height of the system.
Watering of your plant is an important task, and it is very important that you know how to take care of your plants. Use the steps in this guide to take proper care of your garden and keep it fully nurtured and well taken care of at all times.