Have you ever wondered what would happen if you watered your plants at night? It seems like a good time to do it. The sun doesn’t shine, and the temperature is usually cool, so the water doesn’t evaporate as quickly, right? Not so much. In an exclusive interview with Hunker, Manjot Sidhu DrAn ornamental horticulture specialist at the University of Maine Extension, explains why watering at night is not a good idea.
“It is generally not advisable to water plants at night because it wets the foliage and soil and creates a favorable environment for the development of fungal and bacterial diseases such as mildew, blights or spots. At night there is not enough sunlight or air movement to evaporate the water. In addition, wet and cold soil can deplete oxygen (causing root conditions such as rhopoxia.),” explains Sidhu.
While this advice mainly concerns outdoor plants, Sidhu points out that even in more controlled environments, indoor plants should not be watered at night either. “Watering at night saturates the soil, causing anaerobic conditions that can cause root rot,” she explains. However, it is also important to monitor your houseplants to see if the topsoil is dry. If this is the case, watering at night can prevent your indoor plants from dying or Development of yellow leaves from underwater. Still, Sidhu explains that you ideally want to water all your plants early in the day.
How and when to water your plants for optimal health
In her exclusive interview with Hunkar, University of Maine Extension horticulturist Dr. Manjot Sidhu says that Ideal time of day to water your lawn And the plant is in the morning. “Release the water before 9 a.m., when the ambient temperature is between 60-80 (degrees Fahrenheit),” says Sidhu. “Watering in the morning allows water to settle and soak into the soil and more evaporates as temperatures rise during the day.”
Watering in the middle of the day is not ideal as the water will evaporate too quickly. However, Sidhu notes that if the plants look dry, you should definitely give them extra water. She also mentions that “newly planted plants, shallow-rooted plants, annual bedding plants, moisture-loving ornamentals and plants in sandy soils may need frequent irrigation, while mature plants, succulents, perennials, roots and plants in heavy soils may need less water.”
As for practices homeowners can implement to ensure their water doesn’t encourage pests and diseases, Sidhu says basic tactics like proper plant spacing, not watering foliage and using drip irrigation for deep watering will work well. She also recommends Choosing organic mulch And layer your garden soil 2 to 3 inches thick to ensure it retains moisture.
