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Article: The most difficult job I have is to get someone to water correctly. Applicants come and tell me they have no experience but of course they could water. Sounds likely but not if you know much about plants. Watering is not just dragging a hose around and watering things that look dry. In fact, a plant's soil may look dry and it has plenty of water. The watering person must know the most about plants, what they need for fertilizer, what they need for moisture, what diseases look like, how to recognize pests and how they should look at every growing stage. Watering in or out of a greenhouse should be done so that the water runs through the container and pulls in air. This also leaves the nutrients in the water at the root level. No plant should get water or nutrients from the top of the soil. Those roots should go down to the bottom and not have to redirect themselves upwards to survive. I am always saying," if it really needs water, water it thoroughly and then let it dry out". Salvia Strata Watering should be done in the morning before 9 a.m. The plant then has enough water to use when the sun is high and temperatures climb. . Don't water between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Any droplets left on the leaves will turn into magnifiers and burn your leaves. This rule applies to inside a greenhouse and outdoors. If a plant will die because it has totally fainted(wilted) during this time, place your watering tool onto the soil keeping the leaves dry. I do a recheck of all the houses at 2 p.m. The only plants to get a second drink are those that have started to faint. Plants are healthiest when their soil top is dry, and not continuously wet. I want my plants to go to bed for the night dry. Another way to see if a plant has plenty of water is to pick up the pot. The soil line may be dry but if the pot is heavy, it has plenty of water. For efficiency and health, keep those plants getting their drink in the morning,or you will be hopscotching around morning and afternoon. It is so much easier if all of them want water at a certain time When we get a very hot spell, sure you are going to water twice a day. There is always some well meaning soul coming to tell me that the dirt is dry on top of one of my plants. They are so surprised when I ask if the plant is fainting or does the pot feel heavy. After 3 p.m. nothing should be watered, even if the pot does not feel heavy. Why? Because plants do not drink and eat in the evening. Remember this principle on cloudy or rainy days. Dahlia Opera Mix As funds become available, we are changing all our systems to be bottom watering. There are trays for this, most inexpensive, and special ebb and flow benches(best way, most expensive). Our water and nutrients will then only go into a plants roots, keeping the soil line dry eliminating most of the disease and insects problems. In a greenhouse, the growing conditions are a little different that from outside. First, a greenhouse has a ceiling, so Cleome Rosenormal evaporation does not happen. Fans or doors are opened to remove the overly wet air. More plants die in a greenhouse due to over-watering than anything else. My rules of watering though do apply to outside plants as well. Many times you will have to water a second time outside due to wind. Another hint, if a plant has dried up where it has totally fainted, it takes two waterings to revive it. The first water will give the soil back its sponge ability. The second watering should be 15 minutes or more later and that water will get to the plant. I want to point out one more thing. Many plants do not like to have their leaves wet. Yes I know outside with Mother Nature they have to put up with it but outside you have normal evaporation. Inside, plants like Tuberous Begonias have a real hard time with getting their leaves wet and any sun burns them if there is moisture on them. A hint for you. If you are killing Tuberous Begonias, take away the water. They are really like a succulent and do not need much water at all. Fibrous Begonias also fall into the need little water category as well. Until next time, Go and Grow!
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