Because of this, damp leaves become extra vulnerable to fungal development. For example, standing water on foliage does not have a chance to evaporate in the evening. damp leaves become extra vulnerable to fungal development. Watering at night is especially harmful if it is during the winter. If your soil lacks an ideal friable texture, watering at night contributes to waterlogging. An alternative is to lay the hoses directly on the ground near the plant so the water goes where it is needed. Discover just how much water to give your trees each week. Because of this, damp leaves become extra vulnerable to fungal development. Most transpiration activity, however, occurs during the day when the sun is shining. But compacted soil prevents water from moving slowly into the topsoil. What may not be on the list is watering your trees. In the United States, they only grow on the Hawaiian islands, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Water in the morning. A board or rock placed under the water flow will prevent the water from eroding the soil. ©2020 The Davey Tree Expert Company. As a result, water remains standing on the soil surface. 1. Wondering how much water your trees need in the morning? Watering at night encourages dampness, which is a prerequisite for fungal attack. If you have any plants that are suffering from other ailments, like damaged stems, these pathogens may gain a stronger foothold in your garden and cause significant dieback. Maintaining a healthy balance when irrigating your garden is essential to thriving plants. Wet leaves and moist weather are perfect conditions for fungus. Before watering plants, check to see if your plant really needs it. Spending time among the trees even reduces stress levels. Changes in light, food and watering techniques always carry the risk of having an adverse effect on a plant. A good way to direct the water to the plants is to dig a little trench around the plants and allow water to flow into it. So, there you have it! The best way to water most plants is by applying enough to moisten the plant's entire root system, and then letting the soil dry out slightly before watering … Do not water your garden at night. Luckily yes there are. As a result, moisture remains on the plant for pathogen infiltration, causing rot and other damaging injuries to the foliage and flowers. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Trees and plants think so, too. Spending time among the trees even reduces stress levels. Here’s why. As long as you water early in the day, the water you give your plants can actually be protective against nighttime freezes. During the colder months, it is critical to water your plants in the morning or early afternoon to ensure that the moisture moves into the soil efficiently before the night arrives. View our. Evenings with calm winds also contribute to pathogen reproduction -- windy nights help the plants evaporate the standing water or knock the moisture to the ground. Water early in the day, so the plants have time to absorb it before the temperature drops at night. Some homeowners water their lawns based on a common misconception: that our hot summer days make daytime watering useless. Sign Up for Free Tree & Landscaping Tips! View our Privacy Policy for more information. Drinking water at night is not bad for our health at all. They thrive on a morning soak because: Watering at night is not the best for your plants’ leaves or overall health. All Rights Reserved. Water has a chance to soak into tree roots instead of being evaporated by the heat. In fact drinking water before night have some many advantages. Because there is no sun to evaporate the puddle, your plants' roots become suffocated from reduced air and moisture. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies. Plants are finicky. Avoid watering disease-susceptible plants at night. As temperatures drop, the water frosts over and may harm plants that are frost-tender. Watering plants early will ensure that they have sufficient store of moisture beneath the soil to withstand the heat of a hot summer day. If it feels dry at your fingertip, your plants need water. Let’s talk about why and the reasons you should avoid watering at night. With an electronics degree and more than 10 years of experience, she applies her love of gadgets to the gardening world as she continues her education through college classes and gardening activities. There are a few exceptions, but 99% of your plants, indoors and out should only be watered during the day. Too much, and the soil is soggy and the plants grow week, too little and they can die or produce poor crops. Loose soil typically provides spaces for water to penetrate the ground in a uniform manner. Watering Plants At Night Isn’t Needed: Although the idea has been around for years, most plants don’t need extra care by watering them at night. Similar to human respiration, plants exchange gases and moisture with the surrounding air using transpiration -- tiny holes, called stomata, open and close to release water vapor. In the current hot breezy weather it is probably best to water in the early evening. However, some plants can uptake carbon dioxide during the night as well because of their ability to perform a type of photosynthesis called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). If water evaporates before it gets to the roots, you would only assume you should change to night watering. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to water temperature when watering your plants. Writing professionally since 2010, Amy Rodriguez cultivates successful cacti, succulents, bulbs, carnivorous plants and orchids at home. Queen of the Night are tropical plants native to Cuba and Jamaica. The top of the soil can look and feel dry, even though it is quite moist just below the soil line. Your plants' stem and crown may also be harmed from pathogens or rot if the water concentrates around each plant base. If you absolutely can’t water in the morning, the next best time is late afternoon, right before dusk. After a night time soak, leaves can stay wet for a pretty long time since they don’t have the day’s sun to dry them off. Evening watering provides an average of 8 hours of darkness when the plants have sufficient time to absorb moisture from the soil. Plan on watering your trees in the morning, particularly on hot, summer days. Some plants cannot tolerate chlorinated tap water, while other plants have a difficult time with soft water. Answered July 22, 2019 No. Im guessing you are talking about outside potted plants ? Instead, water during the day, when the evaporation and transpiration rates are at their best. In cooler climates, they must be grown indoors. When you water cooled soil in the evening or night then less water evaporates than as on hot soil during the day. Isn’t it so satisfying to gulp down a tall glass of water first thing in the morning? There are certain species of plant (for example the snake plant) which do produce oxygen at night, and are actually considered to help promote sleep because of this, so you can still get your bedroom plant fix without feeling paranoid your plant will one day kill you. The truth is: watering at night is a bad idea. During the day, the sun readily evaporates this moisture, but nighttime watering allows the water to stay on the plant for an extended amount of time. But plants don’t transpire at night, and the roots carry on sucking up water. Here are 10 steps to ensure you water your garden just right without any wastage. An easy test: Stick your finger into the soil all the way to the second knuckle. Try to avoid watering late, especially if you live in a climate with humid nights. The key to watering at night is watering late enough to where the water won’t evaporate, but early enough to where your plants have time to dry to avoid disease. It supplies them with a stash of water to get through the day’s heat. You know, because it’s tiny molecules of water vapour. Watering plants and near freezing temperatures send many gardeners into fits, worrying that the newly wet soil will freeze and injure roots. Morning (Not Night) is the Best Time to Water Plants in Summer. Any watering moisture on the plants at night cannot be expelled by the stomata. If water sits on plant foliage for hours, it can encourage fungal diseases to attack leaves, buds, flowers, and fruit. Water when the air temperature is above 40° F, and don’t water if there’s snow or ice on the ground. By watering your plants at night. This is detrimental to your plants because it leads to mold and fungal growth around the roots and on the stems and leaves. After a night time soak, leaves can stay wet for a pretty long time since they don’t have the day’s sun to dry them off. How peaceful is it to stand under your towering trees, listen to the falling water and see the morning sun shine? One of the most important and frequent garden chores is watering the plants -- some species require daily irrigation for the best growth. Subscribe to the "The Sapling" on the Davey Blog for the latest tips to keep your outdoor space in tip-top shape throughout the year. When you water, the foliage of your plants will get wet. Davey uses cookies to make your experience a great one by providing us analytics so we can offer you the most relevant content. Why It Is Bad to Water Plants at Night. Lastly, pay attention to water quality. Making the bed, walking the dog, packing a lunch—one of these things is probably part of your morning routine. The amount of water a plant needs depends on a number of factors, including the type of plant, its stage of growth, type of soil, weather and time of year. Watering your plants from above, with a watering can or sprinkler system, causes the foliage, flowers and fruit to become wet. It leaves time to dry before nightfall, which helps prevent fungal diseases. This is the perfect scenario for a fungus to form on your plants. Apply water in the cool of the morning or evening when the wind is calm and water loss through evaporation is minimal. Will It Kill Plants to Water Them Before a Freezing Night? While at night, the plants uptake oxygen and release carbon dioxide, which is called respiration. Those that believe cannabis plants should be watered at night argue that in a natural environment, precipitation does not fall when the sun is shining, due to cloud cover. I am not a specialist doctor, but i am always trying to give my best to all my friends. The soil may become water-logged instead of draining properly with help from the sun. This is a problem if night falls and your plants have wet leaves. Many also state that if water droplets resting on the leaves are exposed to heat and bright light, they may act as “magnifying glasses” and burn the leaves. It is true that watering when the sun is out can cause scorching; on the other hand, although evening watering reduces evaporation, it leaves plants and the surrounding soil wet, or at least damp, at nightfall; besides providing fertile ground for diseases, this attracts more pests, particularly *slugs. DON’T water too frequently or too little. Morning is the best time to water. The Best Way to Irrigate a Vegetable Garden, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development: House Plants: Watering, Washington State University Extension: Watering Home Gardens and Landscape Plants. And the plants can sufficiently supply themselves with water before the next day’s heat. When you water at night, the water sits on the leaves and stems of the plants instead of evaporating. Although there is less evaporation at night, watering your garden at night may cause serious harm to your plants. If you have a busy daytime schedule, your gardening time may be limited to the evening and nighttime hours. The tree study didn't address why the branches and leaves drooped at night, but it's likely related to the turgidity, or the internal water pressure within the tree, the researchers said. One thing to be careful of if you water in the late afternoon is to make sure that the leaves have a little time to dry before night comes. If that's the case, watering at night will avoid spilling water on the leaves and potential marks on leaves caused by sun shining through the watcer drops and magnifying/burning spots. Davey uses cookies to make your experience a great one by providing us analytics so we can offer you the most relevant content. Here’s why. Don’t wet the foliage. It is possible to create an artificial frost across your garden with nighttime watering. Understandably, with the roots taking up water and the leaves not expelling any, pressure builds. Tree Service Experts Since 1880. Watering at night is not the best for your plants’ leaves or overall health. Watering plants and trees in the morning is best for your plants–and good for your mental well-being. As a result, fungi and bacteria have a perfect haven for replication and invasion on the plant's surfaces. They are also found in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. This is because damp leaves at night encourage fungus problems, such as powdery mildew or sooty mold, which can harm your vegetable plants. This answer and more after the jump! One of the most important and frequent garden chores is watering the plants -- some species require daily irrigation for the best growth. Water has a chance to soak into tree roots. 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