Been growing flowers for 20 years and still kill every plant? It's probably your watering method that's wrong

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What's the real secret to watering? The advice changes from day to day, and it feels like I don't even know how to water anymore! Don't worry, Huahua is here to talk about all things watering~

Water when the soil is dry

G A R D E N I N G   E N C Y C L O P E D I A

Some gardening friends are quite attentive and always want to water their plants whenever they see them, thinking they'll grow a lot right after watering

Actually, they're not as thirsty as we imagine. If you water at this point, the plants can't drink it all, and the pot instantly turns into a "pond."

Actually, to tell if a plant is thirsty, just look at the soil. Huahua always says to water when the soil is dry. So how do you tell if the soil is dry?

1. See if the potting soil turns pale

Just look at whether the soil in the pot has turned pale. As shown in the image above, the soil on the left is lighter in color and needs watering; the pot on the right has just been watered.

2. Rub it with your finger

Rub the soil with your finger to see if it's dried out. If the soil crumbles easily and turns to powder, water it right away

3. Stick in a toothpick as a signal

You can stick a toothpick into the soil, making sure to insert it along the edge of the pot so you don't easily prick the roots

A long bamboo skewer works too; just insert it 3-5 cm into the soil

Pull out the stick. If you see that moisture only appears starting 2 cm below the soil surface (the green distance in the image above), it means the potting soil is starting to dry out. If it's more than 2 cm, it's very dry, so water it right away~

When to water

G A R D E N I N G   E N C Y C L O P E D I A

Do you only water when you remember, and just skip it when you don't? Huahua forgets sometimes too. You should know that watering at random times can really kill your plants, and it'd be better not to water at all!

1. Water in the morning (6:00-9:00)

Temperatures are low at night, and after a whole night, the pot temperature is also lower. Watering early in the morning won't affect their metabolism or harm the roots~

After an early morning watering, the plants look so fresh and lively, it really lifts your spirits

2. Can you water at noon?

Noon is the hottest time of the day, and the plants' internal activity is faster. Watering at this time will suddenly cool down the potting soil, which will harm them~

The sun is strong at noon, and your plants may look a bit wilted. Don't rush, wait a bit before watering~

But in winter, noon is actually a great time to water, because the noon temperature in winter is the highest of the day, and the plants' internal circulation starts functioning normally, so it's suitable for watering. Early morning and evening are too cold and not suitable for watering

3. You can water in the evening (18:00-20:00)

After the temperature drops in the evening, feel the temperature of the pot. As long as it's normal, you can water. At this time, don't water thoroughly; just moisten the surface of the pot a little~

What kind of water is best

G A R D E N I N G   E N C Y C L O P E D I A

1. Tap water

I'm sure everyone just waters with tap water directly. Plants aren't that fussy!

But tap water contains chlorine and other elements, and water in different places can be acidic or alkaline. Some of it is not good for plant growth

We can leave tap water out on the balcony for a few days before watering~ That makes it much better

2. Pond and lake water

Relatively clear pond or lake water can be used for watering. It contains some microbial nutrients and is very suitable for watering orchids, Chinese roses, camellias, and some large plants~

If you come across clean water, you can bring some back, let it sit for a day or two, and let the impurities settle before using it~

3. Rainwater

Rainwater can also be used to water plants, but not all of it. In places with severe air pollution, rainwater is very dirty.

If gardening friends live in a good environment, you can collect rainwater to water your plants~

Note that you should still let it sit for 1-2 days to let the impurities settle before using it~

That's all Huahua has to say about watering

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