How to water flowers in summer? Mastering the correct method is key
In summer, most potted flowers grow rapidly, and the water in the potting soil evaporates quickly. If watering is even slightly inappropriate, the growth of the flowers will be affected. Therefore, mastering the timing and amount of watering is crucial.
Watering time. It is suitable to water before sunrise in the morning or after sunrise before the plant body has been heated by the sun. If watering in the afternoon, it should be done after sunset or 1 hour after the plant is no longer in direct sunlight. In practice, you can give overly dry potted plants a little water in the early morning, then water heavily after 3 p.m. In particular, be careful not to water during the hot midday, because under the blazing sun the soil temperature is high and evaporation is great, and the roots must work normally to supply the plant with sufficient water. If cold water is suddenly used to water flowers, the temperature of the root system and soil drops, root activity weakens, and water absorption slows down. As a result, supply falls short of demand, and a phenomenon of "physiological drought" occurs, with the upper leaves wilting or scorching. So if watering is necessary in hot weather, first put the water into a pool or a water vat so that the water temperature does not become too low, and then use it for watering.
The amount of water. Generally, follow the principle of "water when dry, stop when wet," that is, do not water if not dry, and water thoroughly when you do. However, the amount of water for watering flowers also varies according to the species, habits, growth stage of the flowers, and the different soils. For flowers native to humid regions, such as broadleaf lady palm, gardenia, palms, and rhododendrons, you can water somewhat more; while for cacti, sedums, and some flowers with fleshy roots, water less. Herbaceous flowers need more water than woody flowers. For flowers in dormancy or semi-dormancy, such as cyclamen, fuchsia, pelargonium, wax begonia, and calla lily, water less or stop watering, keeping the potting soil only slightly moist; for ornamental fruit flowers, such as pomegranate and sweet box, do not water too much when they are flowering or fruiting, otherwise they easily drop flowers and fruit.
In addition, summer is hot and rainy. If some potted flowers and trees encounter heavy rain, it is best to water them once with cool water after the weather clears. This can regulate the temperature of the surface soil and the air and reduce the adverse effects of damp heat on the flowers; if flowers wilt due to extreme water shortage, place them in a cool, moist place, first water a small amount, then gradually increase the amount of water so they slowly recover. Never water heavily, otherwise it will cause severe leaf drop and flower drop, and may even cause death.