Peopleare very busy these days. As they have a lot to do and many things totake care of during the day – their jobs, their family and friends,their businesses – and this does not let them have much free time forthemselves. If you are one of these people, then chances are thatbecause of this your gardening time may be limited to the evening andnight-time hours.
Oneof the most important chores of gardening that you have to do iswatering the plants. It may be different for some plants as theymight require daily irrigation for the best growth, this means thatthey cannot be watered at just about any convenient time. They haveto be watered every now and then, sometimes even at particular times.Nevertheless, it becomes a difficult task if the only time you’refree is during the night. Butdoes watering your plants at night actually create more problems forthem than good? Inthis article of ElitechDrip,we are going to debunk this theory once and for all.
Eventhough there seems to be less evaporation at night, watering yourgarden at night could just bring serious harm to the plants that youare trying so hard to nurture. It is just not the best option foryour plants, leaves or their overall health. After soaked for thewhole night, leaves surely can stay wet for a pretty long time thanwe expect them to since they have no sun to dry them off. Because ofthis, the problem created is that the damp leaves become extravulnerable to the development of fungus. You should try to avoid thisbad habit of watering your garden this late, especially if you livein a climate with such humid nights. Wet leaves and moist weather arethe perfect conditions for fungus.
Contents
Wet Foliage
Foliage refers to either a collective canopy of leaves made up of many plants or an individual plant or tree grouping of leaves. A plant grows the majority of foliage during its vegetative state. So if you water your plants with a watering can or even a sprinkler system, it may cause the foliage, flowers, and fruits to become wet. This increases the chance of infection and rotting.
Our Automatic drip irrigation system is a better choice even if you have to water at night. That’s because only the soil becomes wet and the foilage can remain dry.
Atthe time of day even if there is a lot of moisture it can be absorbedby the sun but during the night time, watering allows the water thatis sprinkled to stay for an extended period as there is no sun toabsorb the moisture. This will surely result in fungi and bacteria.To these organisms, this is a perfect haven for replication andinvasion on the plant’s surface.
Ifyou have any plants that are already suffering from other ailments,such as damaged items or anything else, these pathogens may gain astrong foothold in your garden and may lead to a significant diseasesuch as dieback (acondition where plants begin dying from the leaf tips all the wayback to the roots). As the plant is already weak, this may not be theresult of foliage or watering plants at night. But it may be theresult of some other things like insects or any other kinds ofdiseases not in particular which will just boost up in speed becauseof these pathogens brought upon by the fungus.
Plant Activity
Similarto the respiration system of the human, plants exchange some gasesand moisture by surrounding the air using transpiration – tiny holescalled stomata open and close to release the water vapor. Mosttranspiration activity somehow occurs during the day when the sun isshining brightly upon those plants.
Anymoisture stagnating due to water on the plants, at night, cannot beexpelled by the stomata. As a result of the moisture that remains onthe plant for the pathogen infiltration, which in return causesrotting and also does a lot of damage injuries to the foliage as wellas the flowers. An evening with calm winds can also result orcontribute to pathogen reproduction. This is because the windy nightshelp the plants to evaporate the standing water or even knock off themoisture to the ground.
Waterlogging
Ifthere is a lack of ideal friable texture in your soil, then wateringat night surely contributes to waterlogging. If you are wonderingwhat waterlogging means, then it is the saturation of soil withwater. Soil may be regarded as waterlogged when it is near to beingsaturated with water much of the time such that its air phase isrestricted and anaerobic conditions prevail.
Ingardening, various plants need air especially oxygen to providegreater or lesser depth in the soil. So loose soil typically providesspace for water to penetrate through the ground uniformly. But thereis a case in which the compacted soil prevents water from slowlymoving into the topsoil. This will result in water which will remainthe rest of it just keeps standing on the soil surface. Because thereis no sun to evaporate the puddle, your plant’s roots becomesuffocated as they get a supply of reduced air and also moisture.
Thepathogen may also harm your plants’ stems and crowns or there is apossibility of the plant to even rot if the water concentrates aroundeach plant’s base. This is far worse for the plant than wet foliageor waterlogging as the plant doesn’t even receive water in a properway. The one thing most crucial for the plants’ survival could alsodestroy them.
Frozen Water
Thereare different seasons in a year, it’s not like the whole year has thesame season or weather. Climate changes every once in a while and themost dangerous climate of all, for your plants, is winter. Wintercould bring ruin upon your gardens unless you have planted winterflowers (we have compiled a list of the best winter flowers you canplant, righthere).
Wateringat night is harmful as we have mentioned before but during winter,the damage is doubled. Even if it is possible to create an artificialfrost across yourgarden with nighttime watering. For example, standing water onfoliage does not have a chance to evaporate in the evening. Astemperatures drop, the water will freeze over the garden and willharm the plants that are frost tender.
Duringthe colder months, you have to water your plants in the morning as itis a very critical thing to do, or during early afternoon when thereis at least a little bit of warmth to ensure that the moisture movesinto the soil efficiently before the night arrives.
So What Can You Do?
Althoughthe idea has been around for years, most plants don’t need extracare by watering them at night. There are a few exceptions but 99% ofyour plants, indoors as well as outdoors, should be watered duringthe day.
Ifyou are worried that the leaves will burn in the afternoon sun, thenmake sure to water only the roots instead of casting a wide sprayacross the plants. Nighttime watering also promotes diseases and noone wants to deal with that now, do they? Try water during the earlymornings or early evenings for the most absorption. The moist getswell absorbed during this time of the day because there is lightprovided by the sun and not too much at that particular time todestroy or even cause harm to the plants and at night this just seemsimpossible.
It is true that you cannot give full attention to your garden without having to be distracted from work, but a minimum amount of effort and discipline is absolutely necessary when it comes to gardening, and you can truly find the time once you commit to it. You now know what would happen if plants are watered at night. Use your best judgment and better gardening practices to make sure your beloved garden doesn’t fall prey to harmful diseases.
You should also consider Drip Irrigation System for watering your plants at the right time, Automatically. You can wake up late, or come back from office late, be assured that your plants will be watered automatically.
More Tips for Watering your Plants
Watch this video of Elitech Drip Irrigation Kit:
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I'm an avid horticulturist with a wealth of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the complexities involved in plant care. I've spent years cultivating a diverse range of plants, from flowers to vegetables, and have encountered various challenges that come with different climates and gardening conditions. My expertise extends to irrigation systems, soil health, and plant biology.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article about watering plants at night:
Wet Foliage: The article rightly emphasizes the importance of avoiding wet foliage during watering. Wet foliage, which includes leaves, flowers, and fruits, increases the risk of infection and rotting. The presence of moisture on the plant surface, especially during the night, provides an ideal environment for the development of fungi. This can lead to serious plant diseases, such as dieback.
Plant Activity: The article touches upon the plant's respiratory system and transpiration. Plants exchange gases and moisture through tiny openings called stomata, which open and close to release water vapor. Moisture on plants during the night cannot be expelled through transpiration, leading to the stagnation of moisture. This creates favorable conditions for pathogen infiltration, causing rotting and damage to foliage and flowers.
Waterlogging: Watering at night can contribute to waterlogging, particularly in soils lacking ideal texture. Waterlogging occurs when the soil is saturated with water, limiting the air phase and creating anaerobic conditions. Compacted soil prevents water from penetrating, leading to standing water on the soil surface. This can suffocate plant roots, reduce air supply, and contribute to the development of pathogens that harm the plant.
Frozen Water: The article highlights the impact of winter on plants and the potential harm caused by watering at night during this season. Standing water on foliage may freeze, leading to damage for frost-tender plants. It emphasizes the importance of watering in the morning or early afternoon during colder months to ensure efficient moisture absorption into the soil before temperatures drop.
Best Practices: The article concludes by offering practical advice. It recommends watering during the day to allow for proper absorption and to avoid the harmful consequences of nighttime watering. Additionally, it suggests focusing on watering the roots rather than casting a wide spray across the plants. The use of a drip irrigation system, particularly during the early mornings or early evenings, is promoted as a convenient and effective way to ensure plants receive the right amount of water at the right time.
In summary, the article provides valuable insights into the potential risks associated with watering plants at night and emphasizes the importance of adopting best practices for successful and healthy gardening.
