Mastering the Art of Garden Watering: Techniques for Thriving Plants

Ever found yourself puzzling over why your diligently watered plants are still wilting? Or perhaps you've spotted those mysterious white marks on your pots after watering and wondered what sorcery this could be. Worry no more! Our latest podcast episode is a treasure trove of wisdom that will transform your garden watering woes into a wellspring of horticultural success. We'll navigate the delicate balance between too much and too little hydration, and reveal how you can read the subtle language of soil moisture like a seasoned pro. It's not just about quenching your plants' thirst – it’s about mastering the intricate dance of moisture, timing, and technique.

As the sun peeks over the horizon, do you know why this is the golden hour for watering your green companions? Join us as we explain why the early bird doesn't just catch the worm but also promotes the healthiest garden. We touch on topics from encouraging deep root systems that scoff at drought to the critical importance of mulch in your moisture-management strategy. For the tenderhearted gardener nurturing young seedlings, we share special tips to ensure these delicate beginnings flourish into robust plants. This episode isn't just a conversation; it's an invitation to grow alongside your garden, fostering resilience, beauty, and abundance in every leaf and petal.

'How I Grow' is produced by The Seed Collection Pty Ltd.
Find out more about us here: www.theseedcollection.com.au

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
You're listening to how I Grow with the Seed
Collection, and today we'regoing to talk about watering
your garden.
So how often should you wateryour garden?
There is no set time frame onhow often you should do this.
In fact, it's usually a mistaketo think that the garden must

(00:24):
be watered at a predefinedinterval.
Overwatering can do just asmuch harm as underwatering.
The best way to judge when yourgarden needs watering is to
simply look at your soil.
While there are exceptions,most herbs, vegetables and
flowers like moist soil.
Simply check your soil and seeif it is moist.
Below the surface, around 5cmdeep Soil will often form a dry

(00:49):
crust.
So scratch back the crust andcheck if your soil is moist
underneath.
If it's moist, you probablydon't need to water just yet.
If it's almost or completelydry, it's time to water.
Weather also plays a huge partin determining how often you
need to water your garden, sopay attention to rainfall and
temperatures at the same time asstudying your soil.

(01:12):
You'll quickly learn how topredict when your garden needs
watering without even checkingthe soil.
What time of day should I watermy garden?
The best time of day to wateryour garden is in the early
morning.
The water will soak deep intothe ground, reaching the deepest
roots, with little evaporation.
Plants are more receptive towatering in the morning and will

(01:33):
absorb more water, preparingthem for the heat of the day.
It's best to avoid wateringyour plants in the middle of the
day.
The sun is too strong and whencombined with the water, it can
burn the leaves and stems.
Water will also evaporate tooquickly without soaking into the
soil.
If watering in the morningisn't convenient, then opt for
late afternoon.
Make sure the sun is well pastits hottest to avoid burning

(01:56):
your plants.
You should also avoid wateringat night time.
The water will be slow toevaporate and wet stems and
leaves can lead to problems withfungus and disease.
Here are some watering tipsWater the roots, not the leaves.
Plants absorb moisture throughtheir roots, not their leaves,

(02:16):
so always water around the baseof the plant.
Watering over the plant in itsleaves can cause problems with
fungus and disease.
And water deeply when possible.
Water your plants long anddeeply to ensure that water
penetrates deep into the soil.
This will encourage deep rootgrowth, which will provide your
plants with access to more waterand make them resilient to hot

(02:38):
weather and drought.
If you water too shallowly,roots will grow along the
surface instead of growingdownwards, and they're more
susceptible to drying out.
But try not to overwater.
Monitor your soil and onlywater when necessary.
A few indicators ofoverwatering are things like
browning leaves, rotting stemsand limp foliage.

(03:00):
Moultching around your plantswill help retain moisture and
reduce surface runoff.
This means the watering thatyou do will be far more
effective.
Ensure the soil around youngseedlings is kept moist.
Young seedlings have veryshallow roots and will need
watering frequently untilthey're established.

(03:23):
Next I'm going to go over someof our most commonly asked
questions.
I've watered my plants a lot,but they're still wilting.
Why?
This is a great questionbecause confusingly wilting
leaves can be a sign that plantsneed water, but it can also be
a sign of overwatering and rootrot.
If a plant's roots aresaturated all the time, they may

(03:44):
rot, which means that theycan't absorb moisture, no matter
how much or how often you water.
Other signs of root rot includeslow growth and yellowing
leaves.
If you suspect that your plantis suffering from this, gently
dig around its stem.
If there's a bad odour, mushy,wet soil, slimy roots or hardly
any roots at all, you cansuspect root rot.

(04:06):
For some plants, root rot willbe fatal, but for others, if you
hold off watering for a littlewhile and let the soil dry out a
bit, there's a chance they mayrecover.
Another question that we'veheard is I see white marks or
rings on the soil or pots afterI've watered.
What's going on?
White marks on pots and sourcesor on the surface of the soil

(04:29):
are usually caused by residuesof salts that are left over
after fertilising.
They should gradually dissolveand be washed deeper into the
soil or, in the case of pots,drain away completely when the
plants are watered.
If you have any questions onthis topic or any other, please
reach out by visitingwwwtheseedcollectioncomau

(04:52):
forward slash podcast.
We'd love to hear from you, soplease don't be shy.
That address again iswwwtheseedcollectioncomau
forward slash podcast.
You've been listening to how IGrow, produced by the Seed
Collection in Melbourne,australia.
It is our aim to make gardeningmore accessible to more people,

(05:15):
and this podcast is one of theways in which we're doing that.
If you don't know who we are,jump online and Google the Seed
Collection.
You'll find a treasure trove ofgardening info, as well as a
huge range of seeds andgardening supplies.
Thanks for listening.