The Best Time to Water Your Plants and Keep Them Healthy

Do you water your plants only when you happen to remember? It turns out that timing matters, and for good reason. For most garden and balcony plants, the early morning hours are generally the best time to water.

In the morning, temperatures are still relatively cool and the sun is not as intense as it is at midday. As a result, less water is lost to evaporation, allowing more of it to soak into the soil and reach the roots.

The plant also begins the day in better condition when water is readily available in the soil before the hotter hours arrive, when it may need that moisture most.

Further, if the leaves get wet while watering, they have plenty of time to dry during the day. Leaves that remain wet for long periods, particularly overnight, can create favorable conditions for fungal diseases in certain plants. For this reason, whenever possible, it is best to direct the water toward the soil rather than the leaves.

What If You Miss the Morning?

If a plant looks wilted and urgently needs water in the middle of the day, don't wait until morning. A thirsty plant should be watered even if the timing isn't ideal.

You can also water in the late afternoon or early evening, once the heat has subsided. In this case, it is especially helpful to water the soil directly and avoid unnecessarily wetting the leaves.

Watering before bedtime is not necessarily a problem either. However, if the foliage remains wet throughout the night, it may increase the risk of disease in plants that are particularly susceptible.

There Are Exceptions

Although this advice applies to many plants, there are exceptions. Cacti and succulents, for example, generally need their growing medium to dry thoroughly between waterings. For them, how often you water may be more important than the exact time of day.

Indoor plants are also usually less exposed to intense heat and evaporation than garden plants, so the time of watering tends to matter less. Small pots, newly planted seedlings, and plants exposed to exceptionally hot weather may dry out quickly and sometimes require additional watering.

Whatever the plant, it is worth checking the soil before reaching for the watering can. Push your finger a few centimeters into the soil. If it still feels moist, the plant may not need water at all.

There is no need to set an alarm just to water your plants. But if you are already awake in the morning, it may be the perfect time to grab the watering can in one hand and your coffee in the other.