Watering Plants

Good watering is an essential gardening skill. It’s important to use the right amount of water, at the right time, for most benefit to your plants. This is good organic gardening – using this precious resource wisely when plants need it most. A few tips make your time spent watering really count.

When plants need most water

Seeds

Need water to trigger germination by soaking into the seed coat. Tip:Keep compost in pots and trays moist. Water seeds in the soil at sowing and again in dry weather.

Seedlings

Will quickly stop growing without moist compost or soil.  Tip:Water especially after thinning and potting on.

Young plants in pots

Keep compost moist. May need daily watering in hot weather and when in a greenhouse or on a windowsill.

Tip:Big plants in small pots dry out more quickly. ‘Re-potting’ into a larger pot helps.

Young transplants

Easily dry out when first transplanted outdoors or into containers, reducing growth and ability to ‘establish’ quickly.Tip: Water well before transplanting and thoroughly in dry weather, eg every 2-4 days.

Bigger plants in containers

Rely on you to keep the compost moist as the roots cannot spread into the soil.  Tip:Smaller volumes of soil dry out more quickly. Use larger containers (eg half barrels) and a mix of topsoil with compost when potting for drainage and moisture retention.

How to water plants in the soil

Watering with large amounts, less often, is better for plants growing in the soil. This encourages plants to search for water deep into the soil, making them tougher and more independent. By contrast, watering little and often is not good practice (eg daily). This encourages shallow roots and vulnerable plants that need more water from you in dry weather. Remember that a wet soil surface can hide a dry soil beneath!