First and foremost, let it be said I am not a fan of ninety degree plus weather, not even if I’m on vacation. Our plants aren’t fond of it either. There is a reason apple trees don’t grow in south Florida, it’s just too hot and the plants that survive the cold winters we have here, don’t really like extremely hot summers. With our recent heat wave, keeping plants properly watered can be a challenge. 

Plants in the ground like your trees and shrubs that have been in the ground for years are easy, but freshly planted things, like your garden or new flowerbed can be a bit more temperamental. Likewise, plants in containers can be downright difficult unless you know what to look for. I had a customer come in this week that said even though her hanging baskets are thoroughly watered, they are still drooping during the day. I let her know that drooping during the heat of the day is normal in plants even if they have enough water. 

Drooping is a natural defense mechanism that plants have to combat the heat. They droop and curl their leaves a little to help prevent dehydration by evaporation and to catch less sunlight. I have young peach trees in my garden that were even drooping this week and peaches are used to warmer climates. Ninety degree plus weather is the reason. If you look at your plants that were drooping during the day, they should bounce back to regular form in the evening when the weather cools down if you have them watered properly. 

I have a timer set up to a sprinkler in my garden that waters my garden in the morning, every other day. This gives my veggies plenty of water and by skipping a day allows the soil to dry out a little between waterings. 

It is better to water in the morning for several reasons. Watering early allows plants to absorb moisture before the heat of the day sets in. There is less evaporation early in the day, so you can use less water. Watering early allows your plants to dry by evening so there is less chance of fungus and slugs. Plants going to bed wet invites fungus, which is generally waterborne, to spread more quickly and it gives slugs a nice moist surface to slide on. 

For plants in containers and hanging baskets, you have to make sure you don’t overwater them as well as underwater. In the ground excess water runs off, but containers usually have a built in tray or water basin that will keep some water against the soil for when your plants need it. But, don’t just water them every time you see them drooping, feel the soil, otherwise you will end up overwatering which can lead to root rot. Think of it like baking a cake, you use a toothpick to see if the cake is done by sticking it in to see if it comes out clean. With containers, stick your finger in the soil and if it comes out dry, water it, if you have soil stuck to your finger the soil is wet enough. If root rot starts from overwatering, you can lose a plant quickly as the roots they need to survive keep dying off on a daily basis.

If you think you overwatered a plant or two to the point of root rot, bring them into a shady covered area where the soil can dry out thoroughly between waterings and only water in awhile. It may take a couple of weeks for all the roots to regrow before you can put your plant back into the sun again. Knowing when to water and when not to water will save you much heartache this summer because it could be a hot one this year.