When looking for a healthy garden, full of flowers and fruits, it is necessary to provide the right care for the plants. To ensure this, the type of soil, the use of manure and fertilizers, the climatic conditions and the methods of irrigation are essential.
For this reason, in this article we will share various ways of watering that you can use in pots. Both excess and lack of water cause irreparable damage to plants or limit their growth.
While it may seem like a minor issue or one that doesn’t require much technique, the irrigation methods that are used must be chosen with the same commitment with which we choose fertilizationpruning or weeding.
1. Irrigation by immersion
This is a technique where the pot is immersed in water so that the plant absorbs the liquid through its roots. It is a type of irrigation that works very well for orchids and plants of the epiphyte family.
Likewise, it’s ideal for plants that can’t handle constant moisture on their leaves and stems. Like those with fine stems or velvety leaves.
Do immersion irrigation the vase should be immersed in a larger container filled with water. Then, the plant should be left there for about 15 minutes.
However, the time may vary depending on the type of plant and its specific needs. Works well with small to medium sized pots that can be lifted easily.
2. Watering with glass or watering can
This form of watering is the most common and simplest of all. You can do this with a watering can, glass or any container at your disposal.
Even so, it also has its trick, as it is quite normal to water your plants excessively or incorrectly. You must pour the water from above, without too much height so as not to damage the leaves.
As for these, if your water contains a high chlorine content or limescale, it can ruin them. So it is better to use rain water. If not, you should avoid touching the leaves, especially if there is intense sun at that time of day.
However, there are some plants of tropical origin that need water on the leaves, as they have high humidity requirements. In this case, it is convenient to use a sprayer. Watering with a watering can is one of the techniques by which you will avoid fungi in your flowers.
3. Dish watering
This is a similar irrigation method to immersion irrigation. However, the amount of water the plant receives is less.
This technique consists of placing the pot on top of a plate of water until the plant absorbs the liquid. The pot must have holes in the bottom.
It is an ideal technique for summer and is recommended for plants such as azaleas, aphelandra, begonias or African violet. In fact it is ideal for almost all plants that have delicate flowers and tend to rot.
4. Drip irrigation
This is one of the most efficient irrigation methods if you want to save water and maintain a constant humidity level for those plants coming from tropical and humid environments. It is very effective when you have balcony boxes or large pots that cannot be lifted.
You can make a homemade anti-drip device by placing a full bottle of water with the spout buried in it. However, there are also more sophisticated devices, which can be purchased in specialized shops, which even allow you to control the amount of liquid that must fall. They are a good option when you decide to go on a short trip.
General advice for watering plants
You have to take into account how much water each plant needsbecause the right size is the key to the perfect conservation of your flowers. A useful tip to know whether to water or not is to insert your finger into the ground. Depending on the moisture content of the fertilizer, you can choose to water more or less.
Also, you should be careful with the rainy days, as they can double the amount of water your flowers need. Likewise, it is convenient to water the plants in the evening or at night and never during the hours of the strongest sun.
On the other hand, when the summer season approaches, it is convenient for you to take this into account clay or terracotta pots are more porous. For this reason the humidity evaporates faster and this makes the need for water more frequent.
Designing a garden with efficient use of water
In addition to knowing the different irrigation methods that you can apply in your garden, one of the aspects that must be taken into account the most is consumption. Excess water in the garden can not only harm your plants but also cause unnecessary overspending.
In this sense, designing a garden in such a way that it uses reasonable and sustainable water is essential. First of all, it is convenient to divide the areas according to water needs, whether the plants are planted in the ground or are going to share a pot.
It is recommended to do this hydrozonenot forgetting other factors such as aesthetics, landscape style, functionality and use, as indicated by the Garden Irrigation Manual of the Junta de Andalucia in Spain.
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