Watering in the Morning is not just a Garden Myth
The advice to water in the morning has solid scientific backing: plants have the whole day
to absorb the moisture and the sun helps dry wet foliage quickly — preventing fungal
disease and rot. Evening watering leaves moisture sitting on leaves and soil overnight,
creating ideal conditions for mold and slugs. Midday watering doesn’t cause leaf-scorching
through water droplets as is often claimed but significantly more water is lost to
evaporation.
The ideal window, according to garden scientists is between 6 and 9 am. Ignore this and
you’ll have sicker plants than you think — all because of a 2 hour timing difference.
Too Much Water Kills Faster Than Drought
Waterlogging is one of the most common causes of death in both houseplants and
garden plants alike — yet it is consistently underestimated by beginner gardeners.
When roots sit in standing water indefinitely, they receive no oxygen and begin to die,
causing root rot. Paradoxically, overwatered plants often show the same symptoms as
thirsty ones: drooping, wilting leaves. This misleading appearance tempts gardeners to
water even more — a destructive cycle.
The general rule for most plants: the top inch or two of soil should be dry before
watering again. Good drainage is just as important as watering itself. A pot without a
drainage hole is a slow-motion death sentence.
To control slugs, put beer in a shallow dish or small can. Slugs love beer and drown in the beer. Die happy and no pesticides are used. Submitted by Dana Brown
Another surprising countermeasure: Coffee Grounds. Coffee grounds contain caffeine that paralyzes slugs at low concentrations and kills them at higher concentrations. That morning cup of joe that you don’t throw away is the most chemical weapon against garden slugs you’ll ever have in your kitchen.
Susan told us about Yuka. Thanks Susan. Yuka is a FREE mobile Apple app that gives you info on the foods and personal products we buy and use. It even explains why a product may not be healthy. Just point your camera at the bar code and you’ll get a screen like the one below. ENJOY!!
This is the Apple store image of Yuka.
DID YOU KNOW?
Apples are botanically related to roses – both belong to the rose family (Rosaceae), which explains why apple blossoms and rose blooms look strikingly similar. This family also includes pears, cherries, plums, strawberries and almonds. There are over 7500 known apple varieties worldwide though only a fraction are available commercially. The apple has played such a central role in North American culture that the phrase “as American as apple pie” entered the language as a cliche – despite the fact that apples themselves originated in Central Asia. Interestingly, ripe apples float in water because about 25% of their volume is air – which is what makes bobbing for apples at Halloween possible.
Hold hands firmly……hearts gently