When Watering Plants, Do You Water the Leaves?

Watering plants is a vital task in gardening and plant care. However, there is a common confusion among many gardeners about whether they should water the leaves of plants along with the soil. Some believe that watering the leaves can help clean them and make them healthy, while others think it can cause harm to the plant. So, the question arises: When watering plants, do you water the leaves?

The Argument Against Watering Leaves

One of the arguments against watering leaves is that it can lead to leaf diseases, including mold and fungal infections. Watering the leaves can cause them to stay wet for a long time, creating a moist environment that enables diseases to grow. In addition, watering leaves during the heat of the day can cause water droplets to act like magnifying glasses, burning the leaves and causing sunscald.

The Argument in Favor of Watering Leaves

On the other hand, some gardeners argue that watering leaves helps to clean them and remove dust and debris that can block the sun. Watering leaves can also help to cool them down in hot weather and provide nutrients to leaves treated with foliar sprays. Additionally, watering the leaves can provide moisture to plants that have not developed an adequate root system yet.

The Verdict: It Depends on the Plant and Situation

The truth is that whether you should water leaves depends on the specific plant and situation. Some plants, including succulents and cacti, should not be watered on their leaves as they are vulnerable to rot. Other plants, such as ferns, can benefit from watering on their leaves. Similarly, plants in different climates or levels of sun exposure may have varying needs for watering leaves.

To determine whether to water leaves, examine the plant and consider the weather conditions. If the plant is susceptible to disease or has fire-prone leaves, avoid watering the leaves during the middle of the day or in the late afternoon when the sun is strongest. Instead, water the leaves in the morning or evening when the air is cooler and the sun is weaker. Moreover, take care not to over-water the leaves to prevent rot or mold.

Conclusion

In conclusion, whether to water leaves or not depends on the plant and situation. Watering leaves can be beneficial in some cases, but it can also be harmful in others. Gardening is a learning process, and the best way to find out what works for your plants is to experiment and learn from your observations.