Why Shouldn't We Water Plants in Peak Sun Hours?

Plants are susceptible to damage caused by a variety of factors, including pests, diseases, and environmental factors like high temperatures and inadequate water. As a result, many gardeners make a mistake by watering their plants during peak sun hours when their water requirements are highest, which can do more harm than good. In this article, we will explore the reasons why we should avoid watering our plants at the hottest time of the day.

Water Evaporation

One of the biggest problems with watering plants during peak sun hours is that most of the water tends to evaporate before it seeps into the plants' root zones. High temperatures and strong winds cause water to evaporate quickly from the soil's surface, leaving the plant's roots dry and dehydrated. As a consequence, plants may wilt or even die due to a lack of moisture, even though they were watered just hours before. Thus, it's essential to water plants during cooler periods, like early mornings or evenings when the sun's intensity is less, so that water has time to penetrate the soil and nourish the roots.

Burnt Foliage

Another significant downside to watering plants in peak sun hours is that wet foliage can act like a magnifying lens, intensifying the sun's rays and causing leaf burn. When the sun's rays pass through water droplets on leaves, they are focused and concentrated, which can damage sensitive plant tissues. Also, moisture on the foliage can prevent heat from escaping, which then results in burnt foliage. In order to prevent this from happening, it's best to avoid wetting the foliage while watering plants and to do so during the cooler parts of the day.

Disease and Pests

Wet foliage can also make plants more susceptible to plant diseases and pests. Conditions that are favorable for plant growth may also provide ideal growing conditions for bacteria and fungi that can spread when plants are watered during peak sun hours. Pests can also thrive in damp conditions, particularly if leaves stay wet overnight, allowing the pest to feed and reproduce. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid watering plants during peak sun hours to reduce the risk of plant diseases and pests.

Conclusion

In conclusion, watering plants during peak sun hours is not the best approach to plant care. It can cause a variety of problems like water evaporation, burnt foliage, and increased susceptibility to plant disease and pests. Instead, it's best to water plants during the cooler periods of the day, like early mornings and evenings when the sun's intensity is less. By doing so, you can help your plants to thrive and grow into beautiful, healthy specimens.