The importance of keeping plants safe in the heat

Water is the basis of life, and much like humans and pets have to stay hydrated during the summer months, so should your plants.

Caring Gardens Greenhouse Manager Tammy Cundiff sat down with ABC 17 News Friday and talked about the importance of keeping plants safe in the heat. Over the past few days Mid-Missourians have seen the impacts of the brutal stretch of heat, whether it is buckling roads, heat illnesses, dehydration or pet health. It is during this time of the year through early September when heat can affect many things, and plants are one of them.

Cundiff says ideally in this heat you want to make sure you water them at least once a day in the morning hours to prevent heat stress. She says to stay away from watering them in the evening hours. This is due in large part because you are essentially putting the plants to bed wet, which can cause various diseases. Cundiff also says you want to make sure you give your plants nutrients at least once a week to keep them healthy.

Typically people also have potted plants, and they need extra care. Cundiff says you want to make sure you give extra water to those plants with overwatering. It is also important to make sure you put them in the shade at least for an hour or two during the hottest part of the day so you do not stress them out. As far as watering both plants in the ground and in pots, Cundiff says there is a special way to do it.

“The best thing we can do with plant is to water them deep, so those roots grow deep,” said Cundiff. “This is done so that the plants can weather whatever Missouri throws at them. You want to make sure you do that for summer and winter. It’s essential to water a plant before it wilts. If you can stop the wilt that’s actually very helpful for the plant. Anytime you let something wilt, you are stressing the plant. So, the more stress just like people, the plants not happy.”

Cundiff says essentially you want to make sure you water the ground more than the foliage. This is due to the roots, where the plants get most of their nutrients and water from. Also, Cundiff says you want to pay special attention to potted plants and baby them more than the plants in the ground, due to the soil drying out faster.