Properly Watering Your Flowers

Making sure your flowers get enough water is one of the most critical aspects of plant care. Water is needed for photosynthesis, it helps maintain cell rigidity, and it is used to pull in nutrients from the soil. When watering your flowers, knowing how much water and how often your plants get it is critical.
How Much Water Do My Flowers Need?
On average, most flowers need about an inch of water weekly when actively growing. It doesn’t matter if they get it through rainfall or a hose.
Some plants have higher water requirements, and some have lower water needs. Also, if you’re going through a heat wave or your soil is sandy, they may need a little more than average.
What Exactly Is an Inch of Water?
Many gardeners rely on rainfall to water their plants, so measuring an inch of water accumulating in a rain gauge is easy. But this is challenging when you’re watering plants by hand. If you need to water yourself, give each plant approximately two-thirds of a gallon weekly.
How Often Should I Water My Flowers?
How often you water is important too. While it seems backward, giving your flowers more water less frequently than watering them a little bit daily is better. Watering this way triggers the roots to grow deeper, looking for water, resulting in drought-tolerant plants.
In most situations, plan to water your plant two or three times a week, waiting for the soil’s upper one or two inches to dry. Don’t give them an inch of water every time — break that up over the week.
How Do I Know if My Plants Are Well-Watered?
You’ll see the following symptoms if your plants aren’t getting enough water.
  • Slowed or stunted growth.
  • Dry, crispy leaf edges that may curl.
  • Brittle stems that aren’t pliable and easily snap.
  • Lack of blossoms.
  • Flowers wilt and fall off the plant quickly.
  • Wilted or drooping leaves.
Ways to Improve Watering Efficiency
  • Use a soaker hose to water or install a drip irrigation system so water is delivered right above the roots, minimizing evaporation.
  • Cover the soil around the flowers with some mulch to improve soil water retention.
  • Water earlier in the morning when it’s cooler instead of during the hottest part of the day. Less water evaporates, and your plants are adequately hydrated to withstand the hot sun.
  • Direct water toward the soil around the plant, trying to keep moisture off the foliage.