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Index : Watering
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- 10. Increase Watering, Care of Container Plants - Top
- Container plants are much more vulnerable to the ravages of summer heat and sun than those planted in the ground. Therefore, special care should be provided to help them survive, and even thrive, now that temperatures have reached into the 100s.
Placement of container plants is very important. Those being grown outside on patios, or entryways should ideally have some protection from afternoon sun. This protection could be shade from house walls or overhangs, from privacy walls or fences, or from shade trees. It isn't necessary that shade be provided all afternoon. Most plants thrive where shifting shade provides protection for just a few hours. Also think about moving pots to protected locations during the heat of Summer, then you can move them back in the Fall.
Morning sun is best for flowers and vegetables planted in pots. Most general references call for a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight for these types of plants. However, our sunlight is so intense that bright indirect light is usually sufficient to encourage good flowering and fruiting.
New, light-weight pots made with a product called "thermo-lite" make it easier to move plants to locations suitable for their growth. They have the appearance of terra-cotta, and even upon close inspection, are hard to tell from the real thing! These light-weight containers are available at most garden supply stores in the Tucson area.
In addition to proper location, the amount of water supplied container plants is also critical. Because air circulates around, and sun shines on container sides, the soil inside dries out rapidly during the summer. Most containers will require daily watering when temperatures are above 90 degrees. Twice daily watering may be necessary for plants in full sun when temperatures approach 100 degrees. Plants growing in containers less than 14 inches in diameter should be repotted to larger pots. The soil volume in small pots is not sufficient to hold enough moisture during extremely hot, dry weather.
Always water enough to thoroughly moisten the soil from top to bottom. When water begins running out the drainage holes, you've watered enough. Pots setting out on the patio or balcony should not set in saucers. Drainage water collected in saucers under plants can concentrate, and allow the reabsorption of, salts harmful to plants. If your patio is set in a sand base, don't set the pot directly on the patio pavers. Moisture trapped under the pot will provide the perfect for ants to nest. You can use "pot feet" to elevate containers off the patio surface. There available in sizes for small and large containers at most garden supply stores.
Sometimes container soils can become "hydrophobic". That's when potting soils high in peat dry out and actually repels water. When that occurs, it may seem as though the pot is accepting water, but in fact, water is simply running off the soil and down the inside edges of the container. Plants that are being watered regularly, but show signs of moisture stress may be "hydrophobic". To wet the soil and correct this condition, add a few drops of liquid dish washing detergent to your water. Water plants slowly with this solution. The soap breaks the barrier to water so it can be absorbed by the soil. You need only treat with this soapy solution one or two times a year.
To conserve moisture in pots, cover the soil with a mulch. The best mulch for containers is a fine bark, such as forest mulch. Just a one inch layer blanketing the soil will reduce evaporation, moderate soil temperatures and reduce fluctuations in soil moisture. When potting plants always leave room at the top for mulch.
Finally, to keep container plants healthy, fertilize on a regular basis. Flowering and fruiting plants should be fertilized with a liquid solution every two weeks. Green, leafy plants should be fertilized once a month from spring to fall. Granular, timed-release fertilizers are also excellent for providing nutrients to container plants. Keep in mind however, that because of our hot weather and constant watering, these timed-release products only feed half the time indicated on the package label.
Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona,
520-626-5161. - Updated: June 20, 2004
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