Summer Plant Watering Solutions

Keeping plants hydrated during the hot summer months can be a challenge, especially in hot, dry regions where conserving water is a priority. There is a gardener in Arizona (which is currently having record breaking heat waves) who has several plant watering strategies to keep plants healthy during these extreme conditions.

Drip Irrigation
A drip irrigation system is used to deliver water to the base of plants. It delivers water slowly over a 2-3 hour period giving the moisture time to soak in. While an adaptation of this system can be used for potted plants, hand watering is still a better method for the potted plants.

Traditional Watering
Watering should be done in the early morning or late evening to minimize evaporation and keep the plant roots away from the surface during the hottest part of the day. Watering with a hose alone does not always reach deep into the soil, so it should be combined with another technique.

Watering System

Time Released Watering
This simple, inexpensive spike has holes along the sides to send water deeper into the soil. Just fill an empty 2 liter bottle with water, attach the spike, turn it over, and push it into the soil close to your plant. This releases the water slowly and encourages deeper root growth.

For a similar effect without the spike, poke holes along the bottom of an empty water bottle. These were “planted” beside the plants. When watering the pots, also fill the water bottles. This water will be slowly released several inches from the surface, giving the roots of the plant better water supply when surface water evaporates quickly.

While these techniques help, in the hottest part of summer, an outdoor artificial plant is your safest solution. They don’t require all this extra care and you can stay inside in the air conditioning.