Why Should Plants Not Be Watered at Night?

Watering your plants at night can potentially damage your plants.

When it comes to keeping your plants healthy and thriving, it is important that they receive adequate watering. However, too much watering or flawed watering practices can damage the resilience of your plants or cause them to rot. Choosing the best time to water your plants can be a challenge. While it may be tempting to water your plants at night to prevent the sun from evaporating the moisture, there are some dangers associated with this practice.

Dangers

There are several dangers associated with watering your plants at night. The absence of sunlight can cause the plants to become water-logged because the sun is not aiding in the evaporation process. Water-logged plants can lead to rot at the root as well as mildew. Drowned plants can wilt easily or refuse to grow. Excessive watering, such as on a nightly basis with a sprinkler system, can lead plants to develop shallow roots. This can cause your plants to become very susceptible to variations in temperature or moisture, especially in the case of grasses.

Drainage

Watering your plants at night can be especially damaging to plants that are not planted in mediums that feature proper drainage. Because it is night time, you might not notice that too much water is pooling on the surface of the soil. If watering plants in containers, be sure to only use planters with holes at the bottom that help excess water flow out through the bottom. If planting in the ground, plant at a slope whenever possible to help water run off and not damage the root system.

Symptoms

If you fear that watering your plants at night is damaging your plants, cease this practice immediately. Some symptoms of damage are wilted plants, dying blooms, rotting leaves or exposed roots. Too much water can push away the soil, leaving the roots below the crown of the plant to become exposed and susceptible to damage. Check your plants in the morning after watering. If they are still wet, this means that you could be over-watering them.

Considerations

Different climates can determine the best time to water your plants. In most cases, it is not advisable to provide a thorough watering during the hottest time of day. The moisture will evaporate too quickly before it penetrates the root system. However, a light sprinkling on extremely hot days can prevent your plants from burning. The best times to water your plants are during the morning hours before the midday sun or in the evening before the sun sets.

References

• Gardening in Western Washington: Watering Home Gardens and Landscape Plants
• University of Massachussets Green Info: Plant Culture and Maintenance: Efficient Water Use on Outdoor Plantings
• Michigan State University- Extension: Color Choice Plants, Watering Shrubs