10. THE ART OF WATERING PLANTERS

Planters and pots dry out more quickly than the soil in the ground. This means you must water your planters more often than planting beds, especially in hot, sunny weather. Larger pots contain more soil and retain water better than smaller pots. As a result, larger pots retain more water than smaller pots. This is helpful because then you do not need to water as much, and you will tend not to overwater. The most common cause of plant death in containers is overwatering. We kill our plants with watering kindness.

So how to know when to water a pot? Before watering, check to see if the soil is moist. Stick your finger into the soil to about the second knuckle. If it feels dry below your knuckle, water it until water comes out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Water thoroughly to encourage the plant roots to follow the water down into the lower half of the pot. Deeper roots mean you won’t have to water as often.

The time of year affects watering frequency. In spring, when the plants are small and the temperatures are cool, you will not have to water often. In summer, when the sun is strong, the plants are large, and the temperatures are higher, you may have to water daily. It all depends on the size of the planter, which plants are growing, and your climate.

I recommend using a watering wand with a so-called water breaker attached. This kind of head has a lot of tiny holes that generate a light spray. The fine spray will not damage tender flowering plants. I also suggest using a wand with a built-in shutoff valve in the handle. This allows you to conserve water and adjust the flow.

And lastly, it is best not to water at night. If you water your plants too late in the day the foliage will not dry and this will encourage disease to develop. Water in the morning, if possible; then the plants will have all day to absorb it.

Look for a garden hose that is durable and resists kinking. Store hoses coiled up. A hose pot, as shown, has an interior guide that lets you wind a hose around it without tangling. Before you buy, determine the length you need. A large diameter hose will provide the most water, faster. The three basic hose diameters are ½ inch, ⅝ inch, and ¾ inch. The largest diameter hose delivers up to 25 gallons per minute.

Hanging hoses can be cumbersome, but this is a neat solution that uses a metal grid as a backing. If watering planters becomes a chore, or if you go away often, consider installing a drip irrigation system.

New Guinea impatiens have abundant blooms that keep going all summer into fall. They grow in part sun to part shade. Fun fact: The original plants were found on a plant expedition to New Guinea in 1970. The botanists saw the magnificent impatiens growing wild and brought them back to the United States. Hybrid crosses made with other Impatiens species from Java and the Celebes Islands resulted in the New Guinea impatiens that are grown today.

The unique orange-pink extra-large flowers of Sonic® ‘Mango’ New Guinea impatiens light up a shady corner. This is a compact plant that works well in a planter. They like water and will wilt dramatically if allowed to dry out.

A close-up view of Sonic® ‘Mango’ New Guinea impatiens highlights the thick five-petaled flowers with orange and darker pink markings. The other flower colors in the compact Sonic series include Magic Pink, Deep Purple, and Amethyst, among others.