Here we will review some helpful C tips for your plants when the summer heat gets too hot.
Sunshine and warmth are ideal for most plants; however, sometimes temperatures rise too high for your garden to handle. When this happens, your plants may wilt, dehydrate, burn, and more.
So, how do you keep your plants growing big and strong during the scorching summer days? Keep reading to find out.
The Dangers of a Hot Garden
Wilting: Even when your plants are being watered adequately and have ideal soil conditions, plants may wilt in the heat. Wilting from high temperatures happens because of transpiration, which is the exhalation of water vapor.
Decreased fruit production: On summer days that reach over 90 °F, fruit production slows because consistent growth requires a lot of water and energy. When heat stresses your plants, they begin to conserve energy by reducing their fruit development.
Dehydrated plants: Because of transpiration, plants lose immense water during high temperatures. Prolonged dehydration can ultimately lead to the death of your plants.
Leaf curl: Since your plants preserve their water and energy in the heat, any available resources are dedicated to the stem and roots. The leaves are neglected during this process which causes them to curl.
Damage to healthy fruits: During the hottest summer days, the sun can scorch the skin of your fruits. Damaged fruit will quickly become a meal for insects or begin to rot immediately.
Terpenes may begin to break down- Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons responsible for a plant’s smell, aroma, and benefits. Depending on the plant, some terpenes start to break down at around 70°F, but few can resist temperatures over 100°F. Visit Veriheal for a better understanding of terpenes.
Keeping Plants Healthy in the Heat
Make shade: You can create shade for your garden by planting taller trees nearby, adding structures like a small shed, or installing an awning.
Add white to the yard: The color white can reflect up to %85 the sunlight that hits it. So, you can paint your house, shed, or garage white, add white fencing, or include white lawn ornaments and accessories where ever possible.
Use shade cloth: A shade cloth is a polyethylene or polyester cloth that filters sunlight and protects your plants. These woven cloths are strung above your garden like a canopy.
Choose plants that thrive in the heat: Some plants thrive in hot and humid weather. If you can’t protect your existing or typical plants, consider adding sun-loving plants to your garden. Some examples are Zinnias, succulents, cacti, and sunflowers.
Maintain moisture levels: To avoid dehydration, water your plants daily or twice daily if you notice the soil is dry shortly after watering. Also, make sure the water is penetrating deep into the ground. Another tip is to water your plants at night since it allows them to absorb the moisture without worrying about transpiration.
Insulate with mulch: You can use mulch, pine needles, straw, or grass clippings as insulation. By simply adding these components to the soil, you can help keep the roots moist and cool. Ideally, you would layer around 4-6 inches of insulation to the soil.
Don’t use fertilizer: Avoid using fertilizer on your plants when overheating. Fertilizer stresses the roots of your plants; they may become too overwhelmed since they are already in survival mode.
Don’t replant or re-pot: When you notice that your plants are overheating in the sun, you may feel that transplanting them to a shady area or re-potting them to bring them inside might be a good idea. However, this is not the case. When plants are moved to a new location, they undergo an extreme adjustment process that only adds more stress.
How to Fix Damage
Prune- Plants with damaged leaves can be restored by pruning the unhealthy leaves. Pruning is the process in which you cut off leaves and stems just above their node. New growth will later form in its place.
Seaweed Tonic: A weekly application of seaweed tonic can help your plants recover from heat damage. Be sure to choose a product that is fertilizer free.
Wetting Agent- Wetting agents are surfactants or chemicals used to reduce the surface tension of water. Adding these molecules to your soil makes water penetration easier, reducing dehydration.
