I've been told many times not to water when it's sunny out. Now I've read this is an old wives tale. Is it?

Question

Thank you! After feeling a little more confident from reading the answers, I went and watered my pumpkin leaves that were drooping. I was stressing because this is my first try with pumpkins and they don't look like they have bacteria or vine borers. I didn't want to fry the leaves. I watered the leaves. They have already been watered at the root twice before today (the ground isn't bone dry,) and after getting the leaves wet, they perked right up. It's really hot, they will dry off for sure before it gets dark.

Answer 1

The water evaporates quicker and doesn't get down to the roots. But if you have a plant that is wilting, go ahead and water, then water again more deeply in the morning. I have heard, it it looks thirsty, it is?

Answer 2

No. It is true.

Your best time to water plants is in the early morning or after dusk in the evening when the evaporation process has slowed to a minimum. The reason only makes sense...do you want to place expensive water out where it will serve the plants and let them absorb the maximum amount, or do you want to give up about half of that water to evaporation in the hot sun?

Answer 3

I think this depends on where you live.
When I lived in Ca, I'd water the plants anytime of day, and when it was hot sprinkle water on the leaves to cool them off, and had no problem.
Now I live in the low desert and if I get water on the plants leaves during the hot part of the day, the next day to leaves are dead and cooked. I try to water in the evening, but sometimes the plants are wilting from the heat during the day, and I do water them, being careful to water the base of the plant only, and not the leaves.

Answer 4

the rest of that saying is don't water the leaves and flowers or fruits, water only at the root of the plants. but it is best to water early morning so the water has time to be absorbed into the roots before the sun gets too hot.

Answer 5

Best to water in the morning. If you have to water during the day, water at the base of the plant. Make sure if you water with a hose, let the water run, so it is cool.

Answer 6

Good answers--it really stems from not being sunny, but really hot when you water. The real problem is that water in a hose may be 140 degrees at first, and it will definitely scald your plants and your hands.

Answer 7

It is. You are not going to burn your plants with the sun being magnified though the water. More likely you'll burn a hole in your pocket paying for water that will evaporate under the not sun. Better to water in early a.m. or late afternoon.....or even evening if your climate isn't too humid and thus disease prone.

Answer 8

Water in the morning. It will prevent mold, which may form if watering in the evening.

Answer 9

You have to wait until sundown or early in the morning to water. If you water when to sun is out it will burn your plants. The water acts like a magnifing glass.