Watering for Success
These leaves are showing stress from lack of water
Our Arizona climate is extremely dry.
Even if you're watering a few times a week, your plant can still dry up and die.
Follow our handy watering chart that guides you through your first season as a new plant owner. (Second season will be a little scaled back).
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us immediately.
Every summer we help people bring stressed plants back to health.
call (928)639-0122 or email us
Follow This chart for leafy plants (New plants that have been planted within the last 12 months)
Temperature: this corresponds to the average high temperature.
Size Columns: these correspond to the size of the plant you purchased, and the water requirements related to the average high temperature.
Frequency: this is how many times per day or per week you need to water your new plant, based on the average high temperature.
For best results, water your new plants at 10am and 2pm
Example
If you bought a 3g plant, and the high is 93F, you will need to water that plant: 1-2 gallons two times per day everyday that week.
Which comes to total of 2-4 gallons daily equaling 14-28 gallons weekly.
Example of Recovery
If you notice the damage right away you can save your plant
Damage can occur within just one day of missed (or inadequate) irrigation.
This is why it is so important to increase the water volume and frequency as temperatures go up.
Most plants can be saved even if they look terrible.
Example of Recovery
Even if it looks too late, you still may be able to save your plant
Example of Recovery
If you notice the symptoms early enough, plants can make a full recovery
Example of Recovery
Heavily wilted plants may take longer to recover
This Polka Dot Plant took 12 hours to recover after watering.
Some of the leaves suffered permanent damage.
Example of Recovery
If you notice the symptoms early enough, you can prevent damage
Damage can be prevented if you immediately water when you notice heavy wilting.
Plants will give you various warning signs, you just need to know how to look for them.
Example of Recovery
Even when plants look really bad, it might not be too late
This Gaura made a full recovery just 2 hours after being watered.
Checking for Viability
Your plant looks sad, how can you check to see if it's alive?
Bark Scratch Test, scrape back the layer of bark to check for any color.
If the color is green (like in the image above) your plant is likely to make a full recovery.
If the color is yellow or brown it is too late for your plant.
Most Plant Problems are from Inadequate Watering
Damage like this can occur in just one day of drought stress
Drought Stress in the most common issue for new plants in Arizona.
If your plant is showing symptoms similar to any in the above image, increase the amount of water.
Within 10-14 days of better watering practices, most plants will push out new growth.