If the soil on top is cracked, this does not mean that it is urgently time to water the plants. Often, at a depth of only a few centimeters, the roots suffocate in the wet soil, while summer residents continue to water them from above, seeing the dried crust. The author of the Zen channel “Volzhsky Garden” shared two life hacks on how to check whether the roots really lack moisture.
#1: With your fingers
Stick your finger 7cm into the soil. If it comes out wet or you feel the soil is moist, forget about watering for now. And if the skin is dry and the soil quickly disappears from it, it’s time to water the plants.
No. 2: Bamboo skewers or wooden chopsticks
Stick the sticks into the ground to a depth of 15 cm for 15 minutes. If the stick or skewer has darkened and become wet to the touch, then the roots still have enough moisture. If the stick remains light and dry, it’s time to grab the watering can.
There are Chinese sensors on sale that determine the level of soil moisture. However, the expert warns: due to the different composition of soils, the readings of these devices are often unreliable.
Features and nuances
If the test shows that the soil is really dry, do not rush to flood the plants. Watering should be moderate and deep. The best option is drip irrigation or watering at the root from a watering can. If you water the plants by the leaves, the roots will not get any moisture, but the weeds on the surface will say “thank you.”
For watering, use settled water heated in the sun. Ice water risks destroying plants – the roots will stop growing due to severe stress.
