High temperatures in the coming days will not only be a challenge for people, but also for plants, especially those grown in pots. Experts warn that such plants are much more sensitive to desiccation and heat stress because they have less soil and moisture available than plants planted directly in the garden. It is therefore important to pay extra attention to them during a heat wave.
One of the effective measures is moving flower pots from direct sun to shade. Experts recommend moving the plants to a shady spot during the heat, which will reduce their exposure to heat and prevent the roots from overheating. Hanging flower pots and smaller containers, which overheat and lose moisture more quickly, are particularly at risk. It is therefore advisable to hang the hanging baskets on the ground, where the moisture lasts longer, and move the smaller flower pots to a cooler place so that the plants can better handle high temperatures.
Watering must be sufficient, but not excessive. Plants in pots need more frequent watering than those in the ground because the soil in containers dries out faster. Experts advise watering so that the entire root system is well soaked, until the water starts to flow out through the holes at the bottom of the pot. But they warn against overwatering, which can suffocate roots, cause rot and leach nutrients from the soil. It is best to check the soil moisture a few centimeters below the surface – if it is still wet, watering should be postponed.
How to recognize that a plant is suffering from heat? The most common symptoms include wilted or limp leaves, especially in the morning, burnt leaf edges, stunted growth and flower drop. If these symptoms appear, the plant should be well watered immediately and moved to the shade until it recovers. Experts also recommend using fertilizer granules to retain moisture in pots to help keep the soil moist longer during the summer heat.
This article comes from the Ringier publishing partner website. The content and data contained in it were taken without editorial intervention.
