Watering well saves both the plants and your wallet. A few tips:
Give a good soaking once a week than a little bit every day. By giving a little water often, only the topmost layer of the soil gets damp. The plant then gets ‘lazy’ and only roots at the top, which is precisely what makes it more sensitive to drying out.
In the case of garden plants, give them 10 to 20 litres of water per square metre every watering session.
Pour around the roots with a watering can, as evenly as possible.
The best time to water is in the early morning or, in cloudy weather, during the day. Evaporation is then minimal. Moreover, there is no risk of the droplets acting as a magnifying glass on the leaves.
If you water your plants in the evening, they will stay wet all night long, which makes them more sensitive to mildew.
Water plants in pots regularly, daily if the weather is dry and warm.
Make the soil in the garden more airy with humus. The soil will then retain more water.
New plants do not yet have a well-developed root system. Provide them with extra water.
Winter Getting You Down?
Choose the statement to which you most relate and boost your mood with these essential oils, recommended by UK aromatherapist Nicole Perez. But remember, avoid essential oils if you’re pregnant or have a pre-existing medical condition, such as high blood pressure.
I feel chilled to the bone and just can’t get warm. Make a blend of 40ml of carrier oil (cold-pressed vegetable oil), four drops each of circulation-boosting cinnamon leaf and ginger. Rub two drops on to your chest at night.
The cold weather makes me feel down even when there is nothing wrong. Put three drops each of lemongrass and mandarin on a hanky and inhale aromas, or put them in a diffuser and fill the room with the scent.
The short days affect my energy and I find it difficult to get up in the dark mornings. Put five drops each of grapefruit and palmarosa into 40ml of carrier oil and rub over your body when you have your morning bath.
