10d โข Seasonal Growing/Weather Woes
February Mini-Series: Understanding Winter Plant Care (Day 2 of 3)
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ข๐ง ๐
๐๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ฒ (๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ)
If you read yesterdayโs post about winter roots, this one will feel very familiar.
February is where well-intentioned gardeners accidentally get into trouble, not because theyโre careless, but because theyโre attentive.
And sometimesโฆ attentive looks like too much water.
๐ง ๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐
๐๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ค๐ฒ
By now, roots are starting to wake up, but theyโre still moving slowly.
That means:
* Plants absorb water at a crawl
* Soil stays wet much longer
* Cooler temps reduce evaporation
* Low light slows growth above the soil
So even if youโre watering less than summer, it can still be too much.
๐ฑ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง
Overwatering doesnโt always look dramatic at first.
Watch for:
* Leaves turning yellow before wilting
* Soil that stays damp for days
* A musty or sour soil smell
* Drooping that doesnโt improve after watering
When roots canโt breathe, the plant struggles, even if the leaves look thirsty.
๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ฒ โ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐โ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฌ
That little splash โjust to be safeโ adds up fast in winter.
Roots need oxygen as much as moisture.
Constantly wet soil fills air pockets and thatโs when rot starts.
In February, less frequent but deeper watering is safer than small, frequent sips.
๐ฟ ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฐ
Try this simple winter-friendly approach:
* Check soil below the surface (1โ2 inches down)
* Water only when itโs dry at that depth
* Empty saucersโnever let pots sit in water
* Let plants dry slightly more than you think
Your plant would rather wait a dayโฆ than drown.
๐ผ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ: ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐
๐๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ฒ
If winter roots are cautious, your watering should be too.
Holding back now sets the stage for healthier growth when spring truly arrives ๐ฑ
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February Mini-Series: Understanding Winter Plant Care (Day 2 of 3)
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