Here's how to stop your flowers from wilting

Two weeks ago, I wrote about how you needed to consider soil temperature to ensure annual flowers and vegetables could get off to a strong start. Now, after several days this week with temperatures in the 80s, the soil should be perfect for planting and growing.

Once they are planted, they need to be maintained properly to make sure they grow and bloom well. There are two things that every plant needs to survive: sunlight and water. Both are provided naturally. Water can be supplemented; light cannot. For this reason, you need to consider how much light a planting location gets and make sure to have the right type of plants.

How much light does your plant need?

The sides of the house that are exposed to the north or east will be considered shaded. The opposite sides, the south and the west, will receive a lot of sunlight. When you are selecting plants, make sure what you choose is suited for your exposure.

There are going to be areas in your yard where the light may be impeded by trees or other structures. The front of your house could face south, but you might have a large maple tree in the front yard, making your southern exposure shaded. You need to know these things. The amount of light you get in the afternoon will determine if you should look for shade or sun plants.

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Once they are planted and growing, the exposure will also affect the amount of water they will need. Some shade-loving plants can tolerate more sun if they are able to be watered more frequently. If an exposure receives a fair amount of wind, you will be watering more frequently.

The light the plants get is very consistent and reliable. The amount of water they get is not. There are some very drought tolerant annual plants such as flowering Vinca. Other plants have varying water requirements. The water requirements are dependent on the type of plant as well as the exposure as mentioned above.

When should you water your plants?

As people are buying the flowers, the most frequently asked question is "how often should I water these?" It sounds like a simple question, but in reality, it cannot be answered honestly with a specific schedule. This is because the exposure, soil and weather will all influence the timing and need for water.

Most of us are trained to be proactive when we want to protect something we are caring for. This gets people in trouble with plants, especially when it comes to water. Too much water is the most frequent reason annual plants fail.

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You should not water a plant because you "think" that it is dry. You want to know it is dry when you water it. Even though the roots are below the soil they need air, and when the soil stays consistently wet, the roots lack air and will start to rot.

When roots start to rot, the leaves wilt as if they are dry. This is because the leaves are not getting any water because the roots are not working. If your plant is wilting and does not improve when watered, the plant is getting too much water and most likely will not recover.

You can and should let your plants tell you when they need water. When they are first planted, check them in the morning and the evening every day. When they first start to wilt, it’s time to water. When you water, do it so the water saturates the soil until the excess water comes out of the bottom of the pot.

Unlike plants getting too much water, the dry plants will recover from the slight wilt quickly. After you have done this a few times, you will begin to be able to adapt a schedule. The schedule may have to be adjusted as the temperatures rise in the summer.