In the Garden:
Southwestern Deserts
July, 2013
Regional Report

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Watering meters take the guesswork out of deciding when it's time to water.

Summer Houseplant Care


Many houseplants are dormant during winter months and start pushing out new growth as days lengthen. They need more frequent watering to keep pace with growth, especially if they're in a sunny spot where the soil dries out faster. If southern or western windows become too hot, consider moving plants to an eastern exposure. Even a northern exposure in summer provides sufficient light for many houseplants.

When to Water
Stick your finger into the soil to determine how much moisture there is. However, this can be difficult if the plant is covering all of the surface area and there's no room to fit a digit. Deep containers also create issues. This is when a soil moisture meter comes in handy. There are many styles, with some type of a pointy probe to insert into the soil.


Make sure the entire root ball gets moistened. When container plants dry out, the soil pulls away from the sides of the pot, and water tends to pour down the sides and out the drainage holes before it can saturate the soil. To combat this, put houseplants in the kitchen sink with a very slow drip from the faucet. You can also leaves them to drain without having to empty saucers later or mop up around saucers that overflow. At the same time, let the plants enjoy a spritz of water on their foliage with the dish sprayer to increase humidity and wash off dust.

Fertilize or Repot?


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