Drowning Plants – Diseases Start When Soils Don’t Dry Out

Living in south Florida holds some advantages… and not just South Beach. It’s usually warm, sunny with lots of beautiful foliage plants to name a few. Although great weather does carry some climatic drawbacks. There is an old saying in south Florida. "If you want the weather to change wait 20 minutes."

That weather change is precisely what I want to discuss. The topic gets its "roots" from the outdoors but does apply to plant care in the indoor environment.

From time to time, Florida suffers drought conditions. Some years things get a little different. We experience daily 30 minute thunder boomers between 1:00-6:00 pm. Then the weather turns hot and humid, plants love it – generally.

I say generally since many house and landscape plants grown enjoy a good quick plant watering and then draining off. Yes, you must watch out for fungus diseases but the plants grow well.

Many of the house plants are grown off the ground in some form or fashion to allow for drainage, whether it is on benches, concrete blocks or in baskets.

What the plants don’t like is rain, rain, rain and no drain, drain, drain. The water must be drained off if the roots are to survive and not drown. The roots need oxygen to function properly, move nutrients, collect moisture and support the plant.

We also begin to see diseases start when soils are not allowed to dry out and they begin to rot.  When plants are being grown indoors the water has no method to drain off. Unless a sub-irrigation product or self watering container is used the plant must find a way to
use up the water or rot.

This is one of the reasons we see plants not doing well indoors: TOO MUCH WATER. The plants are simply drowning.

Check out your plants, are you drowning them?

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• Outside In – Bringing Plants Inside for Winter