Re: My plants have problems/Summer Extremes

In a message dated 6/2/00 11:51:49 AM Central Daylight Time, cajun4@HOME.COM
writes:

<< Here in New Orleans we are suffering from a bad drought, and the weather is
 real hot. I have been watering my plants on a regular basis, but sometimes I
 think I am watering them too much. Just how much should I water my regular
 in ground plants, and my pot plants. I have used the more expensive Miracle
 Grow potting soil for my pot plants. >>


Cajun:

Here is Katy (just west of Houston) we are going on our third growing season
with drought conditions.  I find that the best way to battle these hot,
humid, dry (now humid and dry in the same sentence is certainly an oxymoron
but you know what I mean) conditions is to mulch a good 3 inches and
acclimate your garden to drought conditions.  I do this by watering once a
week for a long period of time, maybe two hours then waiting a good 5 to 7
seven days to water again.  Having drought tolerant plants will certainly
help but many of my plants are tropicals and enjoy their moisture during the
summer months but this method seems to work for me.  Another thing I will do
that seems to work is to cut my plants back by 1/3'rd.  I will sacrifice some
of my bloom time but it gives you less plant to use the moisture. Another
thing is that I don't fertilize during the months of July and August.  I know
some say that fertilizing during these times is vital for the plants but I
find that by not fertilizing that the plants will not grow as rapidly which
allows them to need less waterings during the summer months.  Sometimes I
will do select fertilizing for example I will continue to feed my gingers and
summer blooming toad lilies.  I will also (in the evenings) water selectively
some of my garden such as the gingers, toadlilies and alocasias.  Just giving
them a little extra...I choose the evening time since the water will not
evaporate nearly as fast giving the plant more opportunity to utilize the
moisture.

As far as my pots...I use Jungle Grow Professional Mix and it seems to work
beautifully.  I still have to water every day or so but I don't think there
is any potting mix that can prevent the daily waterings in July and August.
I have heard about a new soil called "Smart Soil" that is supposed to have
pellets in it that will absorb the water and slow release it (does that make
sense??).  I have recently potted a Rumex, which loves the moisture, in this
new soil and it seems to have helped.  I will also put some of my sun lover
containers in partial sun conditions - seems that the plant will require less
watering this way.

Trial and Error - seems to be constantly happening in my garden.  Each year
(lately) the weather conditions seem to be getting worse....hopefully La Nina
(or is El Nina) is on her way out, I hear it is....good in a way but "they"
say that with her departure it will leave the door wide open for a severe
hurricane season.  I guess we will have to wait and see.

Happy Gardening

Kemberly McLain
Katy, Texas  Zone 9
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