Okay, so here’s my little experiment and what I learned about watering plants in the cold. I’m no expert, just a guy who likes his plants and doesn’t want them to die.
I started noticing the weather getting colder, and I thought, “Uh oh, my plants!” I mean, I bring some of them inside, but the bigger ones, like my potted lemon tree, have to stay out on the balcony.
So, I did what anyone would do – I started poking around on the internet, looking for guidance. Found a lot of confusing stuff, honestly. Some folks were talking about specific temperatures, others were just saying “be careful.” Not super helpful.
I decided to go with my gut, combined with a bit of what I’d read. Here’s what I did:
My Cold-Weather Watering Experiment
- Checked the Soil: This is my usual go-to, even when it’s not cold. I stuck my finger in the soil, about an inch or two down. If it felt dry, I considered watering. If it was damp, I left it alone.
- Considered the Sun: Even on cold days, if it’s sunny, plants might still need a bit of water. They’re still doing their plant thing, just slower.
- Watched the Temperature: The one simple thing I found, is never water below 40F.
- Used Lukewarm Water: I figured, if I wouldn’t want ice-cold water dumped on me when it’s freezing, my plants probably wouldn’t either. So, I used water that felt just slightly warm to the touch, not hot, just… not cold.
- Watered in the Morning: I read somewhere that it’s better to water in the morning during cold weather. That way, the plants have time to absorb the water before the temperature drops again at night. Made sense to me.
- Reduced Watering Overall: I definitely watered less often than I do in the summer. Plants just don’t need as much water when it’s cold and they’re not growing as much.
And you know what? It seemed to work! My lemon tree made it through the winter just fine, and so did my other outdoor plants. I didn’t lose any to the cold, which was a win in my book.
The main thing, I think, is to just pay attention to your plants. They’ll usually give you some clues about what they need. Don’t overthink it, but don’t ignore them either. And hey, a little lukewarm water on a chilly morning seems to do the trick!
