The Surprising Reason Mornings Are the Best Time of Day To Water Plants

Rejoice, ‘tis plant season! While most green thumbs have their gardening routines nailed down, allowing them to truly enjoy the (literal and metaphorical) fruits of their labor, some beginners are still trying to figure out the wants and needs of their plant babies—and it can feel like an impenetrable mystery sometimes.

At the core of that mystery for many? Dialing in the right watering schedule for their plants. After all, your plants can't vocalize when they're ready for their H20. And when they start showing signs, it might be too late.

So, how do you know when's the best time to water your plants? We asked a horticulturist if there is an ideal time and if it really makes a difference, so hopefully, you can have a better understanding of your plants' hydration needs.

When is the Best Time of Day to Water Plants?

According to Justin Hancock, a horticulturist for major plant distributor Costa Farms, “Morning hours are actually safest from a disease perspective—this will decrease the likelihood of fungi and disease." Here's why: Watering in the morning means the sun will have plenty of time to evaporate excess moisture in the soil. And any gardening 101 class worth its salt (or, er, soil) will teach that too much moisture can lead to all kinds of bad things, like root rot.

Hancock continues "Many fungi, in particular, spread best in high-humidity conditions. So watering your plants in the evening or at night—as the temperatures drop and relative humidity increases—can potentially encourage the growth of fungal diseases, particularly outdoors."

He adds that if you’re using a sprinkler outdoors, mornings can be more efficient. "You lose less water to evaporation than running your sprinkler on a hot, sunny afternoon.” However, Hancock points out that how much you water your plants is “far more important” than when you water them. "Especially for indoor plants, watering them when it is most convenient is more than fine."

Does the Time You Water Your Plants Affect Their Growth?

Will water timing affect their growth rate, though? "Not really," says Hancock. Plants don't necessarily notice what time of day it is when they are being watered. "Watering in the morning, midday, afternoon, or even overnight won’t affect the growth rate of your plants or anything." Great news for all of us overthinkers!

What If You Can't Water Plants in the Mornings?

According to Hancock, as long as you're not over or under-watering, you can shower plants when it's best for you. "In terms of time of day, water houseplants when it’s most convenient. And if you can water outdoor plants in the morning, you’ll reduce the chance of disease and waste less water to evaporation," he says.

However, he does have one big piece of advice for evening gardeners: "If you’re watering outdoor garden plants from a hose and you want to do so in mid-to-late afternoon, be sure to let the hose run all the heated water out first. Watering in the heat of the day can burn plants—it’s amazing how hot the water stored in a garden hose that’s been sitting in the sun can get!”