Before starting the nursery, Mrs Michel operated a landscaping and construction business with her partner.
The business and the nursery now complement each other and run side-by-side.
Gardens on Archer specialises in everyday plants with the “odd weird and wonderful thing” thrown in.
If there is one question we get asked in the nursery on a daily basis without fail it is, “How often should I water?” or “How much water does my plant need?” or any of a million variations of this.
Unfortunately, the answer is not straightforward.
It may help to think of it like dietary guidelines for people; the current advice is two litres of water per day recommended for the average adult.
Let’s say it is a warm, sunny day and you are outside working in the garden; you might find you are a little more parched and consume a little more water on those days.
What about on a 40 degree C day?
Does the standard two litres suffice or do we consume extra on a day like that?
And then there is the winter time, where I know I find drinking two litres to be a challenge.
Well, much like us, a plant's water requirement will vary depending on its conditions and the temperature.
Too much water and we risk drowning them, the soil remains soggy and wet and effectively suffocates the plant as it is unable to take oxygen out of the soil.
Too little water and the roots will dry out.
Like people, a young plant is more susceptible to changes and doesn’t handle them as well as a plant that has been around the seasonal block a couple of times, so we need to take extra care when plants are young.
Some of the signs or symptoms of an over-watered plant can be quite similar to those of an under-watered plant, which can be why many novice gardeners find it hard to get the balance right when they first start out.
Wilting is the most common symptom and most people assume it is because the plant is thirsty and often just give it a drink before checking this is the problem, which can lead to over-watering.
A few tips for watering:
● Don’t assume – if your plant is wilting don’t immediately assume it needs water (especially if indoors). Do a little more due diligence and place a finger into the soil, to a depth of around the second knuckle, as close to the plant as you can and feel for moisture. If the soil is moist, your finger should come out with soil sticking to it. If the soil feels dusty and dry then you need to water.
● Tools to assist – if you are not confident with the finger in the soil method, invest in a moisture meter. These are relatively inexpensive and can give you a little confidence boost and something to fall back on when you are unsure.
● Water well and less frequently – often people find it hard to understand why a plant they have been watering daily can be under-watered. After a bit of sleuthing we can find that, yes, watering is happening daily, but the amount is so little it is not enough to penetrate past the top of the soil and get down to the root system. Hence why the finger test is important; the soil may look moist on top but it needs to be moist all the way down the length of the finger to the roots of the plant for it to be useful.
Happy gardening!
Keep your plants in mind when you are giving yourself an extra drink over the next few days of extreme heat and show them a little love as well.
- Michelle Michel, Gardens on Archer
Gardens on Archer is located at 535 Archer Rd, Kialla.
If you would like to get in contact with Michelle, send her an email at michelle@gardensonarcher.com.au
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