Water regularly through dry periods

This group of plants enjoy moist soil, so it is a good idea to water regularly through dry periods, particularly during the first year's growth.

Water the plants that need it by thoroughly soaking the soil periodically, rather than watering little and often, which will just moisten just the surface of the soil encouraging shallow rooting and making the plants more susceptible to drought later on.

The best time to water is in the evening to minimise the loss through evaporation. Watering at this time will also eliminate any possibility of delicate plants getting scorched by water splashed on foliage and blooms (water droplets act like mini magnifying glasses).

It is always best to use a 'rose' fitted head on watering cans and hoses, to create a fine spray rather than a jet of water.

Generally, it is ideal to wet as little of the plant as possible, as diseases living on the stems and leaves may be able to infect othere areas of the plant easily. Also try to avoid 'soil splash' (where the soil is flicked up onto the plant during watering) for the same reasons as above.

(checked by Rowan Blaik)