Gardening may seem difficult, but it doesn't have to be if you understand what your plants are trying to tell you.
Luckily, gardener and Instagram influencer Michelle (@gardensandchickens) has revealed one key sign plant lovers should look out for to conserve water and keep their gardens fresh: all you have to do is look at the leaves of your plants.
scoop
No matter what plants you have in your garden, most of them are known to soak up a lot of water and moisture in order to grow, but sometimes they can get too much.
In an Instagram post, Michelle revealed that, as explained by the University of Missouri, many plants show warning signs that they have enough water through a process called guttation.
Gardeners and plant lovers can notice this sign when there are water droplets on the tips of the plant's leaves, which usually occurs at night or early in the morning, Michelle revealed.
“This phenomenon is caused by root pressure, which occurs when the soil is highly moist. This pressure causes water containing dissolved minerals to rise up the plant and exit through special structures on the edges and tips of the leaves,” she wrote in the caption.
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She explained that this process is not harmful to the plants — in fact, experts say it could be a sign that the plant is healthy.
“Think of it as your garden giving you little signs that you don't need to water that day,” Michelle says.
How it helps
It's important to pay attention to what your garden needs to avoid overwatering and damaging your plants. If your plants show signs of root dieback, consider reducing the amount of water you give them. This sign of excess moisture is a great opportunity for gardeners to make a plan to conserve water for other parts of the lawn.
Keeping your garden healthy and productive is one of the main ways you can reap the benefits of growing native plants and foods in your backyard: Gardening has been shown to enhance personal well-being by increasing physical activity, reducing stress, improving mental health, and promoting healthy eating habits.
Growing your own food is also a great way to minimize personal waste and reduce your pollution footprint and environmental impact, making it an eco-friendly lifestyle. Growing your own produce has also been shown to save homeowners thousands of dollars. For an investment of $70, you can produce up to 300 pounds of fresh produce each year, typically worth about $600.
These benefits make it even more important to recognize the signs of not enough or too much water to keep your garden healthy and productive.
What's everyone saying?
Many gardeners have raved about Michelle's discovery, with at least one person saying they've seen water droplets on their plants.
“I've seen this dripping from my calla lily plants,” one Instagram user wrote.
“Good to know. Thanks for sharing,” another user wrote.
“Oh my, this is so cool!” said a third.
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