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Feb 08, 2024

Exactly how much watering does it take to keep your drought and heat

Sarah Acosta, Anchor/Reporter Azian Bermea, Photojournalist SAN ANTONIO – As the triple-digit temperatures keep stacking up this summer, our native heat and drought-tolerant plants are fighting to

Sarah Acosta, Anchor/Reporter

Azian Bermea, Photojournalist

SAN ANTONIO – As the triple-digit temperatures keep stacking up this summer, our native heat and drought-tolerant plants are fighting to survive. Our Avery Everett spoke with a local blogger about that struggle.

We know they are struggling, so how do we keep them alive?

The answer: lots of hand watering. It’s what they are doing at Fannick’s nursery, once, sometimes twice a day.

The manager of Fannick’s Nursery, Mark Fannick, said short shallow waterings won’t cut it.

“A deep soak, a plant 12 inches down on a slow drip or hand watering, you’re going to stand there two to four minutes at least,” Fannick said.

And that’s just for plants in the ground. Fannick said as for potted plants, they need to be watered once a day. Some of the tropical or non-natives like bougainvillea especially when they are in full sun, twice a day. He said to bring them into the shade before 2 p.m.

But most importantly, listen to your plants. “The cool thing about plants, is that they don’t talk to you but they have great sign language,” Fannick said.

How much water:

Your plants talking to you:

What about my roses?

But how much water is enough?

Not all plants need daily or deep watering:

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