Aside from the watering schedule, you also need to use the correct type of watering hose to supply water to the base of the plant. Using a sprinkler hose will be not only inefficient but also causes several fungus-related issues for your plant. So, to avoid fungus growth, you should constantly water the base of the plant. A common question that people ask when they first start gardening is, why do plants wilt without water. So, let us help you with a few reasons why your plant needs water to survive and will start wilting if you don’t meet their water requirements.
Why Do Plants Wilt Without Water?
1. Dehydrated Cells
Water is arguably one of the essential components of a plant. Usually, a plant is made up of around 70 to 90 percent water. The plant cells rely on water for photosynthesis and to stay healthy and erect. However, once you stop providing water to the plant, it will start wilting. That’s because the dehydrated plant cells don’t have enough integrity to maintain their shape. The stems and leaves begin to droop, and you will notice the plant surface getting dryer.
These cells have to be hydrated with water to maintain their perfect and sturdy position. So, if you were wondering about this question, dehydration of plant cells is the main problem. You need the plant to have contentious access to moisture and water to maintain the integrity of its cells. But once the water flow stops coming in, there is not enough water for the roots to supply to the leaves.
This is why you will often notice plant leaves drying out quickly as compared to the whole plant. It wilts in sections, starting with leaves, then stems, and then roots. However, giving too much water can also cause damage to the plant. So, before planting anything, you need to do your research on the plant requirements and watering schedule.
2. Nutrient Deficiency
Another reason your plants might be wilting without water is that once the water supply stops, plants can’t access the nutrients present in the soil. Plants can’t survive from photosynthesis alone and need essential nutrients from the soil to maintain their proper structure. But once the nutrients stop coming along with water, there is not enough strength left in the plant to remain erect throughout the day.
So, along with hydrating the plant cells, water is also responsible for transferring nutrients from the soil to the plant leaves and stem. If the soil is dry and there is no moisture, the roots won’t have access to any nutrients, and you will be stuck with a wilted plant. This is why you need to follow proper watering schedules to maintain your garden over the long run.
Aside from this, you should also try switching the soil mixture with a little bit of compost to help improve water retention abilities. So, if you’re struggling with water draining too fast from the soil, then this solution might just be the perfect thing to match your requirements.
3. Photosynthesis
One of the most crucial elements to encouraging plant growth is the process of photosynthesis. The plant relies on the water supply to complete photosynthesis. It does so while also acting as the transferring medium between roots and leaves. So, for plants to develop their food through photosynthesis, they need an adequate water supply. If there is not enough water, then the plants won’t follow through with this process and die out in a few weeks.
This is another reason why plants wilt without water. There is just not enough food development in the plant to sustain its vertical structure throughout the process. So, you need to put special care into the plant’s watering requirements. That is if you want to maintain a healthy garden over the long run.
The wagering requirements may vary from plant to plant, and you should have done your homework about caring techniques before planting anything in your garden. There are plenty of plants that can survive in extreme weather conditions with a low water supply. So, if you have one of these plants in the garden, you don’t need to worry about water much. However, if you ignore the plant for several weeks at a time, then even the most resilient plants will eventually die.