What is the best way to water my European milkvetch?
To water European milkvetch, you can use a garden hose with a spray nozzle, a watering can, or just about any other common watering tool. Generally, European milkvetch is not too picky about how they receive their water, as they can live off of rainwater, tap water, or filtered water. Often, you should try not to water this plant from overhead, as doing so can damage the leaves and flowers and may lead to disease as well. At times, the best method for watering this plant is to set up a drip irrigation system. These systems work well for European milkvetch as they apply water evenly and directly to the soil. For one European milkvetch that grows in a container, you can use a similar watering approach while changing the tools you use. To water a container-grown European milkvetch, use a cup, watering can, or your tap to apply water directly to the soil.
What should I do if I water my European milkvetch too much or too little?
The remedy for underwatering European milkvetch is somewhat obvious. When you notice that your plant lacks moisture, simply begin watering it on a more regular basis. The issue of overwatering can be a much more dire situation, especially if you fail to notice it early. When your European milkvetch is overwatered, it may contract diseases that lead to its decline and death. The best way to prevent this outcome is to choose a proper growing location, one that receives plenty of sunlight to help dry the soil and has good enough drainage to allow excess water to drain rather than pooling and causing waterlogged soils. If you overwater your European milkvetch that lives in a pot, you may need to consider changing it to a new pot. Your previous container may not have contained soil with good drainage or may not have had sufficient drainage holes. As you repot your overwatered European milkvetch, make sure to add loose soils and to use a pot that drains efficiently.
How often should I water my European milkvetch?
European milkvetch needs water regularly throughout the growing season. Beginning in spring, you should plan to water this plant about once per week. As the season presses on and grows warmer, you may need to increase your watering rate to about two to three times per week. Exceeding at this rate can be detrimental to your European milkvetch. With that said, you should also ensure that the soil in which your European milkvetch grows remains relatively moist but not wet, regardless of how often you must water to make that the case. Watering European milkvetch that lives in a pot is a bit different. Generally, you'll need to increase your watering frequency, as the soil in a pot can heat up and dry out a bit faster than ground soil. As such, you should plan to water a container-grown European milkvetch a few times per week in most cases, versus just once per week for an in-ground plant.
How much water does my European milkvetch need?
There are a few different ways you can go about determining how much water to give to your European milkvetch. Some gardeners choose to pick their water volume based on feeling the soil for moisture. That method suggests that you should water until you feel that the first six inches of soil have become moist. Alternatively, you can use a set measurement to determine how much to water your European milkvetch. Typically, you should give your European milkvetch about two gallons of water per week, depending on how hot it is and how quickly the soil becomes dry. However, following strict guidelines like that can lead to overwatering if your plant requires less than two gallons per week for whatever reason. When growing European milkvetch in a container, you will need to use a different method to determine how much water to supply. Typically, you should give enough water to moisten all of the layers of soil that have become dry. To test if that is the case, you can simply stick your finger in the soil to feel for moisture. You can also water the soil until you notice a slight trickle of excess water exiting the drainage holes of your pot.
How can I tell if i'm watering my European milkvetch enough?
It can be somewhat difficult to avoid overwatering your European milkvetch. On the one hand, these plants have relatively deep roots that require you to moisten the soil weekly. On the other hand, European milkvetch are plants that are incredibly susceptible to root rot. Along with root rot, your European milkvetch may also experience browning as a result of overwatering. Underwatering is far less likely for your European milkvetch as these plants can survive for a while in the absence of supplemental watering. However, if you go too long without giving this plant water, it will likely begin to wilt. You may also notice dry leaves.
How should I water my European milkvetch through the seasons?
You can expect your European milkvetch’s water needs to increase as the season moves on. During spring, you should water about once per week. Then, as the summer heat arrives, you will likely need to give a bit more water to your European milkvetch, at times increasing to about three times per week. This is especially true of European milkvetch that grow in containers, as the soil in a container is far more likely to dry out faster than ground soil when the weather is warm. In autumn, while your European milkvetch is still in bloom, it may need a bit less water as the temperature has likely declined, and the sun is no longer as strong as it was in summer.
How should I water my European milkvetch at different growth stages?
European milkvetch will move through several different growth stages throughout the year, some of which may require more water than others. For example, you will probably start your European milkvetch as a seed. While the seed germinates, you should plant to give more water than your European milkvetch will need later in life, watering often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture. After a few weeks, your European milkvetch will grow above the soil and may need slightly less water than at the seedling phase. Then, once this plant is mature, you can begin to use the regular watering frequency of about once per week. As flower development takes place, you may need to give slightly more water to aid the process.
What's the difference between watering European milkvetch indoors and outdoors?
There are several reasons why most European milkvetch grow outdoors rather than indoors. The first is that these plants typically grow to tall. The second reason is that European milkvetch needs more daily sunlight than most indoor growing locations can provide. If you are able to provide a suitable indoor growing location, you may find that you need to give your European milkvetch water a bit more often than you would in an outdoor growing location. Part of the reason for this is that indoor growing locations tend to be a lot drier than outdoor ones due to HVAC units. The other reason for this is that soil in containers can dry out relatively quickly as well compared to soil in the ground.
What is the optimal temperature for European milkvetch?
The best temperature for European milkvetch depends on the time of year. There are two primary seasons to discuss for temperature: the growing season, and the dormancy season. During the growing season, once European milkvetch has begun to sprout, the ideal temperature range should be anywhere from 65~80℉(18~27℃). Any colder than 15℉(-10℃), and the plant will suffer; its leaves may brown and wilt, but if this is a short cold snap, then European milkvetch may be able to survive with some help. During the warmer parts of the year, European milkvetch will need to be similarly protected from temperatures that are too high. 95-105℉ (35-40℃) is the top of this plant’s temperature range, and anything above that will compromise the integrity of the foliage and blooms of European milkvetch. Hotter temperatures can cause wilting, drooping, and even sunburn on the leaves, which can be difficult for European milkvetch to recover from. There are quite a few ways to combat this issue that are quick and easy!
Temperature requirements for first year or seedling European milkvetch
If this is the first year of your European milkvetch outside as a new plant, then it may need a little extra tending during the coldest months of the year. Not only can frost more severely damage a first-year European milkvetch, but it can also prevent it from growing back as a healthy plant come spring. This plant needs to be kept at 40℉(5℃) or above when they’re not yet established, which can be done either by bringing your European milkvetch inside for a month or two, or putting up mulch or fabric barriers that protect from frost damage. It’s also a good idea to plant European milkvetch in a shadier spot during the first year or two, as smaller and weaker plants have a more difficult time maintaining their own temperatures in the heat. First-year European milkvetch should receive no more than five hours of direct sunlight per day, particularly if the ambient daytime temperature gets above 80℉(27℃). Shadecloth and frequent watering or misting are the keys to summer heat control.
How can I protect European milkvetch from extreme temperatures?
If cold temperatures (below 15℉(-10℃)) do occur during the growing season, there are a few measures you can take to help protect European milkvetch from frost or cold damage. If you’re growing European milkvetch in a container, then the container can simply be brought inside in bright, indirect light until the temperatures rise up over the lower threshold again. Another option that’s better suited for ground-planted European milkvetch is to use mulch or horticultural fabric to create an insulated barrier around the plant, which will protect the plant from frost and cold wind. For temperatures that are hotter than 80℉(27℃) in the shade during the day, be careful to only expose European milkvetch to six hours or less of sunlight per day, preferably in the morning hours. Putting up shade cloth, or a fine plastic mesh, can help reduce the amount of direct sunlight that hits the plant during the hottest parts of the day. You can also install a misting system that allows for a slow release of cooling mist around the base of the plant during the day to lower ground temperatures.
Dormant season temperature recommendations for European milkvetch
During the cold winter months, European milkvetch needs a certain measure of cold in order to stay in dormancy until it’s time to sprout. Sprouting too early, that is before the danger of the last frost has passed, can be fatal to European milkvetch, especially if it’s already had a head start when the frost hits. Winter temperatures should ideally stay below 32℉(0℃), but if they get up to 40℉(5℃), everything will be just fine. An unexpected warm spell during the cold months, which can happen in more temperate climates like woodland rainforests, can trigger a premature sprout from European milkvetch. In this case, if there’s still imminent danger of frost, you may want to try covering it with clear plastic on stakes so that the cold has less of a chance of damaging the new sprout. This setup can be removed when the danger of frost has passed. Occasionally, European milkvetch will be able to resprout at the correct time without any help, but this method increases the chances of a successful second sprouting.