Watering in winter

[Palmfarmer]

My usual regiment is I will saturate the soil around my palms with water once its about to get dry. In winter that is roughly once a week of deep watering. 

I am wondering if I should switch it up some on the water loving species such as my Majesties, Royal, queens, Butia, livestona etc.

I am a little worried about rot though since nights are cold. On average I estimate on average the wheater is 22c and 2c at night.

Will those cold nights contribute to rot when watering like a madman? 

Secondly is there really any point in watering again if the soil is still fairly saturated with water? I got sandy clay. 

[peachy]

All the species you mention would laugh at 2c.  They can take -5 easily as long as the frost isn't too heavy. As for watering, I would wait until the soil is really dry before adding more. It depends on the size of the plants really. If they are even half grown I wouldn't water at all as long as there is a bit of winter rainfall. They don't grow in the cold weather so they use very little water.

Peachy

[ruskinPalms]

I shut off my irrigation system in the cooler months for the most part but if we haven’t had rain for a long time and the ground is very dry, I will only let the irrigation run if the temp is forecasted to be 15C or higher at night. The ground doesn’t dry out as much in the cooler months and the plants aren’t really in a rapid growth mode so at best watering when it is too cool is a waste of water and at worst it will promote rot etc.  Now for potted plants, it may be a little different as they dry out easier and may need watered more but at least they can probably be brought inside on colder nights anyway. 

[Palmfarmer]

  On 11/25/2023 at 1:38 PM, ruskinPalms said:

I shut off my irrigation system in the cooler months for the most part but if we haven’t had rain for a long time and the ground is very dry, I will only let the irrigation run if the temp is forecasted to be 15C or higher at night. The ground doesn’t dry out as much in the cooler months and the plants aren’t really in a rapid growth mode so at best watering when it is too cool is a waste of water and at worst it will promote rot etc.  Now for potted plants, it may be a little different as they dry out easier and may need watered more but at least they can probably be brought inside on colder nights anyway. 

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I will stick to my regular method then and up the watering once night tempratures are around 5. If I followed your rule I would barely water my plants. 15c at night is summer wheater here. It's Pretty much pinned at 30/15 in the summer. 

[Palmfarmer]

  On 11/26/2023 at 11:37 PM, Palmfarmer said:

I will stick to my regular method then and up the watering once night tempratures are around 5. If I followed your rule I would barely water my plants. 15c at night is summer wheater here. It's Pretty much pinned at 30/15 in the summer. 

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Below 5 celcius my Royal slows to a crawl. 

I am surprised by it.