Vinca plants, also called periwinkle, is a popular plant known for its “eye” at the center of blooms. This plant can either be an annual or a perennial.
Many gardeners enjoy growing vinca for their beautiful blooms and striking foliage. If you are growing your own vincas, it’s important to keep in mind how to properly care for your plant.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at how often to water your vincas. The answer will vary depending on a few factors. We’ll analyze those factors and how they affect your vinca plant’s watering needs.
How often to water vinca plants
When it comes to how often to water vinca plants, the answer depends on a variety of factors:
- Is the vinca plant planted in a pot or in the ground?
- Is it in direct sunlight or does it only get a partial day of direct sunlight?
- What has the weather been like recently?
Generally speaking, the best way to determine how often to water your vinca plant is to check the top half-inch of soil for dampness. As a rule of thumb, if it’s dried out, give the vinca plant some water. If it’s still damp or moist in the top half-inch, then no need to water the vinca plant.
Watering vincas seedlings
When it comes to how often to water vinca seedlings, you want to make sure you give your young vinca plant the water it needs for its early growth.
Sometimes vinca plant seedlings are grown in bunches. These may soak up moisture faster, so keep tabs on the dampness of the soil for these seedlings.
It’s best to water them lightly more frequently than watering them a lot less frequently. Seedlings are more susceptible to “drowning” when they are overwatered. Too much water at once can also cause the plant to uproot itself, as soil washes away easier when the plant doesn’t have a solid root structure in place.
Plan on watering your vincas seedlings every few days, or even daily. Keep an eye on the surface level dryness of the soil, and give the seedlings a sprinkle if it doesn’t look moist.
Vinca plant seedlings are faster to show it if they don’t have enough water, so if the plant is wilting and the soil is dry, not enough water is probably the problem.
Watering an established vinca plant
Established vinca plants should be watered when the top half-inch of soil is dry. Below are specific growing scenarios and information on how often to water the vinca plant for each.
When to water vincas that is planted outside
Vinca planted outside is often healthier, as there’s more chance of direct sunlight, and airflow generally helps to protect it against disease.
Plan on watering your established vinca plant a few times a week when it’s planted outside. If you’re not sure whether it needs to be watered, you can check if the surface level soil is moist, or if the vinca plant is wilting.
When to water vincas that is planted inside
Vinca plants that are planted inside may not need as much water, as direct sunlight is normally not available. Be extra careful that you aren’t over watering the vinca plant inside.
If the vinca plant is wilting, that could be a sign that it is under or over-watered. Check how moist the soil is to know the difference before watering the vinca plant more.
When to water vinca planted in the landscape
Vinca plants that are planted in the landscape are able to pull up some moisture from the ground, so it won’t need to be watered as much as vinca plants are grown in a container.
Again, check how damp the soil is to determine if the plant needs some water.
When to water vinca planted in containers
As mentioned previously, vincas that is planted in a container will need to be watered more frequently since they don’t have natural water in the ground as a source of hydration.
Things to consider
There are numerous factors to consider when determining how often to water your vinca plant. Factors like weather, sunlight, the season of the year, and spacing all play a rule.
Weather
Spring weather is generally rainier in some areas, so you may not need to water your vinca plant as much. Be careful that you don’t overwater your vinca plant in a season with a lot of rain.
Sunlight exposure
Most vinca plant varieties grow great in full sunlight, but in the heat of the summer, you’ll need to keep these plants watered well.
Vinca plants that are grown in full sun will dry out fast, especially if they are getting direct sunlight during the noon of the day.
The good thing about vinca plants is that they are more drought resistant than other annuals. For this reason, they are a popular plant to grow around a mailbox where you may not have as easy access to water them.
Season
Depending on the season, you may not need to water your vinca plant as much. In the fall, when the vinca plant is more established and the cooler weather sets in, you may only need to water the vinca plant once a week.
Spacing
Vinca plants that are planted close together will compete for the same water, and as a result, you’ll need to water them more.
Tips for watering your vinca plant
Here are some tips for watering your vinca plants.
Your vinca plant may wilt with too much water or too little
Keep in mind that a vinca plant that is wilting does not necessarily always need water. Sometimes vinca plants wilt when they have too much water.
Always check the soil dryness to determine if you should give the vinca plant some water.
It may not be a watering problem, but a fertilizing problem
If the plant is wilting or looking yellow/discolored, it may not be your watering that is the problem. You may want to check the fertilizer level of the soil it’s planted in to see if that’s the problem.
Make sure your pot has adequate draining
If you are planting your vinca in a pot, it’s very important that the pot has proper drainage. vincas are susceptible to root rot or other diseases if water does not drain through the soil, so well-drained soil is essential.
All pots and containers for vinca growing should have at least one hole in them to help with drainage.
Repotting
If the vinca plant needs watering a lot, you may want to re-pot the plant so that it has more soil to spread its roots in.
Recap: watering your vinca plant
In conclusion, there are many factors that will affect how often you’ll need to water your vinca plant. The best and most simple thing to do is check the moisture level in the top half-inch of soil to determine if it needs some water.
