Summer Downpours

Being a plant lover is not an easy choice; it comes with many challenges and uncertainties. These challenges become even more difficult when trying to adapt your plants to conditions that are not optimal for them. My husband and I own a small terrace garden featuring nearly 88 different species and a total of 276 plants, including various succulents and houseplants.

Our home is located in a small town called Malda in eastern India, where summers can be described as hot, dry, and partially humid. The highest temperature recorded here was 40 degrees Celsius in the summer of 2016, far beyond what is suitable for growing succulents. The dry, less humid weather presents another challenge for cultivating these beautiful plants on our terrace, which receives about 9 to 10 hours of sunlight daily, with peak temperatures occurring in the mid to late afternoons. While different succulents have different light requirements, ranging from bright filtered light to direct sunlight, the succulents in my garden have adapted to indirect, bright light during the summer.

When I purchased some succulents in December 2019, I placed them in direct sunlight for a few days. Even though it was winter and the temperature was relatively low, I discovered that some succulents had developed brown tips and leaves, a clear sign of sunburn. This prompted me to move them into the shade; however, I quickly realized that they still needed sunlight.

The best solution was to create a transparent or translucent shade over the garden, which would protect the succulents from direct sun while still allowing bright light to reach them. Additionally, this shade would help prevent the plants from being drenched by sudden summer downpours, which are quite frequent during late summer and monsoon season. Although summer temperatures can be scorching, leading to burnt leaves even in the shade, maintaining a high-humidity environment in the garden is key. Nature provides an excellent solution: the "Summer Downpour." Sometimes we experience light drizzles all day, with sunshine at intervals, but mostly we receive heavy rainfall from April to July, alternating with extreme heat. This combination of sun and humidity supports succulent growth.

Water requirements pose another significant challenge. During this time, I risk causing root rot in my plants. The heat dries out the topsoil quickly, while the bottom layer may still be moist, leading to wrinkled and drooping leaves. Nevertheless, it's important to remember that succulents and cacti store water in their leaves and stems, so frequent watering is unnecessary.

So how can we both hydrate the plants and prevent the leaves from drying out? The answer lies in maintaining high humidity. After a downpour, the humidity in the air increases due to water evaporation, which temporarily halts evaporation from the leaves. This allows for water storage within the leaves and stems, keeping them rigid and healthy. Consequently, it’s advisable to water succulents only when the potting soil is completely dry, as excess water can lead to root rot. High humidity will help lower the temperature and prevent leaf burn, even when the plants are under indirect bright light.

If natural humidity is low, such as on windy days when moisture is blown away, I have various DIY methods to artificially increase humidity, as I do not own a humidifier. My strategies include hanging wet clothes randomly around the garden and placing water troughs in sun-exposed areas. Additionally, clustering plants together can help maintain humidity since water continuously evaporates from their leaves, and slow winds cannot easily disperse the moisture-laden air.

The results are unexpectedly beautiful. Take a look at the pictures taken just before a downpour (featured image). I hope this post answers many questions and helps fellow plant lovers manage the extreme climatic changes in India without losing their beloved plants.

P.S. I am a passionate succulent lover. Yes, they are plants too, just accentuating since they are so special.