The Coastal Gardener: Use water wisely to cure heat stress

But that's not all. When stomata are closed, a plant is not pulling water from its roots, up through its veins and into its leaves, which further contributes to the "stressed" appearance of the plants. Without water transpiring through open stomata, nothing is being drawn up from the root zone, including nutrients. Without nutrients growth is slowed and flowers and fruit may even fall from the plant, a common complaint of those who grow summer tomatoes.

By understanding how water is used in plants, you will be able to use it more wisely. Often, more water applied to the roots may not help. Maybe just a spritz is all the plant needs.

RON VANDERHOFF is the nursery manager at Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar.

Question: Last year I went to the OC Master Gardener fall Gardening Seminar in Huntington Beach. When is it this year?

Jack

Huntington Beach

Answer: The eighth annual OC Master Gardener Gardening Seminar will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Huntington Beach Central Library. More information and registration is available at http://www.uccemg.com. It may be the best six hours of gardening training available in Orange County. Don't miss it.

ASK RON your toughest gardening questions, and the expert nursery staff at Roger's Gardens will come up with an answer. Please include your name, phone number and city, and limit queries to 30 words or fewer. E-mail stumpthegardener@rogersgardens.com, or write to Plant Talk at Roger's Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.