This article will discuss anti-desiccant sprays and their importance to plants.
Also, we’ll consider the application procedures, the duration it lasts until another application is needed, and plant suitability for such treatment.
So, is this product for you? You’ll need to read on for such details.
Anti Transpirant Spray for Plants
Also called anti-transpirants, anti-desiccant sprays perform the critical function of protecting plants from losing moisture through their leaves.
This specially formulated product is sprayed to cover leaves with runoff and allowed to dry. When dry, it sticks in place to keep vital moisture in.
About Anti-Desiccant Spray
You may have used or heard about anti-desiccant sprays as a plant lover.
It’s also possible that you’re just learning about it for the first time. Anti-desiccant sprays are explicitly designed to guard against winter injury.
When sprayed onto leaves, it dries into a waxy coating, reducing water loss from foliage, especially those of evergreens. Rapid drying of plant foliage is more common in extreme weather conditions like winter.
Without some form of preventive action, plants are likely to die off.
This is where anti-desiccant sprays come in handy. To better appreciate the benefits, you’ll need to consider that the soil is mainly frozen during winter.
This makes water absorption through the roots practically impossible. To make things worse, the plant loses moisture through its leaves.
With the help of an anti-desiccant, this moisture loss is significantly slowed down, thus preventing winter desiccation injury. So, do all trees require such treatment?
What happens when you leave your plants unattended? These and other similar questions will be answered as you read on.
What Plants are Anti-Desiccant Sprays Meant for?
It’s pretty common to find or hear questions like this being asked. It’s a good question that helps with better use of this product (anti-desiccant sprays).
Not all plants require help during the winter. The most vulnerable are mostly tender stems, broad-leaved evergreens, and conifers.
Some plants, like the blue spruce, have their natural waxy coating that helps prevent moisture loss. As such, they won’t need any assistance like the use of an anti-transpirant.
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Tender Stems
Tender stems are among plants that require some help with moisture retention. Without products like anti-desiccant spray, these are likely to be affected by winter injury.
Plants in this category include hydrangea and rose cane stems.
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Broad-Leaved Evergreens
Broad-leaved evergreens are also among plants requiring help with moisture retention. Examples of plants in this category include rhododendron, azalea, holly, and boxwood.
With leaves having a wider surface area, these tend to lose moisture faster with no backup or replenishment from the roots.
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Conifers
Conifers require anti-desiccants to keep moisture loss to a bare minimum. Specific plants in this category include pine, arborvitae, juniper, cedar, and cypress.
If you have any of these, you might want to get yourself an anti-desiccant for better maintenance of your plants.
How to Apply Anti-Desiccant Spray on Plants
Whatever anti-transparent product you buy, one sure thing is the directions for use found on the product label. That should be your primary source of information regarding how to apply the product.
While that is true, offering general use guidance for such products is essential.
To begin with, you’ll need to choose a day with favorable weather conditions. Not every time is ideal for spraying, as you can do so too early. Also, a thorough application is needed for the best results.
Let’s further discuss each of these procedures to give you a better idea of how to proceed.
i. Choose a Favorable Day
Picking a good day is more about considering the weather conditions.
You’ll need to be attentive to the weather forecast to know when it’s time to apply your anti-desiccant spray treatment. Ideally, there should be no rain forecast for a few days.
Also critical is the need to wait until temperatures are within the 40s to 50s range.
You’re ready to start the application process with no rain forecasted for several days and an ideal temperature range.
ii. Proper Timing is Essential
The best time for anti-desiccant spray application is usually around December.
They are spraying before this time is considered too early and could cause damage to your plants. It’s best to allow plants to be fully dormant.
Another reason why applying too early will prove damaging to plants is because water could get trapped within the leaves. When it does, freezing temperatures will cause the leaves to freeze.
This bursts and damages plant cells. So, you’ll have to pay close attention to timing to make things go smoothly.
iii. Thoroughly Drench your Plants
The spraying process shouldn’t be rushed at all. You’ll need to take time to cover all plant parts.
Moisture loss in plants happens both above and below the leaves. So, it’s necessary to drench these areas and other parts of the plant to ensure proper protection.
Again, the processes mentioned are only a rough guide on how to proceed with the application of anti-desiccant spray on plants. You’ll do well to read through the manufacturer’s directions for use carefully.
This provides more definite guidance on how to go about the process.
By sticking to this instruction, you can get a much better result than spraying haphazardly.
How Long Does Plant Anti-Desiccant Treatment Last?
It’s necessary to have a clear idea of the duration of treatment.
Again, you’ll need to refer to the product label for such information. Most anti-desiccants will help retain moisture for six months. This should be enough time for treatment to sustain plants through winter.
By spring, the layer eventually wears off naturally without needing any intervention. This treatment process can be repeated as the next winter season steps in.
By then, you should have no issues whatever with treating your plants.
There are lots of anti-desiccant spray products in the market. These are carefully formulated to offer better plant protection. You might want to go with natural products for the best results.
With the details on anti-desiccant sprays laid bare, you can better choose what to use and what plants to apply.