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Annuals/watering plants with hot water

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Expert: - 1/11/2010


Question
what is the reasoning for hot water killing plants?
what happens scientifically?

Answer
Emily,
The hot water destroys the cells of plant roots, just as the steam or boiling water in a pot causes spinach to become limp. The cell walls get "cooked" and that causes the structure of the roots to collapse.

Let me know if you need more information.
all the best,
C.L.

Annuals

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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