The best time to water is early in the morning, before the full heat of the day. At that time, the soil can absorb water without it evaporating too quickly, and plants get the moisture they need to handle the upcoming sun. Morning watering also gives leaves time to dry out during the day, which helps prevent fungal problems.
If mornings are impossible for you, late afternoon or early evening is the second-best option. Avoid watering late at night if you can, because consistently wet leaves sitting in darkness encourage mould and disease.
Midday watering isn’t ideal in strong sun, because a lot of water is lost to evaporation and the soil can’t hold it well. But if your plants are severely drooping and clearly stressed, it’s better to give them a drink than watch them suffer. The “rules” are helpful, but your plant’s condition always wins.
