What seasonal adjustment should be made to irrigation schedules in Florida during cooler months?

• A. Increase run times and decrease intervals
• B. Reduce run times and increase intervals as evapotranspiration declines and plant water demand lowers.
• C. Turn off irrigation completely
• D. Double the watering during nights

Answer: (B)

Seasonal adjustments should reflect how much water plants actually need. In Florida’s cooler months, evapotranspiration—the amount of water plants lose to the air and soil—drops because temperatures are lower, daylight is shorter, and humidity can be higher. That means plants use less water, so irrigation should be scaled back: shorter run times and longer intervals between cycles. This keeps the root zone moist without overwatering, reduces waste, and helps prevent drainage and disease issues from soggy soil.

Increasing run times and shortening intervals would deliver more water than plants need when ET is low. Turning irrigation off completely isn’t appropriate unless there has been sufficient rainfall or a drought condition. Doubling watering at night isn’t ideal either, as it can promote disease and still wastes water if the plant demand is low.