Surely it's better to water the plants in the day than not at all??

[Bemyclementine]

Apparently I shouldn't be watering the plants now as the sun will scorch them. I know for a fact I wontvdo it later, so surely better to do them now than not at all? I water them at the base, not all over the leaves/flowers.

Yes it is, and yes if you water directly into the soil you won't be scorching the leaves. Of course the ideal is to water in the evening, but life isn't always that simple.

As RatherBeRiding says.

MYTHBUSTER ALERT

Plants do not get scorched leaves from having water on them. That would be a ridiculous way for them to have evolved over the last 50 million years or so. Scorched leaves are caused by a shortage of water and/or wind burn.

If you don't believe me - what happens when there's a sudden thunderstorm on a hot sunny day? It pours with rain, the leaves get soaked, and then the sun comes out again and shines on the wet leaves. They don't get damaged.

Water the plants as soon as they need it - if you leave it until they're wilting, then damage has already been caused to the roots and soft tissues. That is what causes leaf problems, not getting the foliage wet.

Some flowers go funny if they get wet, but that is usually large-flowered hybrids bred by people, not by nature.

@Bemyclementine Water them as soon as possible, and don't listen to people who say you shouldn't. They are talking rubbish.

Ah thank you so much! I will continue.

@Bemyclementine The best time of day to water plants is first thing in the morning, so they have plenty of water available by the time they need it later on. When it is really hot like this, many in pots or hanging baskets might need watering again in the evening as well.

But... those are ideals, not strict rules. If a plant is drying out and needs watering, and you don't water it, then it will suffer. Why wait and risk its health?

I've always been told to water late evening so that it soaks down to the roots and doesn't evaporate off the surface in the sun.

Yes, this.

I always water in the evening but of course watering at any time of day is better than not watering at all.

So long as you water the roots only, not the leaves, you'll be fine.

I think watering in the evening, even though it smells lovely, encourages slugs and snails. All that lovely dark dampness.

I'd say water in the morning first thing.

I was aways told never to water at night as it attracts slugs and snails. I do it first thing and dinner time if greenhouse needs it. If anything looks a bit sorry in the sun I just water the soil.
Everybody has their own way.