When watering the Engelmann's aster, you should aim to use filtered water that is at room temperature. Filtered water is better for this plant, as tap water can contain particles that are harmful to its health. The reason that the water should be at room temperature or slightly warmer is that the Engelmann's aster comes from a warm environment, and cold water can be somewhat of a shock to its system. Also, you should avoid overhead watering for this plant, as it can cause foliage complications. Instead, simply apply your filtered room temperature water to the soil until the soil is entirely soaked. Soaking the soil can be very beneficial for this plant as it moistens the roots and helps them continue to spread through the soil and collect the nutrients they need.

Both overwatering and underwatering will be detrimental to the health of your Engelmann's aster, but overwatering is a far more common issue. When this species receives too much water, its stems and leaves may begin to wilt and turn from green to yellow. Overwatering over a prolonged period may also lead to diseases such as root rot, mold, and mildew, all of which can kill your plant. Underwatering is far less common for the Engelmann's aster, as this plant has decent drought tolerance. However, underwatering remains a possibility, and when it occurs, you can expect to find that the leaves of your Engelmann's aster have become brittle and brown. It is crucial that you notice the signs of overwatering as soon as possible when caring for your Engelmann's aster. Some of the diseases that arise from overwatering, such as root rot, may not be correctable if you wait too long. If you see early signs of overwatering, you should reduce your watering schedule immediately. You may also want to assess the quality of soil in which your Engelmann's aster grows. If you find that the soil drains very poorly, you should replace it immediately with a loose, well-draining potting mix. On the other hand, if you find signs that your Engelmann's aster is receiving too little water, all you need to do is water more regularly until those signs have subsided.

If your plant is in a pot. The most precise way to decide whether your Engelmann's aster needs water is to plunge your finger into the soil. If you notice that the first two to three inches of soil have become dry, it is time to add some water. If you grow your Engelmann's aster outdoors in the ground, you can use a similar method to test the soil. Again, when you find that the first few inches of soil have dried out, it is time to add water. During the spring and early fall, this method will often lead you to water this plant about once every week. When extremely hot weather arrives, you may need to increase your watering frequency to about twice or more per week. With that said, mature, well-established the Engelmann's aster can show an admirable ability to withstand drought.

When it comes time to water your Engelmann's aster, you should not be shy about how much water you give. With the first two to three inches of soil dry, this plant will appreciate a long and thorough watering. Supply enough water to soak the soil entirely. The amount of water you add should be enough to cause excess water to flow through the drainage holes at the bottom of your pot. If you don’t see excess water draining from the pot, you have likely underwatered your plant. But do not let the water accumulate inside the soil, which will be very dangerous to the plant as well. Alternatively, a lack of water draining through the pot could indicate poorly draining soils, which is detrimental to the health of this plant and should be avoided. If the plant is outside, 1 inch of rain per week will be sufficient.

The water needs of the Engelmann's aster can change depending on growth stages as well. For example, when your Engelmann's aster is in the first few years of its life, or if you have just transplanted it to a new growing location, you will need to give more water than usual. During both of those stages, your Engelmann's aster will put a lot of energy towards sprouting new roots that will then support future growth. For those roots to perform their best, they need a bit more moisture than they would at a more mature phase. After a few seasons, your Engelmann's aster will need much less water. Another growth stage in which this plant may need more water is during the bloom period. Flower development can make use of a significant amount of moisture, which is why you might need to give your Engelmann's aster more water at this time.

The Engelmann's aster will have its highest water needs during the hottest months of the year. During the height of summer, you may need to give this plant water more than once per week, depending on how fast the soil dries out. The opposite is true during the winter. In winter, your plant will enter a dormant phase, in which it will need far less water than usual. In fact, you may not need to water this plant at all during the winter months. However, if you do water during winter, you should not do so more than about once per month. Watering too much at this time will make it more likely that your Engelmann's aster will contract a disease.

It is most common to grow the Engelmann's aster indoors for any gardener that does not live in temperate and tropical regions. Those gardeners should consider the fact that soil in a container can dry out a bit faster than ground soil. Also, the presence of drying elements such as air conditioning units can cause your Engelmann's aster to need water on a more frequent basis as well. if you planted it outside. When that is the case, it’s likely you won’t need to water your Engelmann's aster very much at all. If you receive rainfall on a regular basis, that may be enough to keep your plant alive. Alternatively, those who grow this plant inside will need to water it more often, as allowing rainwater to soak the soil will not be an option.

Unlike plants that require full, indirect sunlight, tropical herbs that prefer full shade need very little direct sunlight to grow. These plants typically require only a few hours of indirect light each day to thrive. While you should still place your full shade tropical herb near a window, it's important to ensure that the plant is never exposed to too much sunlight. If you're growing your full shade tropical herb indoors, you can provide it with the necessary light by placing it near a north-facing window or by using a grow light. A fluorescent or LED grow light can help mimic the soft, dappled light that your plant would receive in its natural environment.

If your full shade tropical herb isn't getting enough sunlight, it may become leggy and weak. The leaves may also start to yellow and drop off, and the plant may stop growing. If you notice any of these signs, try moving your plant to a brighter location or providing it with additional light. Be careful not to expose the plant to direct afternoon sunlight, as this can cause sunburn.

Tropical herbs that prefer full shade can be extremely sensitive to direct sunlight. If your plant is exposed to too much light, the leaves may start to turn yellow or brown and may eventually drop off. Additionally, the plant may become stunted and stop growing. If you notice any signs of sunburn or overexposure to light, move your plant to a shadier location or provide it with additional shade. In conclusion, understanding the sunlight requirements of your tropical herbs is crucial to keeping them healthy and happy. Full shade tropical herbs require only a few hours of indirect light each day to thrive, and ensure that the plant is never exposed to too much sunlight. By providing your plant with the right amount of light and shade, you can help ensure that it grows strong and healthy.

Engelmann's aster prefers cooler weather, and has a specific temperature range you can keep it within to maximize growth. For Engelmann's aster to be as healthy as it possible can, you could keep them between the temperatures 65~75℉(18~25℃). Engelmann's aster can handle higher and lower heat levels, but whenever possible, try to keep the area you grow them in within several degrees of 65~75℉(18~25℃). If you can’t keep Engelmann's aster precisely within that range, it doesn’t mean they will stop growing. Engelmann's aster can handle a higher and lower range before they begin to suffer damage or reduced growth. On the higher end, that temperature would that would fall between 75~85℉(25~30℃). On the lower end, Engelmann's aster can handle temperatures as low as 5℉(-15℃). The higher temperature range is the most important to observe, as Engelmann's aster prefers cooler environments. Letting temperatures get above the upper range may cause growth to slow, and having Engelmann's aster above 85℉(30℃) could result in the plant dying.

Too much heat early in the growing stages of Engelmann's aster may give it an unhealthy appearance, so it's important to keep your growing space between 65~75℉(18~25℃). You’ll want to stay in the colder part of this range as Engelmann's aster, but make sure not to go below -5℉(-20℃). Extremely cold temperatures can hinder growth at any stage for Engelmann's aster, though they aren’t nearly as damaging as extremely hot temperatures. If temperatures are kept high during the budding stage, Engelmann's aster may not flower at all.

Tip #1: Grow in the Coldest Room of Your Home If you plan to grow Engelmann's aster indoors, make sure to choose the coldest room of your home. This will usually be on the side of your house that doesn’t experience the harsh heat that the sun can produce in the middle of the day. At the same time, you’ll need to ensure the room does get a healthy amount of sunlight. While you’ll want to spare your plants from the brightest and hottest part of the day, zero sunlight can drastically reduce Engelmann's aster ability to grow. Tip #2: If Engelmann's aster Doesn’t Flower Properly, It May Be Too Hot The growing season for Engelmann's aster, spring and early summer, can occasionally come with high temperatures. These fluctuations can negatively affect the growing stage of Engelmann's aster, causing flowering buds to change into non-flowering buds. These buds will open partially, or in some cases not at all, causing Engelmann's aster to lose some of its aesthetic quality. It's important to stay in the range of 65~75℉(18~25℃), for that reason, so your Engelmann's aster can flower to its full potential. Tip #3: Avoid Frost While Engelmann's aster can tolerate lower temperatures, as low as -5℉(-20℃), it will not do well if it encounters significant frost. If left out in the colder temperatures of late fall or winter, Engelmann's aster will begin to show the signs of frost damage. To recognize the signs of frost damage, you’ll look for several key aesthetic changes. First, parts of Engelmann's aster will begin to wilt. Then, those sections will start to become discolored, eventually turning brown or black as they die. Any parts of Engelmann's aster that turn these colors cannot be saved, and will have to be pruned if you intend to keep the plant alive.

It's important to keep the temperature of your growing area steady regardless of season. If you live in an area with harsh winters or very hot summers, it may be best to put your plants inside. That way, you can keep them in a cool room where Engelmann's aster would be able to grow in the best possible conditions. If you do leave your plants outside, make sure to observe the temperature closely. If the summer’s get especially hot in your climate-zone, make sure that your plants aren’t exposed to temperatures above 85℉(30℃). This will dehydrate and damage Engelmann's aster quickly, and before long, they will begin to die.

If you intend to place Engelmann's aster outside, you’ll want to make sure that it has shade from the heat of the midday sun. While Engelmann's aster does need plentiful sunlight to grow to its full potential, direct sunlight can cause a rise in temperature and damage certain elements of the plant. Choose an area that has shade providing structures or tall trees that can shield Engelmann's aster from the hottest parts of the day. If your climate isn’t appropriate for Engelmann's aster or you don’t have the proper space in your garden, you can also plant them inside. Controlling the temperature is much easier indoors, and having proper fans, ventilation, or an A/C unit will allow you to stay within the optimum range of 65~75℉(18~25℃).