The Effects of Hot Water on Lima Bean Growth

Plant Damage

• Plants are very sensitive to the temperature of the water used to hydrate them. Certain species of lima beans have a greater capacity for heat resistance than others. Using hot water on the Andean lima bean plant, which grows in cooler more elevated climates, can burn the plant's root system, stunting growth or killing the plant outright. Other lima bean species, like the Meso-American lima bean, have a greater heat tolerance, and the use of hot water does not affect them unless the temperature of the water is outside of that which can occur in nature. Throwing boiling water on a plant will still kill it.

Bacterial Growth

• Bacteria grows best in warm dark spaces. Adding hot water to the soil of lima bean plants encourages the growth of harmful bacteria that can infect the plant's root system. These types of root-rotting infestations cause lima bean plants to wither quickly, produce no crops and die. Using cooler water can keep the potential for bacterial growth to a minimum and gives your plants the best chance for survival.

Crop Yields

• According to the University of Delaware Department of Agriculture, high temperatures can have an adverse effect on the crop yields of lima bean plants. Using hot water on these plants can only aggravate that condition, lowering the overall pod yield. Temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit and low moisture levels in the the soil tend to reduce pollination of lima bean plants, thereby decreasing the production of pods in the field.