A question that undoubtedly runs through every new plant parent’s mind is “when should I water my houseplants?” It seems like such a straightforward question but can have many answers! You might hear “when the plant needs it” or “when the soil is dry”. But how do we truly know when these things happen?
Well, the frequency of watering and amount of water you use really depends on the type of plant you have, as well as on factors such as light, temperature and potting medium. However, there are still measures you can take to identify when a plant needs water – especially if it’s not already evident by soft, misshaped or drooping leaves.
My go-to technique to find out when any plant needs water is to use the quick and easy finger test. This involves placing your finger a couple of centimetres (or an inch) into the soil of your plant. If you remove your finger and the soil sticks, avoid watering; if your finger is clean or only minimally covered in dry soil, it’s time to water!
Okay, so let’s say that your plant does in fact need water – how much water do you use or how long do you actually water for? This information is crucial as overwatering kills plants – trust me, I’ve been there and it’s not fun. All of my plants are currently in pots with draining holes at the bottom; because of this, I tend to stop watering when water starts to flow out of the bottom of the pot. Research has shown me that dispersing the water deeply throughout the pot encourages roots to grow bigger and produce bigger plants!
Another method that can be used to water your plants is bottom feeding. This involves placing your plant, that is in a pot with draining holes, into a container (or even a bathtub if you’re watering multiple plants), filled up halfway with water so that your plant can absorb water from the bottom up. It’s generally recommended that your plant be left for around 10-20 minutes or until the top layers of the soil are moist.
If you’re someone who simply doesn’t have the time to implement these methods, don’t worry because I’ve got you covered too! An easy option that removes guesswork and reduces time is to rely on aqua meters! Once placed in soil, these little tools will change colour to indicate when your plants need water!
Thank you for reading! I hope that this has been useful in clarifying any uncertainties about watering. Hopefully you can try out some of these methods for yourself!
For those interested in aqua meters, check out Sustee’s range here!
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let me know here!
Love, Anna XX
All images were personally taken unless stated otherwise.
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