Watering your houseplants can be a daunting task to master. But it does not always have to be like this. By learning a few tips, you can transform the health of your houseplants.
So, how often should you water houseplants? A good number of houseplants need watering every 1 to 3 weeks. You should track your houseplants and water them when necessary, rather than on a schedule. The frequency of watering will depend on the type and size of the plant, the type, and size of the pot, humidity, temperature, and rate of growth.
In this article, you will learn when you are meant to water your houseplants. There are a few easy ways to tell when your house plants require watering, and once you know this, it is difficult to go wrong.
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When to Water Your Houseplants
- Watch for Signs of Wilting
Drooping or wilting leaves can often indicate that your plants are stuffing from lack of water. Be keen to use this in combination with assessing the soil since there are other factors that can cause wilting, including diseases or overwatering. It is crucial to treat the right cause of wilting in your plants rather than making the problem worse.
- Feel the soil Through the drainage holes
Use the tips of your finger to feel the bottom of the potting soil through the drainage holes in the bottom of the plant pot. This will enable you to assess the dryness of the soil to help determine whether watering is needed.
- Monitor the weight of the Plant Pot
You can use the weight of the plant pot to test how much water is in the soil. Wet soil is much heavier than dry soil. Therefore, there will be a remarkable weight difference between a potted plant that has been watered and one that is dry. With some practice, you will pick when to water your houseplants just by lifting them.
- Type of plant
Several plants thrive in wet conditions while others in dry conditions. Some can withstand drying out well before a good soaking, while others need a steadily moist environment. Check your plant water requirements since this will help greatly when assessing whether to water or not.
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- Test Soil Dryness
Poke your index finger into the potting mix around the plant. You feel whether the top few inches of soil are damp. For most plants, the depth at which the soil is dry is a good indicator of when to water the plant.
- Use a moisture meter
If you want to be a bit more exact about the process, you could use a moisture meter to gauge whether your plants require watering. These are reliable and inexpensive and can make a huge difference if you are having difficulties.
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Factors that Affect How Often You Water Your Plant
Temperature
Higher indoor temperatures will enhance evaporation and the metabolic rate of your plants, implying they will dry faster. There may be considerable variation in the temperature of your house from summer to winter and from one room to the next.
Rooms that are exposed to a lot of suns during the day can be considerably warmer, greatly affecting the watering requirements of your plants.
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Size of Plant
Larger plants require more water compared to smaller ones. With more vegetation, larger plants absorb more through their roots, use more for respiration and lose more through transpiration.
Having this in mind, younger plants, which are experiencing a rapid growth rate, can sometimes have higher water needs than larger plants that are not actively growing.
Type of Pot
Porous materials like terracotta lose water much faster than plastic pots, which prevent any water from getting through the sides of the pot. Try to select a pot type based on the type of houseplants you are growing. Plants that thrive in arid conditions and well-draining potting mix will do better in clay pots.
Humidity
The moisture content of the growing environment has a remarkable impact on the rate of evaporation of water from the soil and the rate of transpiration from the leaves.
Homes tend to have lower humidity levels during winter when windows are shut, and the heating is on. Have this in mind when thinking about whether your plant needs to be watered or not.
Type of Potting Mix
If you would like to retain water more readily in the soil, use pot soil with higher amounts of organic material or tiny, tightly packed particles. Adding perlite, sand, or vermiculite will enhance drainage.
You can get premade potting soil tailored to your plant, but it is cheaper and easier to make your own, and you can tailor it exactly to the needs of your plants.
Size of Pot
Select a pot size suited to the plant. Choose smaller pots for plants that love potting media to dry out rapidly. Select larger pots for plants that like evenly moist conditions.
Ventilation
Circulating air will enhance evaporation and hence increase the water needs of your plants. Moderate ventilation is an excellent thing for plants since it can reduce the risk of disease, but it will increase water requirements.
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Time of Year
The time of the year will play a significant role in how frequently you should water your houseplants. Most houseplants grow much more slowly or are dormant in winter, which will dramatically reduce their water requirements.
Additionally, less sun, ventilation, and cooler temperatures in winter can cause a massive difference in water requirements. Your watering routine will need to adjust if you want to keep your plants thriving.
