To grow and bloom, plants need nutrients, light, and water. Watering is an essential part of growing plants, both indoors and outdoors. It’s what keeps plants from wilting and keeps their foliage vibrant and green. Learn a British houseplant expert’s tip for watering plants successfully.
To have beautiful plants, it is important to know how to do it and how much water they need.
How do you know if houseplants need watering?
indoor plants
To know if your plant needs water or not, you need to rely on two indicators: the soil and the appearance of the plants.
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Soil: Push your finger into the soil to see if it’s dry deep down or still moist. Water your plant if the soil is dry more than 4 inches deep. However, if it’s damp or even soggy, it’s very possible you’ll find traces of mold, both in the soil and on the plant’s roots.
Plant appearance: If plants suffer from a lack of water, their foliage begins to gradually turn yellow, and the edges of the leaves become brown and dry. In addition, the plant begins to wilt and lose shoots and leaves.
How to water indoor plants properly?
watering indoor plants
According to Alex Young, an expert at the Royal Horticultural Society, a British gardening charity, houseplants have different watering needs. In fact, cacti and succulents require a small amount of water. Furthermore, these plants tolerate arid and dry climates well, thanks to their thick, fleshy leaves that retain water. On the other hand, plants with foliage, usually fine foliage, require regular watering. Note that this also applies to plants with buds or flowers, or those growing in smaller pots.
When it comes to watering indoor plants, this expert distinguishes two methods. The first, which is the most common, is to use a watering can. However, Alex advises you to be careful to water the soil and not the leaves. To prevent water from slipping through the pot’s drainage holes, without hydrating the roots, you can place your plant on a drip tray. This way, it will be able to absorb enough water, without it escaping from the holes. On the other hand, do not leave your plant on the tray for long, to avoid excess water that could cause the roots to rot. In addition, when you water your plant abundantly, the leaves become soft, curled, and yellow. As for the roots, they rot and become brown and soft .
The second method of watering plants is to submerge the plant pot in a basin of water. This allows the water to filter through the holes in the pot. Remove your plant from the reservoir when bubbles stop forming on the soil. Please note that this watering method is not suitable for all plants. It is primarily suitable for plants with fuzzy or waxy foliage, plants with very dry soil, or plants whose leaves or flowers cannot be moistened.
Finally, however you water your plants, always make sure to remove any standing water in the saucer or planter to prevent the roots from suffocating or rotting.
While the amount of water each plant needs depends on its type, succulent or not, the water supply also depends, according to this expert, on the seasons. Plants, in fact, need a large amount of water during their vegetative growth period, that is, from spring to late summer. On the other hand, watering should be reduced in winter, as most plants enter dormancy. If we take the example of succulent plants, if they need to be watered every 10 or 14 days during their growth period, between autumn and winter it is still sufficient to water once a month.
What are some tips for successfully watering indoor plants?
watering indoor plants watering can
To successfully water your plants, it’s important to pay attention to the water you use. It should be at room temperature, neither too cold nor too hot, so as not to create thermal shock to the plant and damage its root system. Also, make sure to use non-calcareous water. To do this, consider collecting rainwater, or simply let hard tap water sit in the watering can for a few minutes to give the limescale time to settle at the bottom.
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While watering your plants, also consider misting humidity-loving plants, such as orchids or ficus. In addition to hydrating plants, misting can remove dust from the foliage and eliminate certain pests and parasites.
With these tips, you will be able to water your plants and prevent them from wilting.