Houseplant Watering Fundamentals

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HOUSE PLANT WATERING FUNDAMENTALS

Here are some watering principles that apply to most indoor potted plants. Following these guidelines will greatly improve your indoor plant success!

• A general starting point for watering many plants is to water weekly, but depending on the type of plant, time of year, and conditions in your home, this could be quite different. References such as our signage will help you determine whether a plant needs continual moisture, some drying or a considerable drying period between waterings.
• Most potted plants, whether they like a lot of moisture or need drying periods, also need well-draining soil and holes in the pot.
• When watering, make sure you supply enough water to pass through the pot and out of the holes. This ensures that fewer salts accumulate in the soil. If the soil has become too dry it may not take up water, shedding it so that it passes between the soil and the pot. Soak the pot in water for an hour, or spray a light water/Dawn solution on soil top to break the surface tension.
• To detect soil moisture, use your finger to dig down an inch or so, depending on the size of the pot. If the pot is small enough to pick up, you can get a feel for the moisture level from the weight of the pot.
• Use tepid, not cold or hot water.
• Use rain or well water (if not too acid), distilled (with regular houseplant fertilization), or reverse-osmosis filtered water. Do not use softened water (too many salts).
• Water less in the winter when plants aren’t growing actively, unless your house is very dry.