Let’s talk watering because it’s a common question I get when helping people with their plants. How often? How much? There’s a lot of trial and error to watering. Remember, it is also okay to experiment, I have lost a lot of plants over the years and this is how I have learned what plants like and most importantly what they do not! At the end of the day it’s just a plant and if you kill it you will be joining all the other plant experts out there including myself.
The frustrating part about plants is they all have different watering needs. As much as we’d love to be able to water our plants say, every Sunday for example, that’s just not how plants work. I don’t give my plants a specific day/time instead I pay attention to the signs they are showing. But I’m getting ahead of myself, first let’s discuss the basics of watering.
How much do I water?
Whenever you water a plant you need to water it fully! No ice cubes and no half watering! I quite literally drown my plants when they need to be watered. I will water until I see water spilling out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the plant to make sure that all the soil is fully soaked. This goes for EVERY plant, whether it be a calathea, who loves to be damp, or a cactus, that loves to dry out. Every time you water, water fully and deeply so that all the roots can get access to the water they need. I recommend having all your plants in pots that have drainage. You can keep plants alive in pots without drainage but your margin for error is lower, and you are more likely to experience root rot.
How often do I water?
This question is more complex because it depends on the specific plant. Some like to stay damp like calatheas, or certain begonias, others like to dry out completely such as succulents or cacti. So, the important thing is to know your plant. In addition to the specific type of plant their environment will also dictate how often they need water. For example, a plant that is getting plenty of light will need to be watered more often than a plant that sits in a darker spot. A plant that sits near your AC vent will dry out quicker than a plant further away. You may have two of the exact same plant but if they are living in different conditions chances are they may need to be watered at different times.
How do I know a plant needs to be watered?
As I mentioned, it depends on the specific plant but the main way to check if a plant needs to be watered is to get into the soil! The soil is going to hold the moisture and the clue to whether you need to water your plant. The simplest way is to stick your finger into the soil! If your finger comes out with soil on it, it indicates there is still moisture left in the soil. If it comes out relatively clean then it means the soil is dry. Here is my favorite moisture probe! Some plants will need to be dry completely before watering so a moisture probe can be the best way to check soil that your finger otherwise couldn’t reach.
Other cues can also be given that a plant needs water such as wilting or shriveling leaves. However, I find that checking the soil is the most reliable method.
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