How Often Do I Need to Water My Plants?

Most indoor plants don’t require much attention to stay healthy. Regular watering, making sure that they get enough sunlight, a bit of food now and then. However, if you don’t get the watering right, you can soon be left with yellowing leaves, drooping foliage and a very sorry looking plant. The truth is that watering can be a difficult thing to master, but we’re here to give you some tips on how often you should water your plants. 

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How Do I Know that a Plant is Thirsty? 

How often you need to water your plants is dependent on the type and size of plant, type and size of pot, the temperature, the humidity levels, and the plant’s rate of growth. 

That said, most plants need to be watered every 7-21 days. However, rather than set up a watering schedule, you should monitor your plants to see whether they need watering. Before you assess whether your plant is thirsty, you’ll need to know a little about the plant itself. Some plants love dry conditions, others thrive in wet conditions. Some plants like to dry out completely followed by a thorough soaking. Others need the environment to be consistently moist. Therefore, knowing your plant’s water requirements will help you to assess whether to water it or not. 

Once you know what your plant needs, it’s easy to see whether a plant requires water is by using one or more of the following methods: 

Test Soil Dryness – to test the soil, simply stick your index finger into the soil or potting medium around your plant to feel whether the top few inches are damp. The depth of the dry soil is a good indicator of whether the plant needs water. 

Monitor the Weight of the Pot – another simple way to check whether a plant needs water is to pick up the pot. Dry soil is lighter than wet soil so, if you use this method regularly, you’ll easily be able to tell whether there is plenty of water still in the pot. 

Check the Drainage Holes – you can also assess soil dryness by feeling the bottom of the potting medium through the drainage holes in the pot. If it feels very dry, your plant will need some water. 

Watch for Signs of Wilting – some plants will let you know that they need water by wilting. However, if you do see signs of wilting or drooping leaves you should still check the soil. Sometimes plants wilt due to overwatering or disease. 

Use a Moisture Meter – moisture meters are an inexpensive but reliable way to keep track of how much water has been used. These are especially useful for plants that are a bit more difficult to look after or as a visual reminder if you often forget to water your plants. 

 

Don’t Forget to Adjust for the Seasons

Your plant’s need for water will change throughout the year depending on the season. During the winter months, many plants grow more slowly or may even be dormant which will mean that they require less water. As temperatures warm up and the plant moves into a growing phase, they’ll require more. 

Fortunately, the more you become familiar with your plant, the easier it will be to decide when and how much water to give it. Plus, when you buy your plants from Jacob & Roy, they come complete with comprehensive care instructions to ensure that you know exactly what they need.