Watering indoor plants sounds simple enough, but if you’ve ever had a plant die on you, chances are it had to do with its watering schedule. If this is you, you’re certainly not alone in the struggle, especially if you’re new to houseplants. While there’s no single answer to the question “how do I water my indoor plants?”, there are a few golden rules that can help.
Pay attention to each plant’s growing instructions. The main reason why there isn’t one straightforward answer for watering is that plants, like all living things, are all unique. Each type requires a different level of sunlight, fertilization, and watering schedule. For example, snake plants will need less water, but more sunlight than philodendron. Begin by researching each of your plants. The resulting growing instructions will give you the best insight for watering indoor plants. Most likely, you won’t be able to follow a single watering schedule for all your plants!
Pro Tip: Apps like Florish and Vera remind you to water your plants (or help you wait if you’re used to over-watering). Simply upload photos of your plants, name them, and choose the proper watering schedule for each.
Routinely check on all of your plants. I usually fuss with my plants on a daily basis, but if you don’t have that luxury, try to visit all your plants at least once a week. Look for leaves that appear soft and droopy, are curling inwards, or are becoming yellow. This is often a sign that their either getting too much or too little water. A simple way to test this is with the soil. You’ll generally also be able to see immediately if the soil along the surface appears dry and crumbly (time to water!) or moist and dense. With your finger, check the soil’s water content by feeling the texture 1-2 inches below the surface. Wet soil this far below means you can wait a few more days before watering.
Provide a good soaking when it is time to water. Once you’ve noticed that the soil appears dry and feels the same a few inches below the surface, it’s time to water your plant! Simply dribbling a few tablespoons of water won’t be enough, however. Be generous with the amount of water you give your plants. Be sure to water the entire surface of the soil so the water can soak evenly and wait until water is seeping through the drainage hole to cease. It’s okay to leave excess water in the saucer, but if it is still there after about 10 minutes, remove what’s left to avoid your plant’s roots rotting.
Pro Tip: Room temperature water is the best for watering indoor plants as extreme temperatures can harm the roots. Additionally, most can thrive with chlorinated or unfiltered tap water. Filling a watering can from the tap and letting it sit overnight will also help chlorine and fluoride dissipate.
How to save an over-watered houseplant. Not all plants suffering from an abundance of water can be saved, but it’s always worth a try! Waterlogged soil and root rot is almost always the result of over-watering, which can become much more damaging if the plant’s pot has no drainage hole. Too much water in the soil hinders oxygen from reaching the roots, effectively drowning your plant slowly. Yikes! First, remove the plant from the pot, brush off excess soil, and gently rinse the roots. Any roots affected by over-watering will be brown and mushy, while healthy roots will be white. Trim the unhealthy roots with pruning shears. If a significant amount of roots must be removed, you may also want to remove 1/3 – 1/2 of the leaves or vines. This can help your plant recover faster as it doesn’t need to provide as much nutrients as before. Then, with new soil, repot your plant in a pot with proper drainage. Be sure to monitor your plants recovery and hopefully, with a little extra attention, it will be healthy and thriving again!
Still think you don’t have much of a green thumb? Watering indoor plants properly can be tricky in the beginning. However, the more you practice these proper watering techniques, the easier it will become! Have you mastered watering? Or are you still figuring it out? I’d love to know!
XO,
Micah
Sometimes the uniqueness (so much to get wrong!) is intimidating. 🙂