Guide To Watering House Plants

Different types of indoor plants require different watering techniques. Plants that thrive in tropical forests or marshy environments need a lot of water. The soil in their pots should always be moist. Examples of such plants include abutilon, aglaonema, alocasia, cyperus, fittonia, scindapsus, many ferns, tradescantia.

Most houseplants, originating from subtropical regions or moderate climate zones, need frequent watering, but the soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings. Examples include azaleas, begonias, almost all bulbous plants, and geraniums.

Plants native to deserts require minimal watering for normal development. Cacti, succulents, and most members of the agave family do not tolerate excess moisture well.

Experienced gardeners often intuitively know when a plant needs water, even if it's a new addition or a species they've never grown before.

For beginners, it can be challenging to determine the correct watering regimen for each plant. Often, people worry about under-watering when, in reality, they may be over-watering! Plants don't want to have "wet feet" where their roots are saturated with water for days on end.

General watering rules:

• The higher the air temperature, the more frequent watering is needed. Watering should be reduced when temperatures drop. In apartments with dry, warm air during winter, plant hydration needs to be more generous than in cooler spaces.
• Watering depends on the growth cycle of each specific plant. Many indoor flowers rest during winter and start growing new shoots, buds, and flowers in spring. Watering increases as growth resumes, while minimal watering is needed during dormancy.
• Plants with many delicate leaves require more frequent watering than those with few leaves and thick, fleshy stems.
• Plants with extensive root systems require more watering than recently repotted ones. After repotting, water the plant and then avoid watering for a week or more until damaged roots have regrown to absorb moisture.
• Water should be poured onto the soil in the pot, not onto the stems, leaves, or bulbs protruding from the soil. An exception is some bromeliads, where water is poured into the leaf rosette.

It's better to water indoor plants little and often than infrequently but with a lot of water. Exceptions include ponytail palm (nolina) and Adenium. Rare, abundant watering is recommended for forming bottle-shaped trunks.

Plant Pots and Watering

The type of container matters too. Plants in porous clay pots need more frequent watering than those in plastic ones. Wide pots evaporate moisture from the soil surface more quickly, requiring more frequent watering. Large pots retain moisture longer.

Ensure good drainage in the pot and holes in the bottom so excess water can drain into a saucer.

Types of Water for Watering

Different plant types may require special water sources. Pay attention to the details of the plant species to know what type of water to provide it.

Hard Water.  The added chemicals in hard water sources are often detrimental to plant health. If your home has hard water, consider using an alternate water source.
Tap Water.  Watering house plants of many species is fine with regular tap water. Keep in mind that there are chemicals in tap water, and some plant species will have adverse effects from these chemicals.
Rain Or Distilled.  For those plant species that are truly sensitive, using rainwater or distilled water is the only safe bet to keep them healthy. However, in industrial areas, rainwater may contain many harmful substances.

Water temperature

Watering with room temperature or slightly warm water (77-86°F /25-30°C) benefits the growth and development of plants, especially fast-growing ones. Many tropical plants, bromeliads, palms, and marantaceae require watering with slightly warm water.

However, if the plant is in a dormant period (e.g., amaryllis), never water it with warm water. Warm water can prematurely stimulate growth during dormancy. Plants at rest are better hydrated with cold water.

Signs of water deficiency:

• Plant growth stops, leaves turn yellow and dry.
• Flowers wilt and fall quickly.
• Young leaves fail to reach normal size.
• Old leaves fall off, exposing the lower part of the stem.

Signs of excess water:

• Growth slows down, leaves droop.
• Moldy smell appears.
• Both old and young leaves fall off simultaneously.

Top or bottom watering for indoor plants?

Plants usually prefer different watering methods.

• Top watering. These plants (most varieties) prefer their root ball to receive a large dose of water from the top of the soil. Gently move the leaves aside and water. Continue until water drains from the container's bottom.
• Bottom watering. These plants prefer water to come from below. Their root system grows close to the bottom of the pot. To water these plants, fill the tray beneath the container and wait for the plant to absorb the water it needs. Remove excess water from the tray.
• Soaking. Orchids and other epiphytic plants are watered this way. Place the entire container in a standing basin with water for up to an hour. This allows the plants to absorb the necessary amount of water. After soaking, wait for excess water to drain before returning the plant to its regular place.

What difficulties can arise during plant watering?

Sometimes, despite regular watering, a plant may dry out and become sick because the water does not penetrate the soil but immediately flows into the tray. This can happen if the soil has dried out and separated from the pot walls. This occurs when the soil mix contains a lot of peat.

In such cases, it is necessary to immerse the pot about a third of its height in a vessel of water and leave it for half an hour or an hour, depending on the size of the root ball. After this bath, wait for all excess water to drain into the tray and pour it out. If there are large gaps between the pot walls and the root ball, carefully add more soil on top, but do not pack it tightly.