They normally need watering once or twice a week in the spring and summer, but less in the autumn and winter. However, depending on the type of houseplant, this is not always the case.
Make a habit of checking on your houseplants at least once a week to see if they need a drink. The best way to tell if your plants need water is to stick your finger about an inch into the potting mix—if it feels dry, break out the watering can. If you detect dampness, check back again in a day or two.
Additionally, plants that get more sunlight also need to be watered more frequently. As a general rule, Satch says, "the amount of water to use is always about ¼ to ⅓ the pot's volume of water." And if after all that you're still confused, he has a few parting words of wisdom for you: "When in doubt, feel the soil!"
How often should you water indoor plants to provide the best conditions? Underwatering is always best avoided, of course, but overwatering can be equally detrimental. 'For indoor plants, the general rule of thumb is to water them thoroughly once a week,' says horticulturalist Charlotte Bailey of Oh So Garden.
Drought-tolerant houseplants, like succulents and cacti, will be fine for a week or two without water. And during the winter months, when plant growth slows and some plants go dormant, you may skip watering them altogether.
Drought tolerance is one of the unique features of resurrection plants. They can survive for up to seven years without water in dormancy and lose up to 95% of their moisture content without cell or tissue damage.
For a small to medium container, a water bottle will work just fine. Drill several drainage holes into the bottle close to the top. Before you head out on vacation, water your plant as normal. Fill the plastic bottle with water, and then quickly turn it over and plunge it into the first few inches of soil in the pot.
In general, you should water your spider plants about once a week. Before watering, check the soil of the plants to see if it's dry. If it's still moist, you should wait another day or two and repeat this until the soil is dry.
When your indoor plants need to be watered, don't just give them a tiny sip. Soak the soil thoroughly, until water starts to come out of the pot's drainage holes. Giving houseplants a good, long drink encourages healthy root system development.
If the soil is wet, it's overwatered - if it's dry, it's underwatered. Browning edges: Another symptom that can go both ways. Determine which by feeling the leaf showing browning: if it feels crispy and light, it is underwatered. If it feels soft and limp, it is overwatered.
Most houseplants won't survive that long without any water, so bottom watering will allow some water to be pulled up into the growing medium, where the lower roots will then have access to water.
But inside, where you're in control, there actually is an ideal time to water: the morning! Most plants like to be watered in the morning hours. They need to bulk up on water before the sun is shining in full force and cooks the water off.
Your Snake Plant only needs to be watered fortnightly, allowing its soil to completely dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering and root rot. During the winter months feel free to only water your snake plant once a month if the soil is still moist after 2 weeks.
For lush, green foliage, feed plants every two weeks using a fertiliser with a high nitrogen content. Most generic house plant fertilisers are rich in nitrogen and will keep foliage plants looking good.
Differences in pot and plant sizes will impact how quickly a pot dries out. When you water be sure to moisten the entire root zone. In other words, water until water comes out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. It may take as much as ¾ or a gallon of water to thoroughly water a 10 to 12 inch container.
If you use tap water, you may notice that your plants are not growing as tall and strong to the best of their abilities. To reduce the risk of harmful chemicals in your water, allow your tap water to sit out for at least 24 hours before using it to water your plants. This allows the chlorine to dissipate.
An Essential Tool. This said, a good mister is still considered an essential tool for houseplant longevity. That's because misting is one of the best ways to keep your houseplants clean and healthy. Over time dust settles on leaves making it more difficult for light to be absorbed for photosynthesis.
If you are growing the plant indoors, Bendall suggests leaving them alone. "They are called pups and are like newborns. While the pup is still attached to its mother, plant it in its own container in lightweight, easily drainable soil. Wait to detach until the pup is established on its own, and then cut them apart.
They have thick, tuberous root systems which store excess water, so spider plants are much better equipped to handle underwatering than overwatering. In the event that a spider plant gets a little too dry, it can be helpful to soak the plant for 20-30 minutes to allow the soil to rehydrate.
A few days before they leave he gathers the variety of plants scattered throughout their home and waters them heavily, letting each one drain well. Then he finds all the plastic bags, clear or dark, and begins the process of placing each plant in a bag.
When plants are not watered properly they wilt. This is because of something called turgor, which is water pressure inside the cells that make up the plant's skeleton. Water enters a plant through its stem and travels up to its leaves.
Succulents and Cactii
As succulents and cacti are tough desert plants, they do well in dry soil. They're one of the best indoor plants that need water once a month.