How often should you water houseplants? Most houseplants need watered every 1-3 weeks. You should monitor your houseplants and water when they need it, rather than on a schedule. Frequency of watering will depend on the size and type of plant, size and type of pot, temperature, humidity and rate of growth.
For most house plants, it is recommended to water the plant once every 8-10 days and adjust for your environment as needed. Some plants, such as succulents, cacti, and the ZZ plant, will only need to be watered once every couple of weeks or so.
In general, houseplants' potting soil should be kept moist, but not wet. 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.
One way to determine when to water is to test the soil with your finger to a depth of about two inches. If the soil is dry, it probably needs to be watered. This method works for most plants but there are exceptions like succulents and cacti which need far less water.
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.
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.
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.
When a plant is first becoming overwatered, leaves turn yellow. If soil doesn't have a chance to dry out before you water again, leaves start to wilt. When overwatering is the problem, wilted leaves are soft and limp. (If too little water is the issue, wilted leaves are dry and crispy.)
“If soil is left too wet for too long, it can cause root rot,” Marino says. “That's what we call over watering. On the other hand, if your plant's soil is consistently too dry you're likely under watering. Letting your soil dry out before watering is key for plants to receive the perfect balance of water and oxygen.”
So long as the soil is not bone dry, your houseplant should be able to survive a week or two without water. If you're really looking for an answer on how long plants can go without water and have no idea what type of plant it is, then somewhere between four days – one month would be safe estimate.
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.
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.
Run your sink into a watering can, cup, or bucket, and let it sit for a good 24 hours. This will allow chemicals like chlorine and fluoride the time to evaporate from the water. We like to have a full watering can ready to go with still water so that if our soil seems dry, we can water our plant without waiting a day.
Misting is highly recommended at least once a month, and more often with species that enjoy it (see full list below). Be sure to spray the top and underside of your leaves, and if using for cleaning your leaves, wipe the leaves down with a cloth after misting to remove dust.
All plants require light for photosynthesis, the process within a plant that converts light, oxygen and water into carbohydrates (energy). Plants require this energy in order to grow, bloom and produce seed. Without adequate light, carbohydrates cannot be manufactured, the energy reserves are depleted and plants die.
Symptoms of overwatering indoor plants
Excess water reduces oxygen in the soil, which damages fine roots and renders the plant unable to take up water. Plants exposed to excess moisture show the same symptoms as plants with root rots, crown rots (crown rot from overwatering) or drought stress.
The best time to water outdoor plants is in the morning when temperatures are usually cooler. This gives the plants time to absorb the water so they can get through a long, hot day. The second-best time is late in the afternoon or early in the evening. Try not to water at night.
For almost all plants, you should water them only when the top inch or so of soil feels dry. An easy way to check if your plant needs watering is to follow the finger dip test. Never be tempted to over-water. Over-watering is equally as harmful as under-watering.
Mix water-absorbing materials into your soil.
Organic material, such as coconut coir, peat moss, or even compost, will absorb water, retaining moisture that plants can use during dry spells.
One of the quickest, first signs of overwatering your plants is to observe occurs at the tip of the leaf. If the tip of the leaf is turning brown this is a sign of overwatering. Too little water will result in your plant's leaves feeling dry and crispy to the touch while too much water results in soft and limp leaves.
The good news is that most plants will bounce back between 7-14 days if they're given proper care (which includes rehydration). If this isn't possible because major damage was done or little healthy root system exists then expect about 2 weeks until improvement can be seen.
"Bottom watering encourages strong roots".
The view is that by doing this, you will encourage roots to grow deeper into the soil to reach the moisture deep down and this helps prevent excessive shallow roots and provides resilience in times of drought.