Annuals, especially those purchased as flats, tend to need more frequent watering because their entire growth happens in only one short season. In the absence of rain, or in hot weather, they may need watering two to three times a week. Perennials, grow slower and should only need watering once a week.
If your plants are in the ground (versus a pot), the general rule is that plants need one inch of water per week. However, this does NOT mean watering one time per week. That doesn't usually do the job. Plants do best when watered deeply about three times a week, factoring in the rain.
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.
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.
For vegetables in the summer, we recommend applying about 1 inch of water over the surface area of the garden bed per week. That is equivalent to 0.623 gallons per sq ft. Using that rate, a 32 sq ft bed requires 20 gallons of water per week.
The best time to water your garden in summer is from 6 am to 10 am—before the heat of the day sets in, giving your plants plenty of time to drink up and any moisture on the leaves to dry off before nightfall. What is this? If watering in the morning isn't possible, the next best time is from 4 pm to 7 pm.
Plants in containers dry out a lot faster than plants in the ground. Pots absorb heat, which can stress plant roots, and the soil in them dries out much faster than soil in the ground. Container plants generally need to be watered daily.
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.
Aloe. A spiky succulent with plump, toothed leaves, aloe (Aloe vera) is famous for its ability to soothe burns. These easy-care indoor plants don't need water very often, so you can let the soil dry out between waterings. Aloe grows slowly, like most succulents, but it will reach three feet tall and wide with patience.
Echeveria. Like its other succulent relatives, Echeveria holds onto water in its leaves, so it can go for weeks without watering. In fact, too much water will cause the leaves to become mushy and drop off.
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.
Is it OK to skip a day of watering? It depends on how dry your plants are. If they are very dry, then water them; but if they are still wet, you can skip that day.
Under Watering -
This can also cause the plant to drop leaves. This doesn't necessarily mean that you are consistently under watering, as it could have only happened one time to cause the browning. The brown leaf tips will not turn back to green but you can trim the brown edges to get the plant back to looking healthy.
“A lot of people don't understand the importance of misting,” adds Jenkins. “Misting is one of the top things that you can do for your houseplants. I advise my clients to mist their houseplants one to two times per week.”
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.
Your containers need to be watered every day, especially when temperatures are so high. Sometimes you might even have to water in the morning and the late afternoon like we do in our Garden Center.
Excess water collects in the bottom of the pot, so even if the top soil feels dry, the roots might be soaking wet. This leads to overwatering - which is the most common issue for plants without drainage holes.
Most plants shut down during extreme heat, so if it is over 100 degrees, it may be best to wait to water even if your plant is stressed. Throw a damp sheet over it, or mist it lightly to bring the temperature down.
The notion that wet leaves on sunny days cause scorch in plants was disproved nearly ten years ago. But there is no doubt that watering in full sun is not water efficient – as much of it will evaporate before entering the soil. In the current hot breezy weather it is probably best to water in the early evening.
During extremely hot weather (daytime temperatures above 90F and nighttime temperatures above 70F), try to water daily or every other day. In a 10x10-foot garden, this would mean giving your plants 8 to 9 gallons of water each day.
On average, it will take 30 minutes to get a half inch of water. So, 20 minutes, three times per week will give a lawn about an inch of water. This formula works best with healthy, well-cultivated soil.