How to Know

When to Water
Plants
The Goal
When watering plants in your home, the goal is to give them the same amount of
moisture they would receive in their natural environment.

While each houseplant is different, there are general principles that will make
indoor gardening successful.

Type of Houseplant
First, determine if your houseplant is considered a succulent or a tropical.

Examples of succulents include Aloe vera, cacti, Echeveria, jade, snake plant, ZZ
plant, Haworthia, and a host of many others.

These plants can store water in leaves, modified roots, or other structures. Think of
desert plants.

Therefore, they need to dry out between waterings. Overwatering is detrimental to

their health.

Tropical houseplants have different watering requirements. They tend to like to be

moist, but not too wet or too dry. They generally don’t like to completely dry out.

Examples of common tropical houseplants are peace lily, fiddle leaf fig, Monstera,
Ficus, spider plant, and Philodendron.

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How to Know When to Water Tropical Plants
There is no standard guideline for watering frequency. It is more art than science.
However, it is better to err on the side of under watering than overwatering.

Unless a plant is overwatered and experiencing root rot symptoms, if a plant is

wilting, it needs water immediately.

The best way to determine if a tropical houseplant needs to be watered is by feeling

the soil.

Place your finger an inch or two deep into the soil.

If the soil is dry, it is time to water. If the soil is moist, wait a few days and check
again.

Another effective method of determining when to water is to pick up the container

and gauge how dry the soil is by the container’s weight. The container becomes
increasingly lighter as the soil dries. This is a great way to determine the overall
amount of moisture remaining in the soil rather than just at the top inch or so.

If you live in a dry, warm climate you may need to water every 3-4 days. However,
tropical houseplants grown in a humid environment may only need to be watered
once a week. This is because plants will use water more quickly in a dry
environment than in a humid one.

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How to When to Water Succulent Plants
Use the techniques listed above and when the soil has become completely dry from
the top to the bottom of the container, it is time to water. If in doubt, it’s better to
err on the side of caution and wait to water succulents as overwatering is the main
reason succulents die. One of the keys to having beautiful, healthy succulents is to
allow the soil to become dry between watering, but not to the point of hard and
compacted.

Important Tips
• When watering, use distilled water or allow water to sit overnight in an open
container to allow the chlorine to evaporate. The chemicals in treated water
can cause brown tips on leaves.
• Avoid using water that has been softened. It contains salts that can build-up
in the soil over time and damage the plant’s roots.
• Most houseplants require less water in the winter months as they are not
actively growing during this time.
• The main cause of houseplant death is overwatering. When in doubt, always
underwater your houseplant rather than overwater it.
• It is always easier to add more water to a plant than to save one from root
rot.
• Don’t let plants sit in water. This can cause root rot and attract insects.
• It is best to grow houseplants in containers with drain holes so that water can
freely drain.
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 Ready to Grow Gorgeous Plants?
The Ultimate Indoor Plant Guide shows you how to grow plants so
they actually look amazing!
Click here to learn more

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