Watering may seem simple, but overwatering is one of the most common causes of problems with houseplants. The most important rule is surprisingly straightforward: don’t water on a fixed schedule. Check whether your plant actually needs water first.
How quickly the soil dries out varies from plant to plant and changes throughout the year. Light, temperature, pot size, soil composition, the size of the plant and the season all influence how quickly a plant uses water.
Lift your pot
One of the easiest and most reliable ways to tell whether your plant needs water is simply to lift the pot.
Wet soil is considerably heavier than dry soil. By regularly picking up your plant, you’ll quickly learn to recognise the difference.
Start by lifting the pot just after watering and notice how heavy it feels. Check it again a few days later. As the soil dries, the pot will gradually become lighter. When it feels noticeably light and the soil has dried sufficiently, it’s time to water again.
You don’t need to know the exact weight. After a while, you’ll recognise the difference instinctively.
Water thoroughly
When your plant needs water, give it enough to moisten the entire root ball. Giving only a small amount can wet the top layer of soil while leaving roots deeper in the pot dry.
Allow excess water to drain freely from the pot and don’t leave the roots sitting in standing water for long periods.
Then allow the soil to dry sufficiently before watering again.
Summer and winter are different
During spring and summer, houseplants generally receive more light and grow more actively. As a result, they usually use water more quickly and may need watering more often.
In autumn and winter, lower light levels slow down growth. Plants use less water and the soil stays moist for longer. Don’t automatically continue watering as frequently as you did during summer.
The same rule applies all year round: check the plant and the pot, not the calendar.
So, how often should you water?
There is no universal answer.
A large plant in a warm, bright location may dry out much faster than a smaller plant in a cooler room. A small pot will generally dry out faster than a large one, and different types of soil can retain very different amounts of water.
That’s why advice such as “water once a week” should never be treated as a fixed rule.
Get to know your plant, check the soil and use the weight of the pot as an additional guide. This way, you water when your plant actually needs it — not simply because seven days have passed.
When in doubt, wait a little longer
Many houseplants cope better with being slightly too dry for a short period than with remaining too wet for too long. If the pot still feels heavy or you’re unsure whether the soil has dried sufficiently, wait a little longer and check again later.
With a little practice, the lift your pot method becomes second nature. Soon, picking up the pot for just a few seconds will often be enough to tell whether your plant is ready for water.
