How to Water Plants

One of the hardest things about keeping plants is knowing when to water them. There are many suggestions and misconceptions that can be very confusing to new plant owners.

First you need to look at the type of soil in the pot. Is it plain dirt, standard potting soil, or a succulent mix? Soil that has a lot of dirt and organic matter will hold onto moisture for a long time and can easily lead to overwatering and root rot if you’re not careful. I like to use a chunky mix with lots of bark, rocks and perlite that allows water to freely drain while holding onto just enough moisture.

Most plants do well watering when the soil is 25-50% dry, depending on the variety. Some plants even need the soil to dry out 75-100% before watering again! Temperature and humidity will affect how quickly the soil dries out, as well as if it’s near a vent or drafty window. High temperatures and low humidity will make soil dry out very quickly, while high humidity will make soil dry out slower.

To check how wet the soil is you can use your finger or a wooden skewer, or you can buy a moisture meter that will show you exactly how wet it is. Most meters have a scale of 1-10 with 1 being the driest. During the summer I usually water when the bottom of the pot is about a 4, and during the winter I water when it's about a 2.

One common misconception is that plants need constant water to survive. While they do need water, roots also need oxygen in order to process nutrients in the soil. When the roots are surrounded by too much water and no oxygen can get in they will rot. The best way to combat this is to use a soil mix that has lots of rocks, bark and perlite that allows water to drain quickly.

Most plants go through a dormant phase every year that’s triggered by cooler temperatures and shorter days where they slow down growth and may lose a few leaves. During this time they don’t need as much water, and some don’t need any water at all. Most plants go dormant in the winter but some will during the summer!

Now let’s talk about the different types of water. There’s tap, distilled, rainwater, reverse osmosis, or other types of filtered water. Tap water usually contains chemicals that are harmful to most plants. The best types of water to use are distilled, reverse osmosis, or rainwater collected from out in the open. Never collect rainwater from the gutters or the roof edge because there's tons of dirt, bacteria and algae that build up on the roof and gutter systems. Other types of filtered water can work too as long as there's no added chemicals from the filter.

The best way to water is to completely saturate the soil once it is dry enough to be watered again. Never pour just a tiny bit of water in the middle because the roots will not grow out, they will only grow towards the center because that's where the water is. Always water completely and thoroughly to allow even and healthy growth of the root system. A common way to do this is by placing a bowl underneath the pot and pouring water through the top and letting it sit in the bowl of water for 10-20 minutes, and then letting it drain on a rack or in the sink.

One last thing to keep in mind is that some plants are very picky about the type of water and how they are watered. Some plants only tolerate reverse osmosis or distilled water, and others like to be watered with warm water. Try not to get water on the leaves, especially if the plant is in a sunny spot because the sun can scorch the spots where the water drops are.