Watering plants sounds easy, but it’s actually somewhat of a skill. It’s a skill you can acquire by trial and error, but the safest way is just to take a moment and read up about it. How often and how much water you have to give depends, among other things, on the type of plant, the season and the plant’s location in the house. In this blog we’ll tell you all you need to know about watering plants, so yours will live a long & beautiful life!
We often water plants incorrectly
Watering plants: it sounds very easy, but there’s quite some things to take into account. Many people water all their plants once a week. This will be fine for some plants, but there is a good chance that the rest will get too much / too little water. Now you might think, “That’s the way I water my plants as well, and they’re just fine.” So what’s the big deal? Here’s the thing: if you give your plants a bit too much or too little water, most of them won’t drop dead. They might get a brown leaf here and there, or they won’t grow as fast. Giving too much or too little water is not necessarily fatal, but it does prevent your plant from living its best life. If you give your plants the correct amount of water, you’ll not only increase the chance of them living a longer life, but they’ll also grow faster and look more beautiful.
Watering plants: the ground rules
The necessary watering varies enormously per plant type. One needs only a small splash per month, where another plant should always be in a slightly moist potting soil. For exact instructions, we recommend looking up the plant species via the search bar. We advise on watering every plant in our range. Still, there are some handy, general rules to stick to.
Never give too much water
No plant likes wet potting soil. Tropical origin or not: a layer of water at the bottom of the potting soil is harmful to any plant species. Therefore, make sure that the water can drain from the pot or that you place a layer of hydro grains at the bottom of the pot. This way, you’ll allow for excess water to drain and minimize risk of root rot. Haven’t got any hydro grains, or does the pot have no drainage hole? Then it’s best to water your plants with care: don’t give a large amount at the same time. It’s best to give just enough to (slightly) moisten the potting soil.
Spraying
Spraying leaves down with water is very beneficial for most plants. Tropical plants really need this as they’re used to high humidity levels. But other non-tropical plants also benefit from it. Regular spraying prevents dust formation on the leaves and reduces the risk of pests. Cacti and succulents, however, never need to be sprayed. It is best to remove dust on these plants with a brush.
Give plants lukewarm (rain) water
Most people give plants cold tap water, but it is actually better to give them lukewarm water. Since the plants themselves are at room temperature, the lukewarm water won’t feel like a shock to them. It’s even better to give plants rainwater. There is no lime in it (which plants don’t like) and it contains all kinds of minerals that are good for your plant’s health.
Watering plants during summer
During summer we tend to open our windows and doors more often, which causes the indoor humidity levels to be quite high. You therefore don’t have to spray your plants as often as during winter. What you should do, is water your plants more often. As a result of the higher temperatures and light intensity, the potting soil dries out a lot faster. Keep close eye on your plants by regularly checking the potting soil, and give more water if necessary.
Watering plants during winter
Winter signifies a lot of changes, for us and for our green roommates. It gets colder, the light intensity is decreasing and the heating is switched on in many houses. And that, in turn, will mean that you’re going to have to change the way in which you water your plants.
Give plants less water
Because it gets colder and the light intensity decreases, plants go into a resting phase. They’ll hardly grow, if at all, so they’ll need much less water. Some plants will only need half the water they usually receive, or hardly anything at all (like cacti & succulents). It’s therefore best to check the how moist the potting soil is to see if plants need water.
Increase the humidity
When you turn on the heating in the house, the humidity drops to about 20-30%. This is especially harmful to tropical plants, as they are used to a high humidity of about 50-70%. Very low humidity can cause them to dry out, discolour or deform. If you do not have a humidifier at home, you can increase the humidity by regularly spraying these plants with water.
Should I water my plants in the morning or evening?
It doesn’t really matter whether you water your plants in the morning or evening. It is often recommended to water plants in the morning if you give plants cold tap water. This is because the plant itself is a bit cold, wherefore the cool water won’t feel as such a shock. On a warm afternoon it feels uncomfortable for the plant when it suddenly gets cold water. But as explained, it is always better to give plants lukewarm (rain) water. If you give your plants lukewarm water, it doesn’t matter when you water them.
Do you have any questions about watering plants? Or are you missing certain information in this blog? Do not hesitate to contact us!