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YahooSome plants like to dry out and some like to stay damp--it is their physiological nature. Plants with thin leaves require more water than plants with thick leaves because fat leaves store more water than thin leaves. If you have a sansiviera (some call it a Mother in Law's tongue because of it's sharp pointed leaves) that has long thick leaves and a spathyphylum (peace lily) with large thin leaves, there is no way these two plants can have the same watering schedule. Succulents, cactus, and dracaenas like their soil to dry out; flowering plants and green plants that are constantly getting new leaves (coleus, ficus, wandering Jew) require more water.
Even though plants may be identical, their location influences how much water they need. A plant in a warm bright room requires more water than the same plant in a dark cool room. Plants in dry locations need more water than similar plants in humid locations. Most plants grow faster in the spring and summer than in the fall and winter. The faster a plant grows the more water it needs.
Plants in small pots (4" or 6" diameter) dry out faster than plants in large pots (8", 10" or larger) and need to be watered more often. Always leave your plant in a grower's pot--do not direct plant it into a decorative container. This helps to prevent over watering. Decorative containers are often too big and the soil never has a chance to dry out. Porous containers allow a plant to dry out faster than non-porous containers. A plant in a clay pot will dry out faster than the same plant in a plastic or sealed ceramic pot.
When you bring a new plant home, it needs more water than it usually requires once it has become acclimated. Think of it as intensive care for a few weeks. This doesn't mean you should drown it!
How to recognize an over watered plant.
- 1. Leaves are wilted but the soil is wet. There are no roots left to absorb the water.
- 2. Flower buds fall off.
- 3. New leaves turn black and fall off.
- 4. Fungus (toadstools) grow in the soil.
- 5. Some signs make you think you are under watering when you are really over watering: Ivies get brown crunchy leaves, the center of a fern get brown and crispy, the tips of dracaenas and palms turn brown.
How to recognize an under watered plant.
- 1. Fronds turn yellow or orange (palm).
- 2. Plant gets yellow leaves (ficus, schefflera)
- 3. An entire branch petrifies & dies (Norfolk Star Pine).
- 4. Plant turns very pale green (spider, China doll, fern).
Practical watering tips:
- 1. Lift smaller plants out of their decorative container; if it's heavy, don't water it.
- 2. Look at the soil: Wet soil is dark brown, and dry soil is light brown.
- 3. Stick your fingers into the soil: 6" pots should be dry at least 1" down; 8" and 10" pots should be dry at least 2" down.
- 4. Don't trust moisture meters. The salt content of the soil influences their readings. Fertilizers contain soluble salts, so a well-fertilized plant may register wet even though it is dry.
- 5. Water treated by a water softener should never be used; it is too salty.
- 6. When you water, water thoroughly until the water comes out the drip holes. This leaches out salts and chlorides that have built up in the soil from fertilizers.
- 7. The ideal temperature of the water is between 62 and 72 degrees. If the water is too cold, the roots can't absorb it.
- 8. It's best to water your plants early in the day so the leaves and soil can dry out a little before the nighttime chill
- 9. Changes that can affect your watering schedule include when the air conditioning starts in the summer, several days of dark cloudy weather, and whether the plant is resting after a burst of new growth or flowers
- 10. Mulch, gravel and moss help the soil retain moisture.
