I water my houseplants about once a week. My friend says I'm out of water. How often do you recommend watering houseplants?
There is no single schedule for watering houseplants. Several factors affect the frequency of watering. What type of soil? What is the size of the plant in relation to the volume of the soil? What about light and temperature?
In addition to water, plants also need air in the soil. Air provides oxygen for root growth and development. Immediately after watering, all pores in the soil are filled with water. The large pores gradually empty or the water is absorbed by the roots, so that a water reserve remains in the small pores.
The best way to determine when a plant needs to be watered is to feel the soil. When the soil dries out at the top, it's time to water again. If you water all your houseplants at once and only the driest plants need water, the others will be overwhelmed.
After watering the plant a few times, you will know how long it takes to dry out. Wet soil is darker than dry soil, so after a while you can tell by the color when a particular soil begins to dry out. Not all potting soils have the same color. So smell the soil several times until you know the relative color.
If you check your plants every day for a while, you will notice which plants need watering most often. Plants with thick leaves, like cacti and jade, like drier soil than plants with thin leaves. Falling or wilting leaves are a sign that the plant is too dry.
If you use a water softener, avoid using softened water on your plants. Sodium chloride from fabric softener can build up in the soil and harm plants. Most cold water faucets do not have soft water. However, water temperature also affects plant growth. I like to fill a pitcher with water and let it sit until it reaches room temperature.
If your plants require too much water, it may be time to repot them into a larger pot. If your plant isn't growing, it may be time to downsize it to a smaller pot. Plant wilting is more likely to be caused by overwatering than underwatering, unless the problem is leaf wilting.
Allen Wilson is a professional gardener in Vancouver. allenw98663@yahoo.com
