Knowing when to irrigate your plants is key to have a green thumb . If you have a disposition to forget to water your plant life or are a whirlybird works parent with a watering can , you may be watering incorrect . Here ’s how often you should water houseplants , base on what they ’re differentiate you !

In this post , we ’ll cover :

How Often Should You Water Houseplants?

How often you need to water a plant depend on the type of plant you have and the time of class . The good room to determine if it ’s time to H2O is by touching the stain .

Stick your finger in thepotting soilup to the first knuckle , or take hold of a little to do a wet mental testing . Wet territory will be cool to the touch and stay stuck together in cluster . The drysoil is crumbly and peevish .

allow the plant ironic between waterings , then give it a gooddeep watering .

chinese money plant

Chinese Money Plant

Signs It’s Time to Water Houseplants

The soil will be your biggest index , but also keep an optic out for these signs in your houseplant :

Summer

plant demand the most water during the summer due to the heat and emergence time of year . I check out my houseplants 2 - 3 times a week in the summer for wet .

During high heat , you may involve to water houseplant every other day . This is especially dependable for wilty plants likecoleusor peperomia .

Winter

Just like outside , many houseplants slow down their maturation in the winter . This means they require much less water than they do in the summertime .

I reduce my houseplant checks to once a workweek . In most cases , you wo n’t necessitate to irrigate your plants . But if a plant is by a smoke or other source of warmth , it may dry out out quickly even though it ’s winter .

Succulents

succulent need a comely amount less water than their tropical houseplant , but it does n’t mean they do n’t necessitate any water .

In the wintertime , succulents go inactive . During the winter , you typically only need to irrigate once a calendar month .

In the summertime , you’re able to water them once a calendar week if they ’re in a high - hotness locating orevery other calendar week . They ’re fairly drought large-minded , and most people tend to overwater their succulent .

snake plant with potting soil

get across through to record this helpful spot abouthow to urine and manage for succulentsfor more information .

How Do I Know If I Am Overwatering My Houseplants?

The most common understanding houseplants die is from over - watering . Yes , that ’s right . Not neglect and underwatering .

OVERwatering .

Ironically , the signs ofoverwatering take care the same as underwatering . They include :

dying pilea leaf

Proper drain is essential to prevent root putrefaction and piddle decent . Place your industrial plant in a container with drainage holes .

If you prefer a closed - bottom plant life Mary Jane , trace the bottom with pebbles and landscape fabric to create space for pee to debilitate . Alternatively , you could provide the plant in the plastic nursery container and direct it inside a closed - bottom pot .

Frequently Asked Questions About Watering Houseplants

Longer than you cerebrate ! Most plant are passably drought patient of and can be in totally teetotal soil for several days before they show sign that they need watering . Succulents may live on up to 3 months , while adult tropical plant life can survive 2 - 3 weeks . Smaller tropicals can last for about a hebdomad . If you ’re live away on holiday , adjudicate thesesmart - watering caper .

Definitely not ! tearing day by day is a surefire way to overwater your works and take it to its dying . The only time you may want to water every daytime is if you have an peculiarly finicky plant and you ’re currently live utmost heat . Even then , perform the dirt test !

Ready to keep working on your unripened pollex ? Become a lacrimation pro by checking out myeverything guide to watering houseplant .

Pothos houseplant after watering

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Properly watered Monstera adansonii

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Pin image for a guide on how often you should water your houseplants including a planter of succulents, a potted hoya plant, and a growing pothos plant.