When is the best time to water plants?
8 methods to determine the appropriate time to water plants
One of the most difficult part of caring for houseplants is knowing when to water them. Excessive or less watering of the plant can cause irreparable problems. Join us in this article to identify the best time to water plants by their appearance instead of watering according to the schedule and have a fresh and healthy plant.
8 methods to determine the need of plants for water
One of the most important things to keep in mind when caring for plants is the right timing and the right amount of watering. We have all kept many plants so far and we have lost some of them along the way. These experiences have helped us to share this article with you and see the healthy growth and vitality of our plants. One of the most important principles in plant watering is that you should evaluate your plant regularly and look for signs of dehydration and forget about watering according to a set schedule.
As a result, follow these 8 tips so that you can know the condition of your plant and water it at the right time.
How to tell if your plant needs water
1. Check the soil with your finger
One of the best ways to tell if a house plant needs water is to monitor the soil conditions. You do not need fancy equipment or sophisticated techniques to do this. A simple touch test can be enough to understand the plant’s watering needs.
You can press your finger into the soil once every two days and feel the moisture. The top of the soil may look dry but the bottom may be wet, so it is important to press your finger down at least 3 cm (2 knuckles) to feel the moisture below the surface.
The soil typically dries from the surface down. Some plants may need watering after the surface has dried, some after half of the soil has dried, and some after the whole soil has dried. Therefore, knowing the type of plant and the amount of moisture and water it needs is essential.
2. Use a stick or skewer to check the soil
It is important to check the soil moisture at the bottom of the pot, especially tall pots, because the appearance of the soil surface can be deceptive. While topsoil may look moist, below the surface and where the roots are, the soil is dry and in need of moisture. This happens when surface watering to the extent of soaking the soil surface is done which is wrong.
3. Examine the leaves for wilting and drooping
If houseplants wither in conditions that are not in front of the air conditioner or exposed to prolonged heat, it indicates low watering. When the leaves do not have enough water to thicken, they become thin and can not support their weight, so they fall down.
So if the leaves start to wither, it means you are a little late in watering, but that does not mean that this is the end of your plant. If you identify the problem in time, you can probably fix it by quickly watering the plant. A few hours after watering, the leaves should rise again and look fresh again.
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4. Yellow or brown leaves
If the leaves of your plants have started to change color, especially yellow or brown, it could be a sign of dehydration. If you do not notice this immediately, many leaves on the edge may become dry or brittle.
Note that yellow, brown and dry leaves are not always a sign that the plant needs water. Sometimes it can be a sign that the plant is suffering from other problems such as sun exposure, disease or excessive watering. You will need to use some other techniques to assess if you have an watering problem or other problem. For example, check the dry edges of the leaves, if they are soft, it means a lot of watering, but if they are dry and brittle, it means that watering and moisture are low.
5. Leaf fall
If you do not water your plant properly and at regular intervals, it may start to dry out, which can lead to leaf fall. Of course, many healthy plants shed some of their old or mature leaves as a way to regenerate their foliage, so you should check the leaves to see if it is abnormal for the plant.
In cases where the plant does not receive enough water, the leaves fall off too much and the young leaves begin to dry out and fall off. To make sure you do not confuse the situation with the normal process, check the soil to make sure it is dry. In some cases, the leaves of the plant shed too much water. If the soil is moist, it could be a sign that over-watering has led to root rot. Excessive watering causes upper leaves to fall and low watering causes lower leaves to fall.
6. Soil color
Soil color can be a good indicator of the amount of moisture in the soil. Wet soil naturally looks darker than dry soil and is a good indicator for watering time.
Soil color is a quick detection for soil dryness, so we only know if they are drying out by passing houseplants. Note that if you notice that the soil looks a little dry, you should use other methods to detect the dryness of the soil and then water it.
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7. Weigh the pot
Familiarity with the weight of houseplants can help you in the long run to determine the right time to water the plant. In this way, when the plant soil is wet, it weighs more than dry soil. In fact, the lighter the pot, the more water is needed.
8. Use a hygrometer to check soil dryness
How can you tell when a plant needs a hygrometer? For some houseplant lovers, an ice cream stick or a finger test is enough to check the soil moisture. However, those who want a more accurate and scientific result in their humidity test can use a hygrometer.
Soil moisture meter is very useful and can determine the exact time of watering plants. Hygrometers usually have a scale of 1 to 10. 1 is usually very dry and 10 indicates very wet. Most of them also have color meters that help determine when to water the plants.
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