Proper Watering Of Indoor Plants

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Water is vital for all life on earth, because without it, not a single physiological process takes place, including for indoor plants. Let's talk about this

Water in plants has many essential functions. She takes part in all physiological processes: photosynthesis, movement of organic compounds, as well as for the full absorption of minerals in the form of soil solutions. It is water that provides a healthy appearance, dissolving the nutrients contained in the soil and delivering them to the cells. The elasticity of leaves and stems depends on the amount of water entering the plant.

The temperature of the plant is also regulated by water during evaporation. Part of the water is consumed by the plant for cooling, and the rest in order to absorb carbon dioxide from the air through a moist surface for further growth. In addition, the water received by the plant, constantly evaporating by the leaves, creates a special microclimate around itself, which protects the flower from overheating and ensures the absorption of carbon dioxide.

With root hairs on young roots, plants extract water and mineral nutrient salts dissolved in it from the soil, and older roots serve to move water to the stem and leaves. Root hairs live for a relatively short time, on average 10-15 days, therefore, the preservation of young roots is very important for a good supply of water to plants.

When caring for indoor flowers, assess their water needs. Correct and timely watering is the key to good plant growth and flowering. Excessive or, conversely, insufficient, can damage the root system of the flower, and this, in turn, leads to the weakening of the plant or even its death. In the practice of floriculture, specific general rules for caring for indoor flower plants, including watering, have developed. The methods of caring for each flower plant imply an individual approach, taking into account its specific characteristics.

How often to water?

Indoor flowers should be watered when the soil in the pot dries up. Excessive and constant moisture in the pot is harmful, it can lead to disruption of normal air exchange in the soil. In order for the root system to develop normally, and the leaves are always green, oxygen must always flow to the root system of the plant. If the leaves turn yellow and fall off, and the roots, in turn, die off, then the plant is "flooded" with water.

And it happens that leaves and young shoots are unexpectedly taken out of a flower, no matter how much you water it. The plant remains wilted due to the fact that the roots have already died from excessive watering and the normal water supply has stopped.

In a indoor flower pot, drying out or waterlogging of the soil occurs quickly. There are no rains in the room, fresh wind, room for root growth. We must create all these conditions for the plants. It is necessary to take into account the special microclimate of the apartment where the flower grows. Not all plants need the same watering; each plant needs an individual approach.

Observing the general rules of watering, it is necessary to remember the peculiarities of watering some types of indoor flowers. All groups of indoor plants can be divided into three types of watering.

Abundant watering

According to the principle of watering, most indoor plants are watered immediately after the clod of earth in the pot dries. This particular type of watering is recommended for all tropical plants with delicate leaves. An example would be indoor flowers such as maidenhair, fittonia, begonia. Some plants with leathery leaves require abundant watering. These plants include lemon, gardenia, ficus, ivy, coffee. All of these plants and many others related to tropical, suffer from a lack of moisture very much. When they dry out, the leaves immediately turn yellow or wither, drop and do not return to their original position.

In addition, all plants need abundant watering during flowering and growth. If a slight overdrying is allowed during this period, then young shoots, buds and flowers will suffer.

To be continued: