Proper Watering Of Indoor Plants. Continuation

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 continue talking about this

Moderate watering

With this type of watering, the soil in the pot is slightly dried, that is, watering is not done immediately after the soil dries out, but after a couple of days. This watering is suitable for plants with fleshy and strongly drooping stems or leaves. Peperomia, kolumnea, saintpaulia love such watering. For plants with thick roots and rhizomes (dracaena, cordilina, palms, aspidistru), this method of watering is also used.

Moderate watering is indicated for flowers with aquiferous tubers on the roots (chlorophytum, arrowroot) and bulbous (vallotu, efirantess, eucharis).

In the nature of some plants, a little drying is necessary during the dormant period - this serves as an incentive for the setting and maturation of flower buds.

Rare watering

Watering in this way is necessary for succulents, as well as deciduous tuberous and bulbous plants. These flowers should remain dry for several weeks to several months. In summer, most plants are watered abundantly, moderately in winter. Only moderate watering does not mean that the leaves of a green pet should wither. With a strong drying of the soil in a pot, a part of the root system of the plant dies off, and first of all the young roots, the leaves turn yellow and crumble. If the flower is overdried more than once, then it gradually weakens and takes on an ugly appearance, losing its decorative effect.

Ivy, hoya, cissus, camellia, conifers, citrus fruits cannot stand strong dryness at all and die immediately after it.

With frequent overdrying of the root system, damage to the structure of the soil is also caused, since it becomes compacted, gas exchange is disturbed and it dries out faster.

When to water?

The need for watering can be checked in several ways.

1. Dry soil looks lighter in appearance than wet. If the plant is planted in peat, this trait is not enough.

2. Check the soil by touch. In the event that it is slightly damp or already dry, crumbles and does not stick to the fingers, it needs watering.

3. The weight of the pot with the plant also plays a role. If the pot is heavy and the sound is dull, then watering is not required.

If the plant is large, then most often it grows in a tub or box. In this case, the need for watering is determined by touch on the layer of earth at a depth of 3-5 cm.

How much water does a flower need?

It is believed that if you water a lot, it means giving a lot of water. But in reality, watering more means more often, and watering less means less often. When watering, try to give the plant just enough water so that it saturates the entire earthen ball and comes out onto the saucer. Don't water a little every day. In this case, water penetrates only into the upper layers of the soil, and the roots that lie in the lower part of the pot dry out.

Estimate the age of the plant. Young specimens need water more often, but not abundantly, because their root system is still underdeveloped. Older flowers, with developed roots, need more water. Pay also attention to the phases of plant life: maximum watering during flowering, moderate watering during the period of intensive growth, dormant period, reduce watering or even refuse for some plant species.

How to water indoor plants?

Check to see if you need water daily, and during summer, especially on hot days, do it twice a day. It is best to water the flowers in the morning when they absorb a lot of water. When watering the flower from above, be careful not to leave drops of water on the leaves, because sunburn may appear. Indoor flowers such as uzambara violets and cyclamens never tolerate water on the leaves; they should be watered in a pallet method - by immersing the pot in a container of water.

Water the flowers only with water at room temperature. They collect water in advance in a container so that it warms up. The quality of the water affects the appearance of the plant and its growth. The most suitable water for flowers is rainwater, but in urban conditions it is not available. Therefore, many flower growers are content with hard tap water. Admixtures of such water block the access of nutrients to the plant. The more impurities in the quality of lime contained in the water, the harder it is, which is detrimental to indoor flowers.

Pay attention to the potted flowers in your apartment. Whitish bloom on the walls of the pot, light leaves of the plant, which begin to turn yellow, indicate that there is a large amount of lime in the water. Azalea, hydrangea, all types of bromeliads, orchids, ferns suffer greatly from watering with hard water.

Ways to get rid of lime in water

1. Take tap water into a container, stand for 24 hours. During this time, the lime will settle, and the chlorine will evaporate.

2. Boil water, cool it. This will get rid of harmful impurities.

3. Wrap peat in an amount of 100 g in a cloth bag. Dip it in 10 liters of water. After 24 hours, you can water the plant with this water.

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