Optimal Watering Of Indoor Plants

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

We all know this picture: spots appeared on the leaves of indoor plants. We often see this on the hairy leaves of violets. This could be a sign of sunburn if the sun falls on wet leaves after watering. What to do in such cases? Water the plants gently from below

Withered leaves? This can be due to either over-watering or a lack of moisture. Each specific plant needs its own watering regime. It also depends on the season. In summer, in hot weather, you need to water your indoor plants more often. Less often in winter. The size of the plant, the size of the pot, and the amount of soil in the pot are important for the frequency and abundance of watering.

Give preference to clay pots, they are "breathable" and allow moisture to evaporate. Whereas in plastic pots, moisture in the soil can persist at the bottom for a long time, and repeated frequent watering will lead to problems with plant leaves. Because of this, the leaves may also look yellow, watery brown spots appear on them.

Stick your finger 2-3 cm into the ground. Assess if the soil is wet. Leave the plant alone for a few days and see how it behaves. Let the earth dry. Your assistants can be a moisture meter that monitors soil moisture or pots with automatic irrigation, they can be found on sale.

How to determine if there is little water? Withered stems, falling and dry flowers serve as a signal. The leaves darken, become thin, dry, brittle, completely and at the tips of the plant. They forgot about the plant or gave it insufficient moisture. To thoroughly water the plant, place the pot in a bowl of water, remove it when air bubbles stop appearing on the surface. Take out the pot, let the excess water drain.

Sometimes it seems that it is no longer possible to save a plant that is overly flooded with water. Its leaves are soft, wilted, covered with a green or brown coating. Try this: Remove the plant from very wet soil, wrap the roots in dry newspaper or paper towel, and let them dry. Then transplant the plant into fresh soil.

Watering is one of the main conditions of care. Which plants need less moisture, and which more?

Violets, ferns, cyclamens need a lot of moisture. Geraniums also require abundant watering in sunny and warm seasons, but in general they drink water in moderation.

But, for example, a ficus needs moderate watering in the summer. If he begins to shed leaves (this may start in the fall), then the plant has received more moisture than it needed.

One of the most unpretentious is scarlet. The tips of its fleshy leaves can begin to dry out if you provide it with a period of long, monthly dryness.

But with Kalanchoe, everything is not so simple. A plant considered to be easy to care for can be easily flooded in the summer. You need to water it after three to four days and at first very carefully monitor the tone and color of the leaves. If poured, brown spots will immediately go, glossy bright green leaves may turn yellow and lose their tone.

Azaleas, maidenhair, araucaria do not forgive the lack of moisture. If you dry out these flowers, then they are difficult to restore. Cyperus needs a lot of moisture.

A few more simple rules for an optimal irrigation system. Plants that are in bloom and growing need to be watered more frequently. Older plants with large roots and leaves need more water than plants with smaller roots and smaller leaves.

We monitor the weather outside the windows: in the heat, in the sun, plants, like us, drink more water. In cool and humid weather, you don't need to water your plants abundantly.

One of the important recommendations is to water indoor plants with rain, filtered, boiled water. The water that has been defended is not suitable for all indoor plants.

The most correct signals about excess or lack of moisture will be given by the plant itself: its leaves, soil, flowers, growth or lack thereof. Therefore, visit your green favorites more often, read more about them, and they will be alive, juicy, resilient and healthy.