To ensure your plants thrive and live longer in your home, it’s important to learn when and how to water potted plants. “Too much of anything is bad” applies with plants too. Most people make the common mistake of overwatering their plants, not knowing that when you water your plant too much, it prevents the plant from being able to breathe as it should, effectively suffocating your plant. It also makes your plant very susceptible to diseases like root rot, which can lead to even more lethal effects for long-term plant health.
How to water plants the right way
- Using a saucer: Place a saucer underneath the pot and fill the saucer with fresh water when it’s time to water. Let it soak for several hours, then empty the saucer and let the remaining water drip out. This is one of the most common techniques widely used by garden centers and plant nurseries to maintain humidity and keep nutrients.
- Soak your plants: To do this, use a tray, a large container in the sink, or the bathtub. Fill the bottom of any of these with a few centimeters of freshwater. Gently place your plant pots in and let them absorb water for a couple of hours. Tip: You can water several plants at the same time. Let them dry before placing them back.
- Self-watering pots: Self-watering pots are incredibly useful and time-saving. No more overwatering or underwatering; the plant does it all for itself. You just need to refill the water reservoir before it’s empty, which is approximately every other month but varies case by case.
Always remember, watering from below is best. Watering from above is still the usual way people water their plants. However, watering from underneath is more homogeneous, less prone to overwatering, and there is no concern of draining nutrients out. Plus, you can be sure that the water does get to the roots.