The Ultimate Guide to Watering Houseplants

Hey there, plant friend! While it might seem simple (just add water, right?), proper watering is both an art and a science. It's also the most crucial skill you'll need as a plant parent.
Think of water as your plants' lifeblood – too little, and they'll struggle to thrive; too much, and you might accidentally love them to death.

Water plays a vital role in nearly every aspect of plant life:

• It transports nutrients from the roots up through the stems and into the leaves.
• Maintains cell structure (think of how a wilted plant perks up after watering!)
• Key ingredient in photosynthesis
• Regulates temperature through transpiration (Yeah, plant sweat!)
• Helps new growth and flower

Let's dive into the wet world of watering!

Understanding water and watering

You might be thinking, "Water is water, right?" Well, not quite! Just like some of us prefer our coffee from specific beans or our tea at the perfect temperature, plants can be quite particular about their water too.

Types of water

Tap water 🚰

It's easy - just turn on the faucet and you're good to go.
But there's more to the story: Your tap water might be carrying some baggage in the form of chlorine, fluoride, and various minerals.
Not necessarily deal-breakers, but some plants are not fond of it.

Rain water 🌧️

Plants absolutely love rain water - it's slightly acidic (in a good way!), naturally soft, and comes with none of those pesky additives.
If you can collect rain water for your plants, it's the best choice of water.

Filtered water 🏺

It's like tap water, but refined to be something even better. The good minerals stays in, the harmful chemicals stuff gets filtered out. Perfect for those plants that are a bit pickier about their drinking water.

You can use various filtering system for plants, the common ones are carbon filtration systems or reverse osmosis systems with remineralization. It's actually very simple to mount a faucet system, and your plants will thank you!

Distilled water 💧

Think of distilled water as the ultra-minimalist of the water world. It's just H2O - nothing more, nothing less.
Some plants, like orchids and carnivorous plants prefer this pure stuff. However, it lacks good minerals (like calcium or magnesium) required for healthy growth. Not the best option!

Let's conclude: Rain > Filtered > Tap > Distilled.

Water quality (hardness and pH)

Let's talk about water hardness for a minute. Water hardness is all about the minerals dissolved in your water, measured in parts per million (ppm).

Most of our houseplants are pretty chill about water hardness. The only downside of hard water would be if you mist or use a humidifier that can build up mineral buildup on the leaves. More information on our humidity guide.

As for pH levels, most houseplants thrive in a pH range of 6.0-7.0. While some plants prefer more acidic or alkaline conditions, these preferences are easier to accommodate through appropriate potting media instead of water.

Temperature matters

Rule of thumb here: Room temperature water is always the best!
Cold water can shock the roots, hot water can damage them. Leave your watering can full of water adjust to the room temperature before watering.

Plant water needs

Plants have varying watering requirements. In Chlorobase, we categorize plants into three main groups to help you find the ideal conditions for your green companions.

Low needs

Meet the tough guys of the plant world! These are your succulents, cacti, and ZZ plants. They're perfect for the forgetful waterer.

How to care for these tough cookies:

• Wait until the soil is completely dry - like, bone dry.
• When in doubt, don't water.
• Water thoroughly every 2-4 weeks (mark your calendar if you must!).

Signs they're actually thirsty:

• Slight wrinkling in leaves (like your fingers after too long in the bath).
• Leaves feel soft instead of firm.
• Soil is so dry it's pulling away from the pot edges.

Moderate needs

These are your easy-going plants - the pothos, spider plants, and philodendrons of the world.

Their watering style:

• Let the top 1 inch to 2 inches of soil dry out between drinks.
  • Stick your finger in the soil up to the second knuckle.
  • If it's dry at your fingertip, time to water.
  • If it's still moist, check back in a few days.
• Flexible enough to forgive the occasional forgetful day.
• Usually happy with a weekly watering schedule.

High needs

Now these are the divas of the plant world - your ferns, peace lilies, and calatheas. These plants basically want to be in a tropical paradise, and they're not afraid to throw a fit if they don't get their way.

Care instructions for these drama queens:

• Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy!).
• Check them every few days - they love the attention.
• Water when the top soil just starts feeling dry.
• Expect to water every 3 to 6 days.

The many factors affecting water needs

Just like us, plants' thirst levels change based on their environment and life stage. In the previous section we proposed some watering schedule, but in reality it all comes down to your environment.

Let's break down all the factors that play into your plant's water needs:

The environment

• Seasons
  • Spring/Summer: Plants are living their best life and drinking more, increase the watering!.
  • Fall/Winter: Time to chill and cut back on the water.
• Light exposure (See our light guide for more information.)
  • Bright light: More frequent watering.
  • Low light: Less frequent watering.
• Temperature & humidity (See our humidity guide for more information.)
  • Hot room: Thirsty plant.
  • High humidity: Less watering needed (they're also drinking through their leaves!).
  • Low humidity: More frequent watering.

The plant itself

• Size matters
  • Bigger plants: Bigger drink.
  • Mature plants: Can handle drought better.
  • Baby plants: Need more consistent moisture (more frequent but lighter watering).
• Growth Phase
  • Active growth: Increase watering.
  • Dormancy: Time to slow down.

The container of your plant

Your choice of pot makes a bigger difference than you might think.

• Pot material difference

  • Terra cotta: Dries faster.
  • Plastic: Retains a lot of moisture.
  • Ceramic: In the middle, nothing special on this one!

• Size of the pot

  • Too big: The soil stays wet too long.
  • Too small: Constant watering needed.

We've finished with those boring lists! Just remember to look at what can impact the water requirements briefly, it will help you understand why your plant might not be very happy in it's environment.

How to tell when to water

Let's talk about the art of knowing when your plant is thirsty. No, they won't yell at you harry potter style, but they do have their ways of letting you know.

Reading your plant's signs

Our plants have ways of telling us when they're thirsty or when we're being a bit too generous with the water. Let's decode their secret language:

"I'm thirsty!"

• Drooping or wilting leaves.
• Crispy leaf edges.
• Soil pulling away from the pot edges.
• Leaves feel thin and flexible.
• Growth looking slower than usual.

"Enoughhhhhhh! I'm drowning"

• Yellow leaves (especially the lower ones) or leaves dropping without turning yellow first.
• Stems feeling very soft or mushy.
• Mold on the soil surface.
• A weird smell coming from the soil.

The finger test

You can't seem to understand your plant? Let's take matter on our own hands.
This is the OG method of checking soil moisture, and honestly? It's still one of the best!

Here's how to do it like a pro:

1. Stick your finger into the soil up to the second knuckle (about 2 inches deep).
2. Feel if it's humid, pull it out and look at it - is soil sticking to your finger? Is it moist?
3. If your finger comes out clean and dry, it's watering time!
4. If it's moist or has soil clinging to it, check back tomorrow.

Remember to look at your plant needs, a bit dry does not always mean watering!

Moisture meters

For those of you who love gadgets (or just don't want to get your hands dirty), moisture meters are the best friends you can get.

They are also surprisingly cheap!
Go for a simple analog meter. If you want to get fancy, you can look at the digital or smart sensors, but the analog one does the job well.

Bonus: the weight test

Here's a neat trick: pick up your plant right after watering and feel its weight. Now pick it up when you think it might need water. Notice the difference?
A dry plant is surprisingly light, while a well-watered one feels like it just had a big meal.

Watering techniques

Top watering

This is probably what you think of when you think "watering plants" - you know, rain-style from above. It's the most common method, and for good reason!

How to do it right:

1. Water slowly and evenly around the base of the plant
2. Keep going until water runs out the drainage holes
3. Empty the drainage tray after 15-30 minutes
4. Never let your plant sit for long in standing water

Bottom watering

Think of this as giving your plant a relaxing bath. Instead of watering from above, you're letting your plant sip from below (This will use the capillarity).

The process:

1. Place pot in a tray of water (about 1 inch to 2 inches deep).
2. Let it soak for 15-30 minutes.
3. Feel the top of the soil - when it's moist, you're done!
4. Remove from water and let excess drain.

Self-watering systems

The last category of this section, these systems range from simple wicking setups to fancy electronic gadgets.

Options include:

• Water reservoirs (A bottle planted in the soil, ollas, glass watering globes, etc.)
• Wicking systems (Using rope or special soil to draw water up by irrigation.)
• Smart planters (For the tech-savvy plant parent.)

Those methods are great if your travel frequently for extensive time, if you tend to forget to water or if you want to keep a consistent moisture level.

Creating your watering routine?

I know you're excited to create the perfect watering schedule, but here's the truth: plants don't read calendars!
Instead of strict schedules, think of it more like a flexible routine.

Check your plants at the same time each day or week if needed, but refrain from watering each time! Review your plant and soil signs, and adjust your watering accordingly.

Vacations and time away

Going away for a few days or weeks 🏖️? No problem! Here's how to keep your green friends happy while you're gone:

Before you leave:

1. Give everyone a good, generous, watering.
2. Move plants away from hot windows.
3. Group the plants together to create a micro-climate.

If you are going away for a long time, you can look into self watering systems of find a trusted plant-loving friend.

Troubleshooting

You read our guide and found out that your plant is not happy?

I drowned it!

Your plant is looking bad and has the following signs? You probably overwatered. Look, I get it - you love your plants and want to make sure they're never thirsty. But sometimes love can be a bit... overwhelming.

First things first - take a deep breath! Your plant isn't a lost cause.

1. Stop watering immediately.
2. Move your plant somewhere bright and breezy.
3. (optional) If the soil is really soggy or smelling, consider a repot with fresh, dry soil.

While doing so, check for and trim away any rotting roots.

4. Going forward, try one of our method to understand if your plant really needs water.

Oops I forgot!

Your plant is looking crispy and has the following signs? You probably underwatered.
We've all been there - life gets busy, and suddenly you realize your plant is doing its best impression of a crispy potato chip. Don't panic! Plants are generally more forgiving of too little water than too much.

The comeback plan (and yes, there's hope!):

1. Start with a gentle, thorough watering (or a shower!).
2. Give your plant about an hour to perk up.
3. If needed, give it another gentle drink.
4. Consider increasing humidity.
5. Once your plant recovers, adjust your watering schedule.

Summary

• When in doubt, touch the soil - your finger is the best moisture meter!
• Quality matters: let tap water sit overnight or use rain water.
• Each plant is unique - learn their individual thirst signals and watering needs.
• Seasons change, watering should too - adjust your routine as the weather shifts.

Remember, becoming a great plant parent isn't about being perfect - it's about being observant and responsive. Your plants are more forgiving than you think. And hey, if you kill a plant (we've ALL been there), don't give up! Think of it as a learning experience.
Most importantly, have fun with it! Growing plants should bring joy to your life, not stress.

And remember, when in doubt, it's better to underwater than overwater - although ideally, after reading this guide, you won't have to do either!