How To Water Your Plants?

Watering plants is a complex process as one has to get familiar with the specific needs of the plant and provide them accordingly. As each plant has different watering needs which further get affected based on the location it is growing in, this task becomes much more tricky. However, to help you with this here are some tips on how to water plants –

• Watering plants slowly is recommended.
• Avoid over-watering.
• Water plants in the morning or evening.
• Don’t let the soil dry out completely.
• Avoid overhead watering.
• Try misting to create a humid environment.

One of the most important tasks that one needs to perform while caring for their plants is to water them. This task varies on many factors based on the species of your plants.

Watering plants is a complicated process to discuss, however, we’ve tried to break this down as simply as possible for you with this article by focusing on important factors such as the amount of water that your plants need and ways you can water your plants.

Things To Keep In Mind While Watering Plants

There are many different takes on what guidelines one should follow while watering plants and here are some of the most common and important ones –

1. Timing

Timing plays an important role when it comes to watering your plants. It is recommended to water plants in the early morning or evening is recommended as the sunlight isn’t too bright and the rate of transpiration is low reducing wastage of water.

2. Amount of Water

Each plant has a different water requirement and too much or too little water can affect the plant’s health. You should water plants only when the top layer of the soil feels and. Water the plants until it starts to drain out of the bottom of the pot.

Also, make sure that the plant gets watered all around evenly. This ensures that water gets to the entire root system of the plants.

3. Watering Methods

There are many different ways and tools you can use to water plants. Here are some of the most popular ones –

• Top Watering – The most common way everyone water their plants is by pouring the water directly on the soil. This ensures adequate and even watering.
• Bottom Watering – This method is recommended for plants that don’t like their foliage to remain wet. There for placing these plants in a tray of water ensures slow absorption directly by the roots.
• Misting – Misting is recommended for plants that thrive in high humidity and tropical climates. Misting the foliage of the plant increases air moisture and is also helpful in cleaning the plants.
• Automatic Drip Irrigation – This method involves the installation of tubes in the soil to supply water directly and precisely to plants. Automatic drip irrigation helps in the conservation of water and is ideal for gardens.
• Watering Globes – Consider them a small version of the automatic drip irrigation system. These globes are filled with water and are inserted into the soil near the plant’s roots. And, they slowly release water to the roots as the soil dries out.
• Self-watering Planters – These planters are designed to hold water as reservoirs to water the soil as it dries out. The plant can uptake water from the bottom of the reservoir and stay hydrated for a long period of time.

4. Type of Water

It is recommended to use tap water for your plants instead of softened or bottled water as they are chemically treated and can affect the health of your plants.

Similarly, underground hard water has an excess of minerals such as calcium and magnesium making it unsafe for plants. Therefore, it should be properly treated before you can use it to water plants.

Other viable options are rainwater or filtered water as they contain most of the necessary nutrients in a good amount.

Know When To Water Plants

There are many signs that plants show when they are being over or under-watered and you can identify them by checking up on your plants. Here are some tips to help you know when to water plants –

• Examine your plants – By closely examining your plants you can look for many signs and changes in the foliage such as falling and wilting of leaves and other symptoms. However, this can also be a sign of a disease or pest infestation so it is better to be sure before you come to a conclusion.
• Check the quality of the soil – The condition of the soil can also determine the watering needs of the plants – if the top layer of the soil is wet and has a dark brown appearance then your plants are well-watered. However, this method isn’t always reliable as some plants such as succulents can survive in drought-like conditions and don’t prefer consistently moist soil.

Signs of Under-Watering

Here are some common signs of under-watering that your plants will show –

• Brown Leaf Tips – One of the most prominent signs of under-watering in plants is the browning of leaf tips. However, this browning can also be due to other reasons such as high humidity, heat stress, overfertilization, or sunburn. So, check for all the possible reasons.
• Droopy Leaves – Another sign of plants not being watered properly is droopy foliage. Usually, the leaves and stems get droopy.
• Falling of Leaves – If your plant is shedding leaves prematurely and they are turning yellow then your plant might be getting less water than required.
• Wrinkle or Curled Leaves – Abnormal curling or wrinkles on leaves is another sign of under-watering in plants. The leaves lose their natural shine and curl up to prevent water loss from transpiration.
• Dry and Brittle Plant – If the plant is not given water for a while, its foliage turns dry and brittle, and usually that are stems and leaves. Moreover, you’ll notice the soil of your plant turning light brown as it dries up.

To know more signs of under-watering in plants download the Plantora App now!

Signs of Over-Watering

Here are some common signs of over-watering that your plants will show –

• • • Yellowing and Wilting Of Leaves – Overwatering the plants can cause root damage and lead to water stress in plants and its signs are yellowing, wilting, and premature falling of leaves.
    • Mushy and Unstable Stem – Excess water absorption makes the stems of the plant mushy and unable to stand up. Moreover, you’ll also notice a foul odor indicating a fungal attack on the plants.
    • Formation Of Edema – An increase in the amount of water also causes the formation of Edema in plants which are water-soaked blisters on the leaves.
    • Root Rot – If your plants are being over-watered then the soil will be waterlogged and this causes rotting of the roots and attracts various fungal plant diseases.

To know more signs of over-watering in plants download the Plantora App now!

Conclusion

These are some of the most general guidelines and things that you should know about watering plants. However, it is also important to keep in mind that each plant has its watering and other needs that should be fulfilled to ensure the healthy and lush growth of the plants. Nonetheless, to know more about watering your plants, plant-specific water needs, tools you can use to water plants, and more Download the Plantora App now and get access to more information on plant care like this.