How much water does your plant want?

The thicker the leaves, the less often you need to water. Why is that? Plants with thick leaves – succulents, for instance – store water in their leaves because in their natural habitat they are accustomed to prolonged dry periods.

Plants with thin leaves need the opposite – more frequent watering and care – so succeeding with these plants is rather more challenging.

Make sure your pots have holes in the base, and ideally add a thin layer of leca balls or gravel in the bottom so that excess water can drain away. Most plants actually die from drowning rather than drying out. If plant roots are left standing in water, they rot and the plant dies. This is known as root rot.

If you buy a self-watering pot, you won’t have to worry about the plant getting too much or too little water.

Water the entire pot so that the compost is thoroughly moistened. You’ll then have to wait patiently until the compost is dry again.

Always check the plant’s watering requirements, as these may vary substantially. Do a Google search if you need to!

WHY DO PLANTS DROOP WHEN THEY’RE DRY?

Plants draw water up from their roots. If the compost is dry, a plant won’t get enough water to replace what it loses by evaporation from its leaves. The result is a drooping plant, and a sign that it needs water!

WATERING NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Spring light

Increasing amounts of light cause the plant to gradually need more water (one to two times a week).

Summer light

A lot of sunlight means that the plant needs a lot of water (one to three times a week).

Autumn light

As a result of shorter days, the plant gradually requires less water (one to four times a month).

Winter light

Not much light means that the plant needs only a little water (one to four times a month).

Some plants let you know when they need water. That’s when they droop like this Chinese money plant, which is ready for watering.

Banana plant (Musa)

WATERING DESERT PLANTS

Cacti and succulents like dry conditions, so they only need watering very occasionally. Give them a proper soaking to begin with, but then wait until they’ve completely dried out – you should probably leave a few weeks (perhaps even a few months) between watering. Desert plants need very little water during the winter, and just a bit more during the summer. Some succulents let you know when they need water – either their leaves wrinkle and shrivel up, or the leaves droop. If you can bear to be hard-hearted, wait until succulents really make it clear that they need water before watering.

WATERING TROPICAL PLANTS

Moisture-loving tropical plants, on the other hand – such as calathea, banana plants (Musa), bird of paradise plants (Strelitzia) and ferns – should be watered a few times a week, especially during the summer growing season. If they dry out, they will quickly die. Tropical potted plants enjoy warmth and moisture. If you’re fortunate enough to have a bathroom with a window and underfloor heating, this will provide the ideal conditions. Constant moisture and steam from the shower, light from the bathroom window and heat from the floor will allow plants like this to thrive.

SHOULD I SPRAY MY PLANTS WITH WATER?

Yes, but the effect is the subject of much debate. Some people swear by giving their moisture-loving plants a daily mist to boost humidity, whereas others maintain it has no effect. I like to spray now and again, if only to remove some dirt and dust off their leaves.

Spraying or washing dust off the leaves has the following effects:

• The leaves breathe better.

• The leaves absorb more light, resulting in increased growth.

• The indoor air is improved.

• It makes it easier to combat spider mites, a pest that likes dry leaves.

My main argument for going around with a spray bottle is that it means I’m keeping an eye on my plants at the same time. And I can’t help but believe that plants that are spoiled a bit will like me and reward me that bit more. When it comes to raising moisture levels, some people choose to use plant humidifiers, especially if they have a lot of tropical plants that like a humid environment.

HANDY HINT

Using a soft, lukewarm cloth to wipe the leaves a few times in the year is even more effective than spraying to clean them. The ideal thing is to do both: spray first, then use a cloth to carefully dry the leaves.