Watering Indoor Plants
Water is vital to the life of a plant. It transports materials within the plant and its very pressure keeps a plant erect. Most of the water that is absorbed by the roots is later evaporated from the leaves during the transpiration process, thus providing a source of humidity and cooling of the air indoors.
Because indoor environments are usually rather dry, plants can transpire (lose water by evaporation, primarily through their stomata/pores) quite rapidly.
The most common causes of indoor plant fatalities are related to improper water quality and poor watering techniques.
- When top watering, you should always cover the soil surface; do not pour water in one spot each time.
- If a plant has dried out completely, you may have to take a little more time watering it.
- If a plant in a small grow pot is constantly dry, consider using sippers or adding growing media.
- If you are accustomed to just pouring the water over the soil surface then moving on to the next plant, you will have to slow down.
Do:
- Use your soil probe to check the soil before watering.
- Cover the soil surface evenly with water.
- Be sure to water near the edges of the grow pot.
- Pay attention to the light levels and air temperature that change with the seasons.
Don't:
- Don't dump water in one spot; spread the water over the entire soil surface.
- Never use either very hot or very cold water when watering.
- Don't allow plants to sit in saucers of water for more than 30 minutes. After the root ball absorbs enough water to sustain the plant discard the remaining water.