Indoor House Plants Watering Facts and Guide

Houseplants have the wondrous ability to gain most of what they need to thrive through elements in the soil and natural sunlight. The houseplant however does not have the luxury that its outdoor counterparts do in regards to obtaining much needed water. Therefore, houseplants must depend solely on the gardeners hand to provide this essential nutrient.

Many garden professionals believe that over fifty percent of the houseplants in the world receive improper watering. Mistakes such as over watering can lead to disease and root rot, while under watering can have severe effects as well. But with some know-how and guidelines, you can learn how to and when to water your plants easily.

Garden enthusiasts whether novice or seasoned professional can all agree that purchasing a tool called a Hygrometer can truly be worth its weight in gold. This handy tool allows the plant owner to receive a more accurate water level reading of the plants soil. This will allow the plant owner to adjust the watering routine to ensure maximum benefits to the plant. These useful tools can vary in price as some can be as cheap as a few dollars while others come with a steep price tag; but even a cheap gadget will still provide the necessary information a plant owner needs.

The Hygrometer comes in several varieties, including one that has a digital display. This makes for a much easier reading of the water level in the soil. Quite a few do come packaged with a useful thermometer. This little addition is perfect for testing soil temperature which is another very important factor in the healthy growth of your plants.

If you are a true believer in the old tried and true methods of water level testing, here are a few ways to accomplish it.

Many still use the finger test. By simply placing your finger on the soils surface and applying a slight amount of pressure, you can determine if the soil is wet or dry. This method also allows you to feel the texture of the soil. Soil with moisture feels spongy while hard soil indicates a lack of moisture.

A cheap tool is a wooden chopstick or a tongue depressor. By simply inserting the wood into the soil, then withdrawing it, you should be able to see signs of moisture. If moisture is present below the surface, the wood will absorb it, displaying a darker shade. While it is true that surface moisture will be absorbed into the wooden tester, if done quickly, the surface water absorption will only count as a very small amount of the moisture collected.

The saucer trick is a good gauge of how much water a plant needs. Simply fill a sauce about one third of the way full of water and place it under the plant. Continue doing this until there is water left in the saucer. This process allows the water to be absorbed through capillary action from the drainage holes. Remember to take note of the actual absorption of water by the plant. This will give you a pretty accurate measurement of how much water your specific plant/soil/pot requires.

Finally, there is another way to reduce stressing the plant. Everything has a certain amount of weight to it, thus wet soil will weigh more than dry soil. After applying a water regiment discussed above, weigh your plant. After performing this routine several times, you are certain to get a feel for the accurate amount of water your plant requires. By now, you would not need to use the weighing test anymore.

It is important to remember that even after finding the right watering amount for your plant, there are many factors that will allow that measurement to change. Factors such as soil composition, humidity, seasonal changes and temperature changes are things that can change a plants water requirement. Following a few guidelines combined with some accurate testing methods can help ensure a safe and healthy plant all year long.


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Moses Wright enjoys working in his garden when he is free. He provides more resources on indoor houseplants gardening and houseplants soil Preparation tips on his web site.