I keep seeing threads asking for help where I'm sure the plants are being watered improperly. We all love our plants and want to do SOMETHING to help them along. Unfortunately, many new growers love their plants to death since watering is something they can do and plants need water - right?
I let a couple of plants wilt a little more than usual in hopes of documenting the difference in plants that need water and those that are getting too much (or have some other problem). I'm sure this has been done many times before here, but I had a quick opportunity to get a few photos, so here goes...
This first plant is in a 7 gallon pot.
On the left, the plant is thirsty. Note the leaves look pretty good. It is the tip of the stems/branches that are drooping.
On the right is the same plant that was kept wet for a while. Note the stems are straight but now the leaves are drooping and curled. She was drowning.
The next plant is in a 1 gallon pot.
Again, notice the leaves. They look good for the most part, but those stems are really having a hard time holding themselves up.
This is the same plant 10 minutes later after a good drench. In another 10 minutes all leaves are pointing to the sky.
My tips for deciding on if you water too often are:
1- If you water your droopy plant, it should respond immediately. If it is still droopy an hour later, it didn't need water and you may have made the situation worse.
2- You are better off looking at the branches and stems to see if the plant needs water. They are the parts that droop first. If it is just the leaves that look sad, you probably have other issues.
3- Let your plants get dry. Never water daily, or on any set schedule unless you really know your plants. Likewise, don't stick your finger in the soil to see if it feels wet or dry. That won't tell you anything about the bottom of the pot. That's where the water-seeking roots are. It is also where the perched water table is. For small pots, lift them. They should be lighter than you expect. In fact, before you put a plant in a pot, get to know how heavy the pot and soil are. Weigh it if you need to.
I hope this helps someone.
I let a couple of plants wilt a little more than usual in hopes of documenting the difference in plants that need water and those that are getting too much (or have some other problem). I'm sure this has been done many times before here, but I had a quick opportunity to get a few photos, so here goes...
This first plant is in a 7 gallon pot.
On the left, the plant is thirsty. Note the leaves look pretty good. It is the tip of the stems/branches that are drooping.
On the right is the same plant that was kept wet for a while. Note the stems are straight but now the leaves are drooping and curled. She was drowning.
The next plant is in a 1 gallon pot.
Again, notice the leaves. They look good for the most part, but those stems are really having a hard time holding themselves up.
This is the same plant 10 minutes later after a good drench. In another 10 minutes all leaves are pointing to the sky.
My tips for deciding on if you water too often are:
1- If you water your droopy plant, it should respond immediately. If it is still droopy an hour later, it didn't need water and you may have made the situation worse.
2- You are better off looking at the branches and stems to see if the plant needs water. They are the parts that droop first. If it is just the leaves that look sad, you probably have other issues.
3- Let your plants get dry. Never water daily, or on any set schedule unless you really know your plants. Likewise, don't stick your finger in the soil to see if it feels wet or dry. That won't tell you anything about the bottom of the pot. That's where the water-seeking roots are. It is also where the perched water table is. For small pots, lift them. They should be lighter than you expect. In fact, before you put a plant in a pot, get to know how heavy the pot and soil are. Weigh it if you need to.
I hope this helps someone.
