How To Water House Plants

Step 1: When to water

Insert your finger into the soil at the pots edge. If the soil feels dry then water the plant, if it is damp then wait a little longer. This is only a general rule, and the need for watering can vary greatly from plant to plant.

You can also tap the pot, and if your hear a hollow sound it may well need watering.

Plants can sense the natural shortening of daylight hours and may go dormant, so water less in the winter months.

Step 2: Watering

Allow your water to reach room temperature by leaving to stand for a few hours. This avoids shocking the plants.

House plants with tough foliage and strong stems require watering from above. Use a watering can without a rose attachment, and apply directly to the soils surface. Leave for a few minutes and water again until the water drains out of the bottom of the pot. Avoid watering on the plants folliage as this can cause limescale.

Step 3: Watering from below

Soft sappy plants such as Cape Primrose, Begonias, and most succulents should be watered from below. Simply pour the water in to the dish that the pot is set in. If it is absorbed quickly, then top up by half.

Step 4: Urn plants

Urn plants such as Bromeliads should be watered directly into the crown of the plant. Pour water into each crown so that it pools in the urn, only a small amount of water being needed for each. If you were to water at the base of the plant it would simply rot.