Hints and tips for effective watering of your house plantss
To many people, a home is not complete without attractive potted plants. Proper care of houseplants helps increase satisfaction and enjoyment from them and extends the blooming period of many flowering plants.
Most potted plants purchased from the florist have been grown in greenhouses under ideal conditions. When they are placed in home environments designed for people, not plants, they need good care to adjust to the new environment.
If you re in the habit of watering all your houseplants together at the same time, week after week, this is a good habit to break. Not all plants require the same amount of water at the same frequency.
We have to look at several factors: the size of the plant, its country of origin, the type of growing medium it s potted with, room temperature, light and humidity levels and the time of year. When and how much to water any given plant depends on all these things and it s best to learn what your individual plants require.
If a plant appears stressed we shouldn t assume we can fix it with a good watering. A water logged plant will suffer more that one left on the dry side because root systems need air as much as they need water. Plants stressed from root rot have difficulty fending off attacks from pests and particularly fungal diseases.
Your plants will thrive if they re planted in proper plant pots with good drainage, so resist planting in old kettles and favourite pottery with no drainage holes. Proper growing medium that allows a balance between moisture retention, drainage and air movement is very important and the right amount of water for the plant s particular needs is a must.
Improper watering, especially overwatering, is the biggest cause of problems with houseplants. We sometimes forget that roots need air as well as water, and if the soil is saturated, the roots will literally suffocate. It pays to remember that a plant weakened from overwatering is suceptible to disease.
Proper drainage will help ensure overwatering doesn't become a problem. To make sure the drainage holes on your pots are kept clear, you can place pebbles or pieces of broken clay pot in the container before adding the soil.
Underwatering can also be a problem but it's certainly easier to prevent and the signs are more obvious. The soil appears bone dry and pulled away from the sides of the pot, and the foliage will show signs of wilt.
It's best to learn what your particular plants require as far as how often to water and the best method to use. Some plants don't fare well when water touches their foliage, while others should be misted regularly.
Periodic bottom watering is a good method because it ensures that the deeper roots are getting moisture. Don't water your plants at night because transpiration will not occur.Houseplants are probably killed or injured more often by improper watering than by any other single factor. No general schedule can be used for watering all houseplants. Size of plant, pot, light, temperature, humidity and other conditions influence the speed with which the soil mass dries out.
When to water. In general, flowering plants need more water than foliage plants of the same size. Never water any plant unless it needs it. Soil kept either too wet or too dry causes plant roots to die, which leads to poor growth or death of the plant. Never allow plants to wilt, and never allow them to stand in water for long periods of time.
Learn to gauge the moisture content of the soil by its color and feel. As the soil surface dries it becomes lighter. Under continued drying, the soil begins to crack and pull away from the sides of the pot. When severe drying occurs, some damage already will have been done to the roots. Soil kept too moist becomes sticky and slimy, thus inviting root rots and other disease problems.
Kinds of water. Ordinary tap or well water is usually satisfactory for plants. Chlorine and fluorine often added to city water do not harm plants. Rain water or melted snow are excellent. Water run through most water softeners, however, should not be used continuously for watering potted plants.
How to water. Plants may be watered from either the top or the bottom of the pot. If you prefer watering from the top, use a watering can with a small spout and keep as much water off the foliage as possible. Each time, wet the entire soil mass, not just the top inch. Add water until it comes through the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Discard water that remains beneath the pot one hour after watering.
Watering from the bottom ensures thorough wetting of the soil mass. Place the pot in a pan or saucer filled with water, or dunk the pot in a bucket of deep water (just below the rim of the pot). When the top of the soil becomes moist, the entire soil ball should be wet. Remove the pot, allow it to drain and return it to the saucer.
Salts may form a white accumulation on the soil surface if plants are watered regularly from the bottom. Occasional watering from the top helps wash out the salts. Don't allow the soil to reabsorb any water that has been run through the soil to leach out salts. Surface salt accumulation may become too heavy to remove in this way. When this happens, scrape off the surface soil and replace it with fresh soil. Try not to injure plant roots.
Drainage. Potted plants should always have good drainage. Occasionally the drainage hole may become clogged by roots. Check it by pushing a finger, stick or pencil into it. Even though drainage from the pot may be good, pot coverings may hold water. Pots wrapped in waterproof foil or placed in deep planters should be checked occasionally for standing water.
Plants with "wet feet" soon look sick "" leaves yellow or drop, flowers collapse and normally healthy white roots turn brown. Any or all of these can result from stagnation of the water, too little soil oxygen and development of diseases which rot the roots.
