How often to water houseplants
Check the soil, not the calendar
Why there's no set schedule
A fixed watering day gives some plants too much and others too little. How fast a pot dries depends on the plant, its size, its pot, the light, the warmth of the room and the season.
Unglazed clay pots dry faster than plastic or glazed ones, and a big plant in a small pot dries fastest of all. A plant in a warm, sunny spot needs water more often than one in a cool, dim corner.
Check before you water
Push a finger into the mix. For most leafy houseplants, water when the top inch or so (about 2.5 cm) feels dry. If it's still damp, check again in a day or two.
Lift the pot, too. A dry pot feels surprisingly light, and after a few tries you'll know by feel. In big pots the top dries long before the bottom, so a moisture meter or a wooden skewer pushed deep helps.
Match the plant's style
Most plants fall into one of three groups. Your plant's care guide tells you which.
- Keep evenly moist, never soggy: maidenhair fern, nerve plant and prayer plant.
- Let the top inch dry: pothos, dumb cane, arrowhead plant and most foliage plants.
- Let it dry out completely: cacti, jade, aloe and other succulents.
Water deeply, then drain
When you water, soak the whole root ball. Pour slowly until water runs out of the drainage holes. Frequent small sips can leave the top of the pot soaked and the bottom bone-dry.
Don't let the pot sit in the water that drains out. Empty the saucer once it has finished draining, because roots left standing in water rot.
Use room-temperature water, about 62–72°F (17–22°C). Cold water can shock roots and spot some leaves.
Adjust through the year
Most houseplants grow fastest in spring and summer and slow down in fall and winter, when days are short. Expect to water less often in the dark months, and more often in summer heat.
Let the plant set the pace. If leaves yellow while the soil stays wet, ease off. If the pot feels light and the plant droops, water sooner.
Related plant problems
Sources
- Clemson HGIC: Indoor Plants: Watering
- Missouri Botanical Garden: How to Water Indoor Plants
- Iowa State University Extension: How to Care for Houseplants
- UF/IFAS Extension: Caring for Houseplants
General guidance, not a diagnosis. Written by PlantWiz in our own words from the sources above.