Watering your plants, it sounds obvious right? But how much water do they need and what is the best way to water them? I'd like to give you a little more explanation about that. The number one cause of death for plants is too much water. Once you start to know your plants better you can quickly see when they are thirsty -by their leaves curling up for example- or when you have been too generous -you can see this in the yellow leaves- for example. I'll be happy to explain. WHEN TO WATER Preferably in the morning, by evening your plant has enjoyed a full day of sun and they have a nice temperature. Then suddenly a cool splash of water can startle it, so spend your Saturday morning watering and checking your plants rather than in the evening after work. But before you water, it's best to check whether it needs it. How to do it? There are several possibilities:
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER?PREFERENCES Inform yourself about what conditions your plant likes, does it like to be moist? Or does it prefer a drier environment? You do not have to know the Latin name of your plant right away, its family is more than sufficient. Tropical plants for example (often recognized by larger green leaves, such as monsteras or calatheas,...) come from areas where there is always moisture present and where the humidity is often on the higher side. While cacti and succulents are structured in such a way that they are made to store moisture and thus overcome longer dry periods. PLACE OF STANDING Where does your plant stand? Plants that stand in heated places or places with lower humidity use up their water supply faster than plants in more humid places. For example, I think of my plants in the greenhouse, I often don't need to water them for 2 weeks or more because the humidity is high. The leaves evaporate less and the plant can therefore use more water. Plants in full sunlight, especially in the hot summer months, evaporate much faster and will therefore need watering more quickly. Which brings me to the next point; seasons. In the spring and summer, plants use more water than in the fall and winter. In the spring they start the growth period again and in the fall they go dormant. POT / PLANT SIZE How much water you just give depends of course on your plant and pot size. The larger your plant is the more water it will use, but the larger your pot is the longer your soil can stay wet. This is also one of the reasons why I find it so important that you don't plant your plant too big, the remaining soil will hold the water (too) long. Of course there is a big difference between plants in pots and in the ground, but that is a whole other subject. Read more below the photo HOW TO WATER?What do you need? A decent watering can, of course. Don't go for the cheapest or just the most beautiful designer watering can, but for one that YOU find practical and with which you can water your plants easily without spilling. There are a few ways to water your plant;
It is also better to water your plant once a day instead of a sip every day, this to prevent the soil from being wet for too long.
MY POT HAS NO HOLES, NOW WHAT?I'm a fan of pots with holes, usually growing pots in a nice decorative pot or with just a bowl underneath. I find these really ideal because it allows the excess water to go right back out. Is this the only way? Of course not, you can easily go for a closed pot. You can then add a layer of hydro grains at the bottom, which can serve as a catch basin for the water. Be extra sparing with the watering because the excess water has nowhere to go.
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AuthorCrazy plant lady who likes to inspire others! Everything I write here comes from my own experience, knowledge that I gained by reading books and on the internet. If I would literally copy someone's info, I would do my best to link it of course! Do you spot typos or do you have other concerns, let me know! Have fun reading! I've only just started writing English blogs since January 2021, that's why there are many Dutch blogs and not so many English ones.
I use DeepL to help me translate. ARCHIVES
Maart 2022
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