Staff! Should I water my plant too much or too little? -Florislandship (2024)

Overwatering and underwatering are two of the most common mistakes people make with their indoor houseplants. But it can be difficult to determine which of the two problems is occurring because the symptoms are sometimes similar.

Here are some signs that you are over or underwatering your plants, and how to correct the problem.

Signs of overstressed houseplants

Overwatering your houseplant means you are watering it too often or the soil is staying wet for too long. Watering a houseplant is very simple and at first you may not even realize you are doing it. So if you have even the slightest suspicion that you are watering your houseplants too often, here is a list of signs to look out for:

• Soft, floppy leaves with yellow and/or brown tips and edges
• A small yellow "halo" between green and brown parts of leaves
• Brown spots on the leaves
• The stems feel mushy, especially at the base of the plant
• No new growth
• Roots that are mushy, black, brown or gray
• Wet soil that may have a putrid, offensive odor
• Mold or fungus grows on the ground
• The presence of fungus gnats

Signs of submerged houseplants

If you give your houseplant too little water, the plant will not get water as often as it would like and the soil will remain dry for too long. If you lead a busy life, you sometimes think about watering houseplants. Life happens! Here are some signs that you are underwatering your houseplants:

• Hanging leaves that sit upright again after watering
• Browning or curly leaves (usually no yellowing)
• Leaves that feel paper thin and crispy
• On succulents, the leaves look curled
• Slow growing with smaller leaves
• Roots drying out and drying out
• Hard, dry soil
• A gap between the soil and the inside of the pot walls

As you may have noticed, some of these symptoms are quite similar. The reason for this is that the leaves of the plant can be affected in very similar ways. When flooded, the roots simply do not have access to the water they need. Too much water can damage the roots so much that they can no longer perform their function of accessing water. In both situations, one of the first signs is often drooping and wilting leaves. So it is important to always check the soil moisture before adding more water.

How to fix water problems

Once you've decided whether to overwater or underwater your houseplants, here are some tips to help you learn how to water plants properly.

How to avoid overwatering

Sometimes it's just a matter of letting an overwatered plant dry out and adding a few extra days between waterings. But if your plant doesn't bounce back, you may need to try a few different things. Here are some tips to avoid overwatering:

Examine the plant:First, do some research on the specific type of houseplant and how often they should be watered. How to water plants and when to water them can be found in ourplant care instructions.

Test the soil:It is important to test the soil moisture before watering to make sure the plant really needs water. Consider how much of the soil volume has dried out, not just the top surface. Some plants want their soil to dry 100% of the time, while others prefer only 25% or 50% of the soil volume to dry. You can test the soil with your finger or use something like a wooden chopstick. If there is any wet soil, check again in a few days. If it comes out dry, you can water.

Use well-drained soil:Some soils allow more drainage than others, which can prevent your plant's roots from staying too wet for too long. When watering, water should immediately penetrate the soil and drain well through the soil and out of the pot's drainage hole.

Use a pot with better drainage:Check and ensure that your plant's pot has drainage holes located directly on the bottom of the pot. Add additional holes if necessary or repot them in a pot with more drainage holes. This allows you to water your plant thoroughly while allowing excess water to escape.

Avoid cooler temperatures:A plant that lives in a warmer environment generally grows faster and therefore uses more water. So if your watered plant has trouble drying out, the temperature may be too low. If this is the case, water less often or move the plant to a warmer location.

How to avoid being submerged

Typically, underwatering a plant is less damaging than overwatering, which can cause additional problems such as root rot and other diseases. But of course, if a plant is too dry, it can shrivel before you know it. These are our top tips to avoid underwater:

Correct watering:Make sure you soak all the soil when you water your plants. Slowly add water over the entire top soil surface, let it soak in and continue adding more until it starts to flow out the drain hole. This ensures that all roots have equal access to water. If excess water collects in the saucer, be sure to remove it so the plant is not standing in the water.

Note the location of the plant:The more sunlight the plant receives, the faster it will use the water. Likewise, warmer temperatures also cause plants to use water more quickly. Under these conditions the soil will dry out faster. If your plant is in a warm, sunny spot, you will probably need to water it more often. If the plant is in a spot with little light, you may not need to water as often, but be sure to check the soil weekly.

Repotting if rooted:Sometimes, if a plant's root system becomes too large, it can outgrow its current pot and become root-bound. The root system of a rooted plant does not have enough potting soil to properly support it. Because most of the pot space is taken up by roots, there is little room left for soil and water. This means that the roots do not have access to enough water to support the plant.Consider repottingto a larger pot with more soil, which can cause a growth spurt when the plant has more room to grow.

Set reminders!Most often, plants are submerged due to forgetfulness.To prevent this, it is best to create a routine for yourself. Try to pick one day a week to check on your plants and add a reminder on your phone so you don't forget.

Of course, always make sure to check your plant's water needs and oursplant care instructions. Always test the soil before watering, and water deeply and thoroughly if your plant needs it.

If you need more green tips to keep your plants alive and thriving, check out Bloomscape'splant care items. Read the care instructions for each of your houseplants as soon as you purchase them. This always makes plant care easier and ensures that you and your new green friend can get off to a good start!

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