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The amount of water you give your houseplants depends on several factors, including the plant species, size, pot size, and environmental conditions like light and humidity.
Water is vital for all living beings, including plants. However, many plant parents either water too much or forget to water altogether, leading to signs of distress in plants. Therefore, it's crucial to understand the water needs of each plant.
For instance, succulents and cacti typically require a watering once or twice a month, while thirstier plants like peace lilies and ferns may need watering at least once a week.
When to Water:
For most houseplants, watering once every 7-10 days is recommended, adjusting as per your environment. Succulents, cacti, snake, and ZZ plants may need watering every couple of weeks.
Environmental Factors:
Bright, direct light can cause plants to dry out faster, so they may need more water.
In low-light conditions or high humidity, you may need to water less frequently.
How Much to Water:
Each plant has its specific needs, but as a starting point plants in pots with:
- 3-4 inch diameter containers need about half a cup of water.
- 5-7 inch diameter containers need about 1 cup of water.
- 8-10 inch diameter containers need about 2-3 cups of water.
Never let houseplants sit in standing water. Always check the drip tray or decorative pot about 10 minutes after watering and empty any standing water you find there.
Different plants have very different watering needs. Make sure you understand the needs of your particular plant. Here are a few broad categories:
Pothos, philodendron, monstera, aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), fiddle leaf fig, dieffenbachia, dracaena, bromeliad, and ivy all need their soil to go dry about halfway down the pot between waterings. Generally, you're looking at watering every 7 to 10 days.
Peace lily, lipstick plant, geogenanthus, fittonia, gynura, and hypoestes all need to be watered as soon as the surface of the soil/top quarter inch is no longer moist. Typically, these plants want to be watered every 3 to 5 days.
Mosses, hemigraphis, and some ferns need to be watered as soon as the surface of the soil is no longer moist. These plants need watering every few days.