10 Watering Rules For Every Kind Of Plant

Watering should be so simple; pour water on thirsty plants, which gratefully sup up exactly what they need to flourish. 

Unfortunately, Mother Nature is a bit more complicated than that. 

There are wrong and right times to water your plants. You can over-water and under-water them. And plants lose some water through transpiration that can be hard to measure. 

So, we thought we’d collect the best watering tips we’ve seen so far. 

1) Pick up plant pots

Dehydrated potted plants will feel lighter than usual as the moisture content has left the dirt. If it’s less heavy than it should be, water it.

2) Generally speaking, you should water in the morning 

Not only does this help to stop slugs from eating your leaves, but it is also when plants are most able to absorb water. It comes just before their most active and water-heavy part of the day, too.

3) Use the “knuckle test” to check soil moisture 

It might seem like your flourishing flowers prove they’re getting enough H2O. But actually, you can’t tell if the soil beneath is properly hydrated without touching it. 

Place your fingers into the soil until at least knuckle depth to see if it’s truly wet enough.

4) Water containers with 10% of their volume 

Plants in containers tend to need more water than those in the ground, because their soil isn’t as deep. When watering them, try adding 10% of the container’s volume (so 1L for a 10L pot), the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said.

5) Choose rainwater when possible 

Rainwater has a pH and mineral content that plants really, really love. Try to use a water butt throughout the year, keep the rainwater in your plants by mulching them, and/or place saucers under your containers. 

6) Aim water right at the base of your plants 

When watering garden plants, place the nozzle of a watering can right at their base, below the foliage, so that the roots have a chance to access it.

Some potted plants, meanwhile, will benefit from having their entire base submerged in water from time to time instead of the odd sprinkling.

7) Know the signs of dehydration 

Plants all need a different watering schedule. But most of them share similar signs of dehydration, including dull leaves, decreased flower and fruit production, downward-facing or curling leaves, and lighter potted plant weight.

8) And learn the signs of overwatering, too 

Wilting, which can also be a sign of underwatering, happens when you’ve overwatered them too; lift the plant up to see if water’s gathered at its base to see what you’re dealing with. 

Other signs include yellowing leaves, mouldy patches, stem rot, and dark roots.

9) Don’t let leaves stay wet for too long

This can cause disease and even scald the leaves, especially “hairy” ones, in heatwaves.

10) Use water smartly 

I can’t remember the last summer we didn’t have a hosepipe ban (and it turns out hoses aren’t usually the most efficient watering method anyway). Embrace “grey water” from your bath, sink, and shower; soil is usually more than capable of filtering out detergents.

Having a rain butt, keeping grass clippings on your lawn after mowing, and mulching with everything from stones to coffee grounds can help too.