How to Know When Your Houseplants Need Water

Some houseplants need to be watered frequently. Some require less water. How do you know when to water your plants? Here are a few simple tricks to help you determine if your plant needs water.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pencil

1. Each type of plant prefers different soil conditions. Some like dry soil, while others prefer moist. Make sure to research your type of plant before accidentally giving it too much water. These steps are for the average plant that prefers more water.

2. Insert a pencil into the soil of your pot.

3. Insert a pencil into the soil of your pot. Does the pencil have dirt sticking to it? If so, your plant is fine. If not, add water.

4. With a smaller pot, you can also try the thud test. Pick up your plant and knock on the pot.

5. If it sounds hollow, the soil is dry. Add water. If it thuds, there is still water in the soil.

6. You can also try just feeling the dirt. If it feels damp, the plant is fine. If it is dry and crumbly, add water.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure not to over water. If there is water standing on top of the soil that is not absorbed, that means you've added too much.

[juliemcmurchie]

on 4/15/2009 Thanks for the help recognizing when houseplants need water. Kind of a how not to kill your houseplants article. My plants thank you.

[kaytay]

on 4/14/2009 excellent ways to recognize if houseplants need watering

[soanyway]

on 4/13/2009 My plants always tell me when they need water, they are droopy! LOL. Great tips! I have recomn'd you. Pay it forward! ;-)