For many people, their house would not be a home without houseplants. Houseplants add color, texture, and interest to your home, but they need good care to thrive. This column will focus on proper watering and light for houseplant health. The next column will focus on additional aspects of houseplant care.
University of Missouri Extension says there is no general schedule that can be used for watering houseplants. There are many factors which affect how fast it takes the soil in the planter to dry out. Those factors include size of pot, light, temperature, and humidity.
Color and feel of the soil is the best way to gauge when to water a plant. Flowering plants, in general, need more water than foliage plants. Only water when plants need it, as soil that is too wet or dry leads to poor growth and even death of the plant. Soil becomes lighter as it dries and can even crack and pull away from the sides of the pot. Overly wet soil is sticky and slimy and can invite root rots and other disease problems.
UME says you can water pots from the top with a small spout watering can, or from the bottom of the pot. If watering from the top, make sure to keep water off the foliage and wet the entire soil mass.
Water should come through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. Water remaining beneath the pot an hour after watering should be discarded. To water from the bottom, place the pot in a pan or saucer filled with water. You can also dunk the pot to just below the rim in a deep bucket of water, UME says. When the soil is wet at the top of the pot, the entire soil ball should be wet. Remove pot from water and allow it to drain before returning to the saucer.
You may have noticed that salts form on the soil surface if watered from the bottom. The white accumulations can be washed out with occasional watering from the top. Make sure the pot drains fully and do not allow the pot to sit in water that has drained through.
Keep your houseplants well drained. Check for blockage of the drainage hole with roots by sticking your finger or a pencil into it. If your houseplants are wrapped in waterproof foil or are in deep planters, make sure there is no standing water.
Proper lighting is also crucial for houseplants. High temperatures and low humidity inside are stressful for plants; having the proper amount of light helps them deal with that stress. UME says south, east, or west windows are good for most flowering potted plants. One exception is African violets, which prefer a north window. Fluorescent lights located close to houseplants will help if they cannot be placed near windows.
Foliage plants can do well in a north window, in daylight with no direct sun, or sunlight diffused through a light curtain. Those requiring full sunlight should be in a south facing window.
Remember that houseplants can become acclimated to a location. Light changes should be made gradually. Plants can be kept from getting one-sided by turning once a week.
