Watering your plants
How often should you water your plants? What type of water should I use? How much water should I use?
When it comes to your plants, we not only worry about over-watering and under-watering but also the types of water we nourish them with. Too much water means no oxygen to the roots which can lead to root rot. Too little water and the roots dry out. All of these factors are taken into consideration when it comes to caring for your plants and watering.
Here are a few things you should be mindful of before, during, and after you water your plants.
The Type of Plant
Different plants depending on their origin and species have different watering needs.
Frequency
Some houseplants require weekly watering while others may need to be watered bi-weekly because some plants dry out faster than others and some need watering more often than others.
How to Water
Watering your plant evenly ensures optimal growth. You’ll want to water the soil all around, not just in one particular area since the roots run all around the base of the plant.
Checking The Soil
It’s important to water by how the soil feels, not by the length of time. Most roots go deep & are in the bottom half of the root ball. Just because the surface looks dry, it doesn’t mean the roots are. Don’t water too shallow. Our rule of thumb is to stick our fingers two inches into the soil to test the hydration levels similar to baking a cake.
Exposure
The amount of sun means that the plant will be watered on a higher frequency and less light means less watering frequency.
Types of Water
Some types of water are proven to yield more beneficial results than others and we are here to shed light on their differences.
Rainwater
Rainwater is the #1 preferred choice of plants to grow fast and healthy. Rainwater is 100% soft water free of salts and treatment chemicals. It is full of natural minerals that are necessary for plant growth and will make your plants grow bigger and healthier than any other type of water.
Springwater
Using bottled spring water for your indoor plants will make a big difference for them. Bottled spring waters may contain natural minerals that are needed by plants, depending on the water source. They do not contain added chemicals or contaminants, including chlorine and fluoride.
Distilled Water
Distilled water is a type of purified water that has had both contaminants and minerals removed. While distilled water won’t actually harm your plants, because minerals are removed,. You will notice that your plants won’t grow as quickly or as tall as plants watered with rainwater or bottled spring water.
Tap Water
Tap Water is the least preferred type of water for your houseplant and we advise you to only use tap water contingent upon the region you’re located in around the US. Some tap water contains calcium and magnesium which can build up on the soil surface causing a white powdery film. These concentrated salts can cause dehydration of the root structures.
