Watering potted plants

How often should potted plants be watered?
As mentioned above, there are so many factors that affect the frequency of watering potted plants that it is difficult to apply the same guidelines to everyone. Therefore, each potted plant should be carefully observed. Here are some basic guidelines to help you water your potted plants correctly:

Water is needed when the soil in the pot is slightly dry.
In other words, when the soil in the pot is moist, there is no need to water. Instead, wait until the pot soil is slightly dry before watering. But never let the pot soil dry completely! The humidity of the potting soil can be checked by inserting your finger about 1 cm into the soil. Over time, you will be able to tell the timing of watering based on your experience.

Avoid being reduced to routine watering
The condition of each potted plant is unique, so be sure to avoid routine watering until you have gained enough experience.

Choose the right soil mix
The proportion of mixed soil will also affect the watering frequency of potted plants. For most potted plants, a 2:1:1 ratio of akadama soil, Kanuma soil, and lava stone is suitable. However, if you cannot water regularly, choose a ratio with better water retention (you can use more Akada soil or even humus soil). To learn more, read about Potting Soil Mixes. If the medium is difficult to obtain, you can use a mixture of red jade soil and Sichuan sand. Beginners can use 1:1. You can make appropriate adjustments by yourself when you are familiar with your potted plants.

Potted plants full of roots
Because the root system of this potted plant is too full, the roots cannot absorb or store water when watering, so most of the water will overflow out of the pot. It’s time to change the pot!
When is the best time to water?
The time of watering is not very important, but it is recommended to avoid watering with very cold water in the afternoon; this is because the soil in the pot has warmed by the afternoon, and cold water will cool the roots too quickly. In summer, the hot water “heated” by the hot sun in the water pipes must be drained before watering. Even though these are important points to note, the bottom line is that whenever the soil becomes slightly dry, you must water!

How to water?
As mentioned before, water whenever the soil becomes slightly dry. When watering, you need to pay attention to whether the roots are completely soaked. The simple indicator is to soak the soil until the water flows out of the drainage holes below. Sometimes you need to repeat this after a few minutes.

Sprinkle finely sprayed sprinklers from above the potted plants to avoid over-scouring that can lead to soil loss. It would be better if you can collect natural rainwater for watering (and there are no additives at all); if not, you can also use tap water for watering. Alternatively, automatic sprinkler systems are available, but these often come at a hefty price tag.