None of the conditions for growing houseplants require as much attention as watering. Need to control it all year round. It is in this area that novice houseplant lovers make the most mistakes. They either flood the plants with water, believing that in this way they will make them happy, or they completely forget that it needs water. As a result, the plant receives either too much water or too little; both can simply destroy him.
What determines the need for water in plants?
It may seem that all plants need to be moistened a certain number of times each week. However, it is not. Each plant has its own requirements for watering - it depends on the size of the plants, the size of the pot, the time of year, temperature and light, soil quality and the need for moisture inherent in a particular species. For example, on cloudy days, the plant needs less moisture, but sunny weather he needs more water. During the warm summer months, plants need abundant watering, and in cool weather they need less water. Even under stable conditions, a constant amount of water is not a guarantee of success, because the plant grows in size and, accordingly, the amount of water it needs increases.
Water more often and more abundantly:
✓ plants in clay pots;
✓ plants with large or thin leaves;
✓ plants with thin stems;
✓ plants during the period active growth;
✓ plants with strong root system;
✓ plants with hanging stems;
✓ during the warm season and when high temperature in the room;
✓ in bright light;
✓ with dry air;
✓ with open windows.
Less moisture require:
✓ plants in plastic pots;
✓ plants with thick leaves with a wax coating;
✓ plants devoid of leaves;
✓ plants with thick stems;
✓ plants at rest;
✓ newly transplanted plants;
✓ plants with poorly developed root system;
✓ weak and depleted plants;
✓ at low air temperature in the room;
✓ on cloudy days or in low light;
✓ when high humidity air;
✓ when there is no air movement in the room.
For example, orchids from the genus Dendrobium are watered no more than once a week.
How can you tell if a plant needs watering?
The experience of many lovers of indoor floriculture has developed an exact criterion: it is time to water the plant when the earth mixture in the pot becomes dry. The only problem is that the mixture, which seems dry on top, remains wet in the middle of the pot. You water thinking the ground is practically dry. In fact, you oversaturate it with water from the middle of the pot to the very bottom, which is no less harmful to plants than drying out the soil. How to understand what state earthen clod: wet, dry or almost dry? Sometimes this can be determined "by eye" and "by ear".
The color of the earth mixture depends on whether it is wet or dry. A wet mixture is dark brown, while a dry or nearly dry mixture becomes pale brown and dull. One common technique, therefore, is to water the plants when the earth mixture begins to turn pale. However, the estimate "by eye" is not always reliable. When the mixture is dry on most of the surface of the pot, it may be wet at the bottom. However, for small pots, it can be assumed that if the soil mixture is dry on the surface, it is quite dry throughout the pot. You can determine whether or not to water the plants by simply tapping the pot with your finger. If the earth in the flower pot is dry, the sound will be sonorous, but if it is wet, it will be deaf.
The easiest way to tell if a plant needs watering is to test the soil in the pot with your finger or wooden stick. Dip your finger into the soil mixture up to the first or second joint. If the soil feels wet, no watering is required. If dry, then there is clearly not enough water in the soil. This technique is a reliable indicator of soil moisture in the entire pot, and can be used for potted plants 20-25 cm high. Avoid checking the moisture content of the mixture with your fingers several times at a time. So you can damage the roots of a small and tender plant and you will do him more harm than good. Check soil moisture with your fingers at the outer edge of the pot rather than at the base of the plant.
You can tell if a plant needs watering by simply lifting the pot. It is clear that a freshly watered potting mix weighs more than a dry one. Plants in plastic containers grown in standard potting mixes weigh about twice as much after watering as dry ones. This is, of course, a rough estimate. The difference in weight depends on the type of pot, the potting mix and the material the pot is made from. However, even plants in clay pots with a heavy potting mix are noticeably lighter when the soil dries out. Applying the "weighing" method takes some practice. Elevate the plant a few times between waterings to feel the difference in weight between wet and dry pots. Then after a while you can easily tell the difference between a lighter pot when the plant needs watering and a heavier pot when it doesn't need watering.
How do soil moisture indicators work?
Watering plants in large containers - more than 30 cm tall - has always been a challenge for indoor plant enthusiasts. Plants growing in deep pots or tubs are constantly in danger of waterlogging. Fortunately, reliable and harmless devices have been developed for determining soil moisture in large containers. On sale you can find various indicators of soil moisture. These instruments measure the amount of water at a certain depth. Insert the indicator plug into the soil about 2/3 of the way. The arrow on the scale will indicate "wet", "dry" or somewhere in between. Water only when the indicator indicates that the soil is dry. Keep in mind that an old, worn-out meter gives unreliable readings, so it should be replaced with a new one about once a year. However, even a new meter may give an inaccurate estimate if the soil mixture contains a lot of mineral salts. They can accumulate if you have been watering your plants with hard water for several years. In this case, inaccurate meter readings indicate that your plants need to replace the old soil mix to fresh.
In addition to the standard meter, there is a commercially available sonic moisture meter that indicates when the plant needs watering by ringing, whistling or other sound signal. The sound meter is arranged in the same way as the standard one, but instead of a scale, a sound transmitter is located at the other end. It costs about the same as the standard one. It makes sense to buy one such meter and keep it in a pot with a plant that usually dries out faster than others. When the indicator beeps, it's time to check the rest of the plants using traditional methods.
What is a watering schedule?
Each type of plant needs its own watering regimen. This information can be gleaned from the description of the content of a particular plant. Distinguish watering plentiful, moderate and rare. Abundant watering is done immediately after the earthen clod dries. Abundant watering is required for most tropical plants with thin leaves. With moderate watering, the plants are watered not immediately after the earthen coma dries out, but after a day or two. moderate watering required, in particular, for plants with pubescent leaves and stems (African violet, peperomia, etc.) and thick roots and rhizomes (dracaena). With rare watering, the plants are left dry for several days, weeks or even months. This applies to cacti and succulents, as well as plants in their dormant period.
How to set watering mode?
A strict watering regimen for each plant is not easy to maintain, especially if you have a lot of plants. Ideally, you should regularly check the condition of the plant and water it as soon as it is needed. This method brings best results, because in this case there is an alternation of wet and almost dry soil conditions. Check each plant every 3-4 days using one of the methods described above and water only those plants that currently need it. Recommendations in this matter can only be general.
It is better to water the plants more often and little by little than less often and more abundantly. The main watering is best done in the first half of the day. With each watering, the plant needs to be given enough water so that it well moistens the entire earthen lump and glass in the pan.
What are the signs of water shortage?
Regular violations of the irrigation regime affect appearance most plants.
The lack of water can be noticed by the following signs:
The leaves are drooping;
Leaves and shoots become lethargic;
In plants with hard, leathery leaves, the leaves dry and fall off;
Flowers and buds fall off or quickly wither.
What are the consequences of overwatering?
With excess water:
The leaves show signs of rot;
The plant is clearly slower growing;
Mold appears on buds and flowers;
The tips of the leaves turn brown;
Both old and young leaves fall off.
How to save an overdried plant?
When the potting mix dries out to the point of being almost crispy, a curious phenomenon is observed - the potting mix refuses to accept water. No matter how much water you pour, the earth becomes slightly damp only on the surface. This happens because the very dry soil moves away from the walls of the pot and cracks form between the walls and the earthen clod. When you water overdried soil from above, the water flows through these cracks to the bottom and pours into the pan through the drainage hole. The earth ball will remain dry. Therefore, when the earth is too dry, it is useless to water it from above. What to do? Water the leaves and stems of the plant from the shower. Fill a basin or other container with water at room temperature and completely immerse the pot with the plant in it, carefully pressing the pot down with a weight (stone or brick) so that it is completely immersed in water. Then add a few drops (no more!) Liquid detergent- this will help reduce the water-repellent properties of overdried soil. After about an hour, remove the plant pot and let the excess water drain. If the plant has revived (not all plants recover after overdrying), it will soon become juicy again. Please note - even when the earthen ball takes its original size, some distance between it and the walls of the pot will remain. Fill this gap with potting mix.
How to save a flooded plant?
If excess water has accumulated in the pot, it is no less dangerous for the plant than drought. However, in this case, not all is lost. Tap the edge of the pot on a hard surface and remove the pot from the earthen clod. Usually an earthen ball is pierced with roots and retains the shape of a pot. Remove damaged roots and wrap an earthen ball with a rag or old kitchen towel- it will absorb excess water from an earthen coma. You may need to change your towel several times.
Then wrap the earth ball in absorbent paper and leave it in it until dry, but do not overdry. When the earth ball is dry, plant the plant in a clean pot with fresh earth mixture.
What should be the pallet size?
Usually, flower pots sold with pallet. The pallet is absolutely necessary - excess water flows into it. As a pallet, you can also use saucers or bowls of a suitable size from any material. It is only important that the diameter of the pallet is not less than the upper diameter of the pot. After watering, it is necessary to drain excess water from the pan.
What is drainage?
Drainage is a French word. It means the artificial or natural removal of excess fluid, usually from the soil. V indoor floriculture drainage is used so that the water does not stagnate in the pot. Ceramic shards, gravel, pebbles or large expanded clay are suitable for drainage.
A large shard is placed on the drain hole with the convex side up, or a handful of smaller shards, then a layer of coarse-grained sand is poured and the plant itself is planted on top of this. Since there are not always shards at hand, it is easier to arrange drainage from expanded clay.
If the pot has a hole for water to drain, then 1 cm of large expanded clay should be placed on the bottom. If there is no hole, then the height of the expanded clay layer should be at least 3-5 cm. In general, it should be about a quarter of the height of the container.
How is bottom watering done?
Although traditionally plants are watered from a watering can, there is another way - watering from below. With this method, the so-called capillary effect is triggered - there is a movement of water from more humid layers to drier ones. When the soil is almost dry, place the pot in a tray of water and the moisture will begin to flow through the soil and the roots of the plant.
When pouring from below, you simply fill the pan with water. If the water drains quickly from the pan, add a little more. After about an hour, all the soil will be damp and its surface will be shiny with moisture. When the plant has sucked up all the water it needs, pour out the rest of the water from the pan. Watering from below is preferable for plants with pubescent leaves or with a lush rosette of leaves.
Plants that you water from below are better able to meet their moisture needs. However, at the same time, you will have to change the soil mixture with them more often, since excess mineral salts will accumulate in the soil faster.
What is the best way to water plants?
Watering from above seems to be a more "natural" way of watering, since in nature plants get their moisture from rain. On the other hand, it is not the source of moisture that is important for the plant, but the result - moist soil. Therefore, it is not so important whether you water from above or below. When watering from above, make sure that water does not fall on the leaves. Many plants have very tender leaves and stems that are stained by water drops. In addition, water droplets on light focus the light like lenses, and even dense and leathery leaves can be burned. Therefore, when watering from above, be sure to lift the leaves or move them to the side so that water only falls on the soil.
How to water plants in hanging pots?
Plants in hanging planters often hang quite high, and their watering causes certain difficulties. For convenience, you can buy a special watering can, which will greatly facilitate the watering of such plants. It consists of plastic bottle with a long tube that bends at the end. There is such a watering can is quite inexpensive.
What kind of water to water indoor plants?
Plants are preferably watered with soft water, i.e. water with a low salt content. If the water in your area is soft, then it is quite suitable for irrigation. tap water. Hardy plant species can be watered directly from the tap, but this should not be abused: there are not so many such plants. It is better that the water settles for about a day. During this time, bubbles of gases, especially chlorine and fluorine, will come out of it. Fluoride is very harmful to indoor plants. Can also be used for irrigation rain water, melted snow and well water.
What is "hard water"?
Hard water contains many soluble salts calcium and magnesium. It is very harmful to plants. The surface of the roots of plants is covered with skin, which works as a kind of filter.
It lets in and keeps only what the plants need inside. When watering with hard water, the filter “clogs” - remember the scale on the walls of the kettle! As a result, the roots begin to absorb water poorly and nutrients. The plant is starving. In such a situation, an increase in watering only leads to rotting of the roots and death of the plant. A sign indicating hard water is a yellowish-white coating on the surface of the soil, on the walls of the pot, and sometimes on the stems of the plant.
How to soften hard water?
To soften hard water, add wood ash at the rate of 3 g (1/2 teaspoon) per liter of water. You can also add acetic or oxalic acid to the water. This must be done very carefully, checking the pH until it is established desired value (5,5-6,5).
filtered hard water i.e. water passed through a desalination plant or osmotic filtration system will not harm your plants. To soften hard water, special filter cartridges and water softener tablets (so-called pH tablets) are produced. If for some reason the described methods of softening hard water are not available to you, you can water the plants, especially tender ones, with boiled water.
What should be the water temperature for irrigation?
Water for irrigation should be at room temperature. It is even better to take water warmer by 2-3 ° C. Don't neglect this rule. Remember that by watering cold water thermophilic tropical plants, you can damage their roots and leaves.
Are there ways to self-regulate soil moisture?
Yes, there are such ways. Firstly, this is the so-called self-watering pot. Secondly, the cultivation of plants in a hydroponic system. In both cases, watering will require your attention once every 1 - 2 months, and in between the plants will be provided with water automatically. In addition, there are substrates, such as hydrogels and granulates, which are able to retain water in the soil for a long time and give it to plants as needed.
Indoor plants decorate the interior, make it more comfortable. However, ignorance of the rules for caring for them leads to sad consequences: they dry out and die. In order to revive your favorite plants, it is useful to know how to save frozen flowers, what to do with plants suffering from over-watering or under-watering.
Before proceeding with resuscitation measures, it is necessary to determine what exactly caused the deplorable state of the plant. As a rule, two main problems lead to its death: excessive and insufficient watering. The measures that promote recovery are drastically different for each of these cases.
To decide how to save the flowers, you need to understand the reason for their deplorable state.
Dried flowers can be recognized by the following signs:
- leaf fall;
- drying of buds and inflorescences;
- stem lethargy.
For flooded plants are characteristic:
- the appearance of mold on the stem or leaves;
- leaf fall;
- the appearance of a characteristic brownish tint on them;
- stem softening.
How to save a dried flower? First of all, water it intensively. But there is one subtlety: overdried soil does not absorb moisture well, water from the watering can will simply flow out into drainage holes without giving the desired effect. Do otherwise: pour the liquid into a bowl or basin and place the pot there. After 40-60 minutes, air bubbles from the soil will stop rising to the surface. This means that you can pull out the plant.
After resuscitation, water it properly.
How to save a flooded flower? With excessive watering, the plant begins to rot root system. To restore a flower, remove its substrate from the pot, let it dry a little. After that, audit and remove the rotting elements of the root. Return the substrate to the soil only when it is dry. After that, you can make the first watering.
Then with a high probability it may happen that the flower will begin to die if you did not provide it necessary quantity moisture or vice versa too overdone with water. What is the sequence of your actions and what to do if the flower dies?
Why do flowers die at home?
Before rescuing flooded or overdried flowers, first determine what specifically happened to them, as rescue methods differ depending on the signs.
Dried flowers can be identified by the following features:
- drooping leaves
- fallen or fading leaves and buds
- stems and leaves become sluggish
- fallen lower leaves
Signs of water-filled flowers:
- plant grows slowly
- leaf rot
- the plant becomes softer
- old and young leaves fall off
- edges of leaves turn brown
- noticeable mold on flowers and buds
What to do if the earth is dried out in flowers?
To save overdried flowers, the ground in them should be moistened properly. But in a dry state, it absorbs moisture very poorly, as it becomes too dense, and water simply flows into the drainage holes.
To moisten such soil, you should find a suitable large container and fill it with water, place a flower pot in it and gently press it so that it does not come off the bottom. You should wait about an hour until the air bubbles stop coming out of the soil. After that, the pot can be removed from the water container and left for a while to drain excess water.
After this procedure, for another two weeks, the flower should be watered in moderation so that it does not rot.
What to do if a flower is flooded?
In water-filled flowers, the roots suffer the most - they begin to rot. Therefore, if possible, remove the plant along with the substrate from the pot and let it dry at room temperature, make sure that there are no drafts and bright light in its location. Remove damaged parts of the root system. The substrate can be wrapped with a rag to draw out moisture. The next watering should be done only after the substrate has completely dried.
If you notice mold or smell mold and the edges of the leaves turn brown, don't despair. The plant can still be saved, provided that the process of decay has not affected the stem of the plant. In this case, it is necessary to replace the substrate with a new, slightly damp one. Watering should be carried out no earlier than two weeks later.
If the stem begins to rot, then the plant is destined to die. But in this case, use the situation with the greatest benefit. You can use plant branches as cuttings and start over.
A common cause of fungal diseases in indoor plants that can lead to death is soil flooding. You will learn: how to save a flooded plant, and quickly dry the earth in a pot.
When indoor plants are flooded, the roots cannot breathe and rot. Plants gradually wither, the leaves turn yellow, the stem becomes soft, on the surface of the soil mold appears. It is better not to overflow the soil, but if this has already happened, it is necessary to correct the situation correctly and save the plants.
The very first thing to do is take the plant out of the pot. The ground should be moist, but if the roots look healthy, wrap the root ball around thin layer paper towels and let the water soak into the paper.
When paper towels become wet, replace them with a dry layer. When the second layer absorbs excess moisture, you can remove them and return the plant to the pot.
At the same time, it is advisable to replace the earth or dry the old one well, and do not water the plant until the soil dries out by 2-3 cm.
If you pulled a plant out of its pot and saw that roots are brown and soft, you need to perform a small operation on them. Clear the roots from the ground and carefully inspect them.
Healthy roots are firm, white color, but there are exceptions, the roots of sansevier orange color. If the roots are soft or brown, cut them off. sharp knife or scissors to a healthy area, and then plant the plant in fresh, well-dried soil. Do not water the plant yet. If the soil smells rotten or moldy, be sure to change it.
If the plant has dropped a few leaves, this happens after the soil is flooded, new ones will soon grow, so you should not pay attention to this.
To avoid soil flooding in the future, find out features of watering each plant. Do not buy plants if you do not know how to care for them or read carefully the information on plant care.
One of good ways avoid soil overflow - buy and install. Such sensors are very easy to maintain, you just stick them into the ground and you can always find out the soil moisture.
Soil moisture can be tested with a finger at a shallow depth or with a pencil. Insert the pencil into the soil and pull it out - if the pencil is clean, then the soil is completely dry.
You can save a flooded plant by following these recommendations, but a 100% way to save is to prevent flooding.
Video - How to save a flooded plant?
Withered leaves, dried flower buds, earth in pots, more like a stone ... However, you can reanimate indoor plants - the main thing is to approach this matter competently. All you need is a few minutes of free time and some simple tools.
Withered leaves come to life when sprinkled with sparkling water (put it in a spray bottle and spray for several days). Only soda, for obvious reasons, should be unsweetened - it is best if it is mineral water.
To moisten the soil well in a pot, preventing overflow, you need to water it moderately, and then put a wet sponge inside. The plant will gradually absorb moisture from it.
More complex but effective option: a pot with a dried plant should be placed in a basin or a larger pot on wooden block. Then it is necessary to pour into the vessel hot water(but not boiling water!) - so that it is three to four centimeters below the edge of the bar. Such a steam bath should quickly bring the plant to its senses.
Another option for "ambulance" is to dial cold water v glass jar, cover with a lid with a hole, and thread a tourniquet into it, twisted from cotton wool or thick threads. When it is saturated with moisture, wrap the stem of the plant several times. It should come alive in the next few days.
If the orchid has withered, then you can try to “wake it up” with stress. You need to put it in a cold place and reduce watering. The plant will throw out a flower. By the way, in order for orchids to always bloom, they must be kept in rooms where at night the air temperature is five degrees lower than during the day.
If the flower does not want to come to life, it is possible that its root system has been badly damaged (this can happen, among other things, due to generous watering in the early days). In this case, you will have to arm yourself with a spatula and remove the plant from the pot along with a clod of earth. Carefully release the roots, assess their condition and, if not everything is lost, try transplanting into fresh soil, or rooting again (in a vessel with water).
Perhaps the plant was damaged due to spider mite, which can be identified by the cobweb on the leaves. He appears in certain conditions- if the air is very dry and warm. The flower must be urgently isolated from other plants, the leaves should be treated with a solution of laundry soap, and then packed, together with a pot, for a day in a bag with small holes for ventilation. The next day, the leaves are washed and repackaged in a bag for two days. If this does not help, you can treat the plant with a special preparation ("Fitoverm", "Aktellik"), which are sold in flower shops.
wilted plants you can not only water it, but also feed it - with sweetened water, or with a solution of potassium permanganate (two crystals per liter of water). A mixture of crushed eggshell and powdered sugar. But remember: you can not pour tea, milk, fruit drinks and other drinks into pots. And for the future, during long holidays, flowers are best left on the windows, where there is little light and cool. So they will better endure the lack of proper care.
On a note
Another tip is to start not capricious, requiring daily watering, plants, but their unpretentious variants. For example, high aspidistra tolerates a lack of moisture well, it is insensitive to drafts and cool air and looks very attractive - large dark green leaves reach a length of up to half a meter.
The well-known Decembrist (or Christmas cactus) loves moisture only during the formation of buds, which usually occurs in autumn - early winter. By the way, in order to make the plant bloom in December, you need to keep it in complete darkness from mid-October, or transfer it to a cool (with a temperature of 10-12 degrees) room in early November.
Also for the unpretentious indoor plants include epipremnum ("damn ivy", as they call it in Britain). This climbing plant, loving artificial light, it is almost impossible to destroy, except perhaps not to water at all. As well as crested chlorophytum, which breeds all year round with rosettes and feels great both in warm and cold rooms, with and without natural light.