How To Tell If Your Houseplants Need Water

Healthy house plants require adequate water in order to prosper. Things like the amount of sunlight a plant receives, soil conditions and humidity levels all play a part in how much water your plants need to stay healthy. One of the tell-tale signs of under-watering a plant is generally a drooping leaf and by knowing the water requirements of your plants, and their individual signs of dehydration, you can ensure your plants receive the water they need.

Easy Steps

• Step 1 – Stick a finger 1 inch into the plant’s soil. If it feels dry, your plant requires watering. Alternately, you can purchase a moisture meter that will measure the water contents of the soil and give you a reading of “wet,” “moist” or “dry.”
• Step 2 – Examine the leaves of your house plants. If they are turning brown around the edges, curling up, turning translucent or their growth has slowed, these are signs it’s time to water the plant.
• Step 3 – Pick up smaller plants, before and after watering, and take note of their weight. With practice you can learn to determine the soil’s moisture content by the weight of the plant. When the plant feels light, it is time to water.