I get asked for plant advice daily and the advice I give the most tends to never change - put the watering can down Mary! Overwatering is the biggest crime.
Overwatering can actually be a bit confusing - here are a few points to explain:
- Overwatering is not actually related to the quantity of water used for a plant (Ideally a plant pot has drainage and excess water that isn't held on to by the potting mix will drain out)
- The frequency of which your water your plants (Every few days, every other week, when the soil dries out) is the big factor in overwatering
Most indoor plants prefer to have their soil fully dry out or mostly dry out before you water again. This is what catches people as they set up watering schedules or notice the top soil looks dry and immediately water their plant when in fact neither are reliable indications of needing more water.
Its okay! We've all killed a plant with too much love before. Here are some tips we recommend to help with minimise your risk of overwatering:
Repot your plants into a mix that is more aerated and chunkier. With a chunkier mix, your pot will dry out quicker and the roots of your plant will have more access to oxygen which they need! We recommend our Chunky & Funky Indoor Plant Mix.
Use Clear Nursery Pots so you can keep an eye on what's happening inside your pot. With a clear pot, you'll be able to see if the soil mix looks darker or if there is condensation on the pot, both of which indicate a level of moisture in the pot. We have these available in 70mm, 90mm, and 125mm!
Resist the urge to water! Most plants have their own way of showing you when they might be ready to be watered - leaves may curl or go limp, petioles may loosen up making the plant look lifeless, or the colour saturation of foliage may lighten or look dull. Follow these signs (and combine with a clear pot) and you should be in a much better position.
We hope you found this helpful - happy planting peeps! :)