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House Plant Care and How to Water Plants
How to Water Plants
When to Water Your Plants
Don't set up a regular schedule for watering your plants, but do set up a regular schedule for checking on them.
Plants generally need watering more often when:
Making active growth
In clay pots and other porous containers
On bright days
In small pots
When roots fill pot
Plants generally need watering less often when:
Resting or dormant
Newly potted or repotted
In nonporoous pots, such as plastic
On cloudy days
In large pots
Learn the general water requirements for each of the plants you own. These requirements fall into three categories:
Plants that like to be on the moist side. Never allow these to dry out completely. Keep evenly moist - not soggy, but never dry. Some ferns, for example, like an evenly moist soil.
Plants that like to dry out between waterings. Most houseplants will fall into this category. Water these plants thoroughly; then do not water again until the soil feels dry to the touch.
Plants that like to go bone-dry between waterings. Many cacti and succulents fall into this group. Water thoroughly; then let soil go dusty dry to the touch. Dig your finger in beneath the soil surface to feel for traces of moisture before watering again.
Provide for humidity, especially in the winter, and especially if you have a forced hot air heating system, which draws moisture out of the air like a blotter. Enough humidity can make the difference between thriving and struggling plants. You can also do your health and complexion a favor by putting moisture back into the air. Ways to do so:
Install a humidifier.
Lower your thermostat in winter. A 68 degree setting may put you in a sweater, but yours fuel bills and your plants will be better off with lower temperatures.
Mist your plants regularly and often.
Place plants on trays or saucers that are filled with pebbles so that water can drain off but remain to add moisture to the air.
Do You Know How to Water Plants?
Have you ever had a plant die due to under watering or over watering it?
Easy Indoor Gardening with AeroGardens
How Much to Water Your Plants
Try not to let your plants reach the wilting stage before watering them. When plants are allowed to go too dry, the newest growth is usually damaged first. Young foliage wilts, browns, and dies. Some plants suffer if they go dry for only a day too long.
Your sense of touch is important in knowing when potted plants need water. Touch the leaves as well as the soil. Learn the feel of leaves that are either papery dry or limp from lack of water. Leaves of a healthy, properly watered plant have a certain springiness to them, and you will recognize this feeling only by experience. Touch the leaves of your plants as you care for them; it's a bit like taking their pulse.
Do not apply water too rapidly to plants, especially those that like to dry out between waterings. If you dump water on all at once, it will straight through the pot, too fast for the soil to soak it up. You, in turn, seeing the water exiting from the drainage hole, will not only stop watering but will probably empty the saucer as well because you know that plants shouldn't stand in water. Result: The plant winds up with too little water, even though you may have applied a lot. Water slowly. Apply alittle water, wait for it to soak in, and then apply more, letting it slowly make its way through the pot. If you are watering from the bottom of the pot, pour the water into the saucer or tray in which the plant stands; then let the water remain for at least a half hour so that the plant can soak up what it needs. Then pour off the excess.
If you follow the above recommended advice on how to feed and water your plants, you are sure to have happy healthy plants. To find more gardening tips go to Garden Pros.
Books on Plant Care
Easy-Care Guide to Houseplants
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009) 
How to Care for Your Indoor Bulbs and Annuals (How to Care for Your Houseplants)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
128 Houseplants You Can Grow:symbol-coded for Easy Care
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Care-Free Plants
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Miracle-Gro Encyclopedia of Plant Care (Miracle Gro)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Gardening Tips and Products
Best Online Gardening Shop:
Garden Pros
House Plants For Gifts
Bonsai
Translated as potted tree, bonsai trees are the attempt to represent larger natural tree forms in a diminutive scale. This bonsai is a hardy 3 year-old juniper, known for its long trailing branches, which are easy to train into many fantastic bonsai styles. Your juniper bonsai is delivered in a beautiful 8" glazed clay earth/water pot that is complemented by Japanese suiseki balance stones, and a miniature fisherman.
Perfect Little Garden
Spruce up home or office with this charming plant with floral accents.
French Garden
Remind someone of the simpleness and beauty of life with these flourishing greens.
Blooming Peace Lily
Give the lasting gift of this lush, blooming green plant set in a beautiful basket.
Flourishing Sophistication
The perfect ornament for any room, this classy assortment is a real eye-catcher.
Watering Cans
Haws Indoor Watering Can- Copper(1 Liter)
Amazon Price: $129.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Haws Conservatory Plastic Watering Can - 2.25 Liters
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Haws Slimcan Watering Can- Blue(5 Liter)
Amazon Price: $92.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Watering Your Plants While Away
Self-Watering Probes - Vacation Plant Waterers - 5 Pack
Amazon Price: $23.95 (as of 07/05/2009)
Drip-It Frog Plant Waterer Green
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Plant Minder Sensors - Irrigation for Vacations - Water Your Plants While You're Away! (3-pack)
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Wonderful House Plant Gifts
Orange Jasmine Plant -VERY FRAGRANT- SALE* - 4" pot
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Goldfish Plant - 6" Hanging Basket - Blooms Constantly!
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Citronella Mosquito Plant
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Amazing Sensitive Plant - Leaves Move - Mimosa pudica
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Cool Watering Cans
Watering Can (63182) 12 each
Amazon Price: $30.03 (as of 07/05/2009)
Tabby Cat Watering Can
Amazon Price: $39.85 (as of 07/05/2009)
Rooster Watering Can
Amazon Price: $39.85 (as of 07/05/2009)
Ethnic Style Watering Can - Galvanized Iron
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Kids Manny Mantis Garden Watering Can
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
How to Water a Bonsai Tree
Finally, a simple step by step guide FOR BEGINNERS ONLY who simply need to know how to keep a new Bonsai Tree healthy and alive.Bonsai gardening should not stress you out. It is one of the most rewarding and relaxing pastimes that anyone could undertake. In the hurried times we live in, relaxation is a much sought after quality. I think that's why so many people have discovered Bonsai plant care.
This wonderful book, Help!! Someone Just Gave Me a Bonsai Tree!! can teach you the art of Bonsai gardening, and help you to learn the simple steps that can mean the difference between your new Bonsai tree growing and flourishing or wilting and dying.
Don't spend countless hours surfing the net looking for whatever info you can find on Bonsai tree care, only to realize after searching forever that so much of the bonsai care information on the internet is conflicting and you land up just being confused about Bonsai care altogether.
Relax and enjoy your new bonsai tree. Click Here!
Organic Plant Food
Green Light Organic Super Bloom - 1 lb #97001
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Espoma Organic Bio-Tone Starter Plus All Natural Plant Food - 4 lb Bag #BTS4
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 07/05/2009)
The Scott Mg Organic Choice Plant Food 6 Pounds - 100964
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Great Plant Food
Liquid Plant Food Plus
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Compost Activator 9-3-5 (2-Pack) 2.5lbs. Each
Amazon Price: $12.50 (as of 07/05/2009)
United Industries #1011 4OZ Liquid Plant Food
Amazon Price: $1.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Miracle-Gro Miracid Nursery Select Azalea/Camellia/Rhododendron Food 1 lb. #102531
Amazon Price: $7.96 (as of 07/05/2009)
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Did You Find This Lens Helpful?
Kindly say a few words before you go.
mulberry wrote...
I've done pretty well with house plants with the exception of a bonsai tree I had. Thanks for the tips!
Posted June 29, 2009
Fun_Ann wrote...
Great lens - 5*. Love the pictures :) Lensrolled to Indoor House Plants
Posted June 22, 2009
Maria wrote
I bought a self watering reservoir from a place in San Diego, called hooksandlattice.com. I use it in my window planters in our secodn story bedrooms (the kids) because it's hard to reach over the beds to water (use fake lowers in the winter {smile}...i';; paste in the picture of the one i bought (if i do it right)
http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/hooksandlattice_2041_20116263
Posted March 04, 2009
windowbox wrote...
5 Star lens I would say and good tips out there abt gardening, my heart always goes for gardening but as I do not have such space, I am using container gardening through Flower Window Boxes, Window Box Planter, Flower Window Boxes
Posted January 20, 2009
