Winter Watering: The Golden Rules
Indoor plants – Source: spm
Water is essential for the survival of plants: it not only keeps them hydrated, but also promotes good absorption of nutrients. All plants need water. However, the dosage varies from one type to another. It is therefore important to get as much information as possible about each plant to determine all of its needs. However, most often, watering indoor plants is not well controlled. Some dare to drown their flowers in accordance with their wishes, others establish a ritual by choosing a specific time to spray their plants. No, there is no set time to do this, experts say.
Of course, the frequency of watering varies with the seasons. Know in particular that in winter, indoor plants enter vegetative dormancy: it generally begins at the end of autumn or at the beginning of winter. This is a period of restoration after the hot season when your plants have been given sufficient resources for abundant flowering. Note that during this resting stage, they consume less energy and are preparing for the birth of new spring shoots. Therefore, each plant has its own preferences and needs in terms of watering. Also, to keep them healthy and beautiful, you need to take into account all the aspects that will keep them healthy.
During this stage of vegetative rest, your plants do not need much water, unless specifically flowering during this period. Watering should be done once every two weeks for some and not at all for others.
Here are the watering frequencies for the most common houseplants:
- Begonia: Never water it in the winter.
- Aloe vera: You can water it once every three weeks in small amounts.
- Azaleas, ivy, geranium, or eucalyptus: Water very rarely or not at all.
- Ficus, Brassina and other tropical plants: Water at most twice a week.
- Orchids: water them once every two weeks, preferably in the morning, with water at room temperature.
Factors to consider before watering
Watering a houseplant – Source: spm
- Plant type: As mentioned above, the amount of water required varies by type. Some plants like moisture and others prefer drought. So be sure to determine the water needs of each of your plants. Thus you will be able to get a more accurate idea of the watering frequency.
- Always check the dryness of the soil: to do this, use a wooden stick. If it slips easily into the ground, the moisture is still there. If it sticks to the surface, the soil is not wet. So watering should be done (depending on the type of plant, of course).
- Test the weight of the pot: This is another effective way to check how much water is left in the soil. If it is dry, then it is necessarily lighter than wet soil. So you will feel a huge difference in weight between a watered plant and a dry plant.
- Another soil test tip: Use your fingertips to feel the soil in the pot through the drainage holes. This will allow you to assess how dry the soil is to determine if watering is necessary.
