How to care for greenery is a matter of learning. Conditions of indoor green plants, such as temperature, humidity, light, watering time, frequency and amount of water will directly affect the survival of the plants.
Too much watering will lead to lack of oxygen inside the soil. When the oxygen content of the soil is below 10%, it will inhibit plant root absorption and affect the overall physiological function. A series of toxic substances such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia produced due to lack of oxygen will poison the roots and cause the plant to die. Reversely, not watering enough will cause the plant roots to shrink, hindering the absorption of nutrients. The leaves will atrophy and over time the plant will yellow and wither until death.
So, how to correctly determine the proper amount of water for your plants?
Understand The Growth Habits Of Green Plants
The water requirements of different species cannot be generalized. Common indoor plants, such as monarchs, money trees, tiger lilies, etc., do not need much water during their growth process.
Of course, there are some plants that need a lot of water. Common ones are bamboo taro, turtleback bamboo, and more. These plants need frequent watering to maintain normal growth, and if the soil is dehydrated, the leaves will soon dry out.
To Determine Whether A Green Plant Needs Watering
1.The State Of Green Plants
We can visually determine whether the plant is in a state of overwatering or lack of water by the change of the plant's leaves. When the plant is overwatered, the roots of the plant cannot absorb the oxygen in the soil, and the leaves will gradually turn from green to light green or yellow, and even some yellow spots will appear.
Overwatering will provide a different kind of sign to watch out for. Many plants have a "stomata" for photosynthesis and respiration. A stomata are tiny pores found on plant leaves that open and close to allow the flow of important gases at a cellular level. If there is not enough water in the soil, the plant will close the stomata to retain water. This means that the plant stops respiration and the plant will start to wilt. If you find that the plant is low hanging and the leaves at the bottom are wilted and dry and brittle, then it needs to be watered promptly and adequately.
2.Soil Condition
We can also tell if the plant is dehydrated by looking at the color of the soil on the surface of the soil. If the color of the soil is dark brown, it indicates that the soil has sufficient moisture. If the color of the soil surface starts to lighten or even starts to turn white, it means that the soil is too dry.
Of course, you can also feel how moist the soil is by touching it with your fingers. If the soil sticks to your hand and is clumpy, it means that the soil is moist enough to support growth. If the soil is loose and easily crushed into a powder, it means that the soil is too dry and needs a good watering and extra vitamins added.
It is easy to be deceived by the state of the soil on the surface. Generally speaking, the condition of soil below 0.8 in. is more valuable for reference. You can insert your finger into the pot to feel the condition of the soil inside, or you can use the soil detector to have more accurate data. RainPoint has two soil sensors (WiFi and Bluetooth) which can detectmoisture range (0-100%) and the temperature range (14-122℉). You can be informed of the approximate moisture range directly through the sensor LED indicator, or you can check the soil moisture and specific data in the Control Master APP.
How To Deal With Excessive Watering
1.Potting Soil Water Control
If too much watering causes the leaves to droop and yellow, stop watering and move the plant to a well-ventilated place (avoid direct sunlight). If the soil has been in a relatively wet state, you can tap the edge of the pot or use a small shovel to properly loosen the soil so that it can dry as soon as possible.
2.Root Rot Transplanting
If there is too much water in the soil you need to pull the plant out of the pot with the whole soil mass. After taking out the plant, check whether the plant root system is damaged. Withered or rotten roots should be pruned to help save the plant. After dealing with the rotten roots, it is also necessary to sterilize the bottom of the rhizome to prevent further spread of the mold.
In addition, the condition of the soil at the bottom should be checked. If the soil has white mold, it should be replaced with new soil. Before transplanting to pots, try to choose small pots with many drainage holes, and put 1-2 in. of ceramic pellets or other granular stones at the bottom of the pot to avoid clogging of drainage holes to some extent.
The first watering after transplanting should be sufficient and thorough. Then the soil should be completely dry before going back to normal water.
Conclusion
While watering your plants is up to the individual species, it will be easy for you to figure out frequency and duration. As a caretaker, you must pay attention to the wet and dry state of the soil to give the plants thoughtful care.