How To Water
Watering indoor plants and topiary properly is key to keeping them healthy. Every plant is different, but these general tips can help you create a consistent routine.
Our plants are not your common house plant. They are not as forgiving to improper watering routines and are susceptible to both over and under-watering.
Check The Soil
Stick your finger or a pencil into the top 1 inch of the soil. If it feels dry, its usually time to water.
Smaller clay pots need to be watered much more often than larger clay pots. Pots near drafts or AC / heat vents also need to be watered more often.
If you want to water less frequently we recommend you upsize your plant into a larger pot.
Water Deeply
Water until it starts to drain out of the bottom of the pot. Empty excess water from the saucer to avoid root rot.
If your plant is in a small pot it is possible to submerge the entire pot in a larger bucket of water for 5-10 minutes and then allow all excess water to drain from the pot before returning it to its saucer.
Use Room Temp Water
Cold water can shock plant roots.
If you have city water it is also suggested that you let your pitcher of water sit out for 24 hours before watering your plants. This helps by reducing the amount of chlorine and chloramine your plants receive.
Know Your Plant
Some plants like to dry out between waterins much more than others (like succulents), while others like more consistnet moisture (like ferns).
Plants grow more in he spring and summer, so they may need more frequent watering.
Growth slows down in the fall and winter- water less often, and watch for overwatering.
Warning Signs
Signs of Overwatering:
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Yellowing leaves, especially lower ones
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Wilting despite wet soil
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Mushy or soft stems
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Moldy soil or a sour smell
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Root rot (black, mushy roots if removed from pot)
Signs of Underwatering:
Crispy, brown leaf edges
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Drooping or wilting with dry soil
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Slow or stunted growth
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Soil pulling away from the edges of the pot
Overwatering
Yellowing leaves, soft or limp leaves, brown spotting, brown/black leaf tips/edges, and mushy stems are all signs of overwatering.
To correct allow your plant’s soil to dry down to half or wo thirds depth of the pot before watering again.
If root rot is expected you should repot.
Root Rot
Root rot is a serious condition often caused by overwatering or poor drainage, leading to roots suffocating and decaying in soggy soil.
Leaf drop, yellowing leaves, soft or mushy stems, and foul odor from the soil are all signs of root rot. Roots should be white, not brown/black.
If root rot is noticed, repot your plant in fresh soil after removeing any of the dead or dyign root tissue.
Underwatering
Watch for dry, crispy leaf edges. Wilting or drooping leaves, over-dried soil, leaf curling, leaf yellowing, soil pulling away from the soil.
To solve this soak the entire pot in a bucket of water for at least 10 minutes to full rehydrate the soil. Then continue with a regular watering routine when the soil is dry to the touch about 1″ down from the top of the pot.