7 Houseplant Watering Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Watering is the number one cause of houseplant trouble. And more often than not, the problem isn't too little water, but too much. The good news is that a few simple habits are all it takes to get it right. Here are the seven most common houseplant watering mistakes, and how to avoid them.

1. Watering on a fixed schedule

Watering every Saturday sounds convenient, but a plant doesn't drink the same amount in July as it does in January. Light, temperature, pot size and soil type all make a difference.

The fix: check before you water. Push a finger 2 to 3 cm into the soil: if it's dry, water; if it still feels damp, wait. A smart soil moisture meter does the job for you and sends an alert to your phone when the soil gets too dry.

2. Overwatering

Yellow, floppy leaves, soil that smells musty and fungus gnats buzzing around the pot are classic signs of overwatering. Starved of air, the roots eventually rot.

The fix: let the top of the soil dry out between waterings and cut back in winter, when most plants grow more slowly.

3. Leaving water sitting in the saucer or cover pot

This is the sneakiest mistake. Water pooling at the bottom of a decorative pot with no drainage keeps the roots permanently wet.

The fix: empty the saucer 15 minutes after watering. If you use a decorative cover pot, keep the plant in its plastic nursery pot with drainage holes and lift it out to water.

4. Watering little and often

A few drops every day only wet the surface. The roots stay near the top of the pot and the plant struggles at the first sign of drought.

The fix: water less often but thoroughly, until water runs out of the drainage hole. That way, the whole root ball gets a drink.

5. Using water that's too cold or very hard

Ice-cold water can shock the roots of tropical plants, and very hard water leaves white deposits on both the soil and the leaves.

The fix: use water at room temperature. Fill your watering can the night before, or collect rainwater if you have a balcony.

6. Treating every plant the same way

A cactus and a fern have completely different needs. Succulents store water in their leaves and prefer to dry out between waterings, while calatheas and ferns like their soil slightly moist at all times.

The fix: group your plants by their needs and read up on each species. Thirsty plants are perfect candidates for a self-watering planter: its reservoir keeps them evenly hydrated, without overdoing it, for up to 3 weeks depending on the season.

7. Going on holiday without a plan

Coming home after two weeks away to find your plants bone dry is the classic summer disaster.

The fix: start preparing a few days before you leave.

• Group your plants together in a bright room, out of direct sunlight.
• Give them a thorough watering the day before you go.
• Set up terracotta watering spikes with a bottle of water: they release water slowly over several days.
• For longer trips, rely on self-watering planters, filling their reservoirs right up to the maximum line.

Test your setup a week before you leave to see how quickly the water is released for each plant.

Good habits to remember

• Check the soil, not the calendar.
• Water thoroughly, then let it dry out.
• Never leave standing water at the bottom of the pot.
• Adjust your routine to the season and to each plant.

Stick to these habits and your houseplants will be stronger, and you'll spend far less time wondering whether they're thirsty.