Watering houseplants

The frequency of watering depends on the state of plant and environmental conditions (heat, humidity, soil and air, light intensity, etc.). Land in pots should usually be in a moderately moist. We can not allow abrupt transitions from lack of moisture to its excess. This means that watering should be regular and uniform. |

Plants need water is determined by their specific features: the structure of above-ground organs, the capacity of the root system, etc. For example, plants with succulent, fleshy leaves (such as agave, aloe, etc.) require less water than plants with large leaves, which sometimes require watering twice a day. For bulbous plants harmful excess moisture. It is best to water them, directing a jet of water is not in the flesh, but closer to the walls of the pot, or pour from a pallet.

There are many plants that are very sensitive to the lack of moisture, such as the monkey. When its branches are beginning to hang, then no watering will not help. In winter, a period of rest plant growth slows or stops, during which time the plant has less need of water and poured them much less frequently, sometimes up to 2-3 times a month. On the contrary, in the spring and summer, when the plant during growth and flowering of watering is needed more frequently, sometimes up to 2-3 per week. With little peresushke young shoots, buds and flowers may be affected. More or less water the plants, depends on many factors. If we consider all cases that may affect the irrigation, they can be brought into the comparison table:

Factors affecting the profusion or frequency of watering
When watering more

• * Plants that are in growth stage
• * Plants with a large number of leaves
• * Plants with large broad leaves, volatile lot of moisture
• * Flowering Plants
• * Adult plants with strong root system
• * If in a pot good drainage and large drainage holes
• * Plants in clay pots
• * In areas with dry warm air in winter
• * If the summer is dry, hot weather

When watering less

• * Plants that are in a period of rest
• * Plants with few leaves
• * Plants with succulent fleshy leaves
• * Plants with small root system, especially if the roots of plants damaged by pests, diseases or in the investigation is not proper care
• * If the pot is no drainage holes
• * Plants in the non-porous pot (plastic, metal, etc.)
• * Plants, located in a cool or humid environment
• * If the summer is a rainy overcast

We can not say that the references in the comparative table of cases are undisputed rule. In fact, should take into account several factors to determine whether irrigation should be more or less. Breaches of irrigation, water quality, its temperature, will inevitably impact on the plant. The more this happens, the crippled plant. Particularly sensitive plant may soon die, for example, by watering with cold water.

Signs of water scarcity

• * Leaves droop, loss of turgor of leaves and shoots.
• * In plants with soft, tender leaves (Vanya wet), they become sluggish and down. In plants with stiff, leathery leaves (fig tree, laurel, oleander and myrtle, etc.), they dry out and crumble (especially the old leaves fall off).
• * The flowers and buds fall off or quickly fade.

Signs of excess water

• * Droop the leaves, there are soft areas with signs of rot.
• * Slowdown
• * Curled up yellowed and withered leaves, the tips of the leaves brown.
• * Fall, both old and young leaves.
• * Mold on flowers.

There is a golden rule of watering plants - better to water less, but more often than not and a lot.

It should be noted that the withering of the leaves is not always associated with lack of water. This can occur under the action of sunlight, the first clear day, a field long overcast weather. Therefore, before sin to incorrect watering, should exclude other errors, giving a similar reaction of the plant.

Profuse watering. Plants watered immediately after drying earthen coma. Such irrigation required by the majority of tropical plants with thin, delicate leaves (allokaziya, begonias, Fitton, heliotrope), as well as some plants with leathery leaves (lemon, fig tree, oleander, the ivy)

Moderate watering. Plants are not watered immediately after drying earthen coma, but after one or two days, that is when the earth in the pot dries. This applies to plants with fleshy or silnoopushennymi stems and leaves (Peperomia, kolumneya), with thick roots and rhizomes (palms, Dracaena, aspidistra, Araceae), as well as aquifers tubers on the roots (asparagus, Chlorophytum, Maranta) and onion. For some types of light curing - a prerequisite in the period of rest, as it stimulates the bookmark and maturation of flower buds (zigokaktus, Clive).

Rare watering. Plants left to dry for several days, weeks, months. This applies to the cacti and succulents, as well as deciduous tuberous and bulb, with a rest period (krinum, gloxinia, gippeastrum, Caladium).

General Rules of irrigation does not exist, each plant needs its own mode of irrigation, on this see the section Encyclopedia.

What kind of water pouring

• Watering is best done only with a soft rain, river or pond water. Hard water (including wells), containing various salts should be avoided. Especially poor tolerance for hard water Araceae, azaleas, orchids, paportnikovye, camellias. Well tolerated in hard water watering the plants which grow on calcareous soils.
• Keep in mind that rain water can be polluted by industrial emissions, if you live in an industrial area or not far from it.
• Chlorinated water from the aqueduct defend at least day to chlorine time to disappear.
• The water temperature should be, at least not lower than room temperature. Is especially important rule when watering tropical plants. Cactus is recommended to pour over warm water. Watering plants with cold water can cause rotting of the roots, opadanie buds and even death of plants. On the contrary, watering plants with warm water in a cold room is also undesirable, because this will lead to premature growth of plants.

Jet of water from the watering should not erode the soil in the pot

You can keep the plant on a pallet with water, but you can put it there only for soaking the soil water

Of course, the most common method of irrigation - a watering can, this is probably the most common simple and affordable way. Some plants that require very moist soil (eg, tsiperus) can instead of watering place in a pan with water so that water reaches the ground level. If the pan is wide enough, the constant evaporation of water from it will create a more humid atmosphere.

If the pallet is used not only for irrigation but also for humidifying the air and the plant is on it constantly, you can use as a cat pan pots. They come in different colors, and have a grid on which to put the plant so that the roots are not found in the water.

Speaking of dishes, from which you water the flowers, I would like to note that watering, even the smallest, in some cases inconvenient. For example, when you need to water the violet, which does not like water splashing on the leaves, and penetration of the jet on the ground prevent brittle leaves. I for these cases do their "polivalku. For this, an ordinary plastic bottle is taken from a lemonade and a hot nail caps, made a small hole. It is inserted into an empty shaft of the used gel pens. This bottle is especially suitable for cacti.