The Iowa Gardener: Master the art of watering houseplants in winter

Watering houseplants is simple, but so many people get it wrong and end up with wilted or rotting plants.

It’s a fundamental skill, but sometimes even seasoned plant people don’t get right. Here’s how to keep your plants healthy with just the right amount of water.

Know your plants

Each plant has slightly different watering needs, which also vary depending on how much light and heat they get. The first step in giving them what they need is to know what plant you’re dealing with.

If you don’t know the name of a houseplant, check online or with your phone (Google Lens on Android or Visual Lookup on iPhones are both excellent). Then, once you know the name, check the watering needs of each plant. Most of houseplants need evenly moist soil. Some prefer to dry out slightly between waterings. And some, like cactuses, need watering only every few weeks.

Do the finger wiggle test

To determine how dry or how moist your soil is, wiggle your finger a quarter to half inch into the soil to feel what it’s like. You can also purchase a houseplant moisture meter for under $20.

Always provide drainage

If you plant directly into a container with no hole in the bottom, you are asking for problems. Most plants like to be watered until water runs out of their drainage hole. Drainage is key even for moisture-loving plants. Soggy bottoms result in a whole host of problems, including rot and yellowing leaves. Use pots with drainage holes. If desired, set them inside slightly larger decorative pots without drainage holes.

Plant with watering in mind

When potting a plant, be sure leave plenty of room (1/4 inch or more) for water to pool on the surface. If the pot is filled too full, the water will run off and make a mess or simply make it slow and difficult to adequately water the pot.

Use room temperature water

Don’t apply hot or very cold water on your houseplants. Some will go slightly into shock with very cold water.

Also, if your tap water smells like chorine at all, let the water sit out for a day before using to allow the chlorine to dissipate. In fact, some old-fashioned green thumbs prefer to collect rainwater for their houseplants to avoid salts from water softeners and other chemicals in our water that are helpful for people and less helpful to plants.

Look and learn

The happiest houseplants are those whose owners look at them daily and monitor their needs. People who watch their plants, for example, will notice when certain plants lose their luster, a first sign of dry leaves. They’ll also notice if leaves are withered, yellowing, browning, dropping, if there is new growth, the coloration of the leaves, etc. That way they can quickly take action, like adjusting light or watering routines, if the plant seems to be struggling.

Water a narrow spout

Use a watering can or bottle shaped like a soda or wine bottle to water your plants. It will allow you to precisely deliver the water to the soil rather than splashing all over the plant, which can result in uneven watering and a mess on your furniture.

Water less in the winter months

When days are shorter and the air temperature is cooler, most houseplants slow down. Adjust their watering accordingly, erring on the side of slightly dry from about October through March.

Mastering the art of watering houseplants involves a blend of observation and adaptation. By understanding plant needs, implementing proper watering techniques, and staying attentive to signs of under- or overwatering, you’ll be on your way to having consistently healthy, gorgeous houseplants.

Veronica Lorson Fowler is co-publisher of the Iowa Gardener website at www.theiowagardener.com.