You love your houseplants, don't you? Of course you do. And you want to
prove it by taking as good care of them as you possibly can, right? Shower
them with love and all that. Well, that's fine in theory, but sometimes too
much love, in the form of overwatering can lead to illness and even an
untimely death for houseplants.
You might not know this, but overwatering kills more plants than any other
cause. Plants breathe through their roots and if the soil surrounding them is
constantly saturated, oxygen cannot reach the roots. Furthermore, if the
soil remains excessively wet, this will allow the growth of bacteria, which can
lead to root rot and effectively kill the plant.
It's important to pay attention to your plants to catch signs of overwatering
early on while the plant can still be saved. Keep an eye out for wilting, which
is a sign of too much water, and watch for drooping or yellowed leaves, or
loss of leaves.
If your plant seems to be too far gone, do not give up hope. It might not be
too late yet. The first thing to do in order to revive an overwatered plant, is
to stop watering it! If there are no signs of improvement after that, wait
until the soil has dried or simply use fresh soil, and repot the plant.
A Few Simple Rules to Remember to Avoid Overwatering:
- Don't fall into the trap of automatically watering all your houseplants
at the same time. Just because some of them may like frequent
watering doesn't mean that they all do, so it pays to check first. Do a
quick test of the soil by pressing your finger about an inch into the soil
below the surface layer. If it feels dry, water.
- Water according to the plants needs and patterns of growth. You
should be sure to give a plant less water during its' dormant period,
usually during late fall and winter. But be aware that for some plants
their dormant period may be in spring and summer.
- Be careful of plants that need less water and drier soil. Some of
these plants are meant to go for days or even weeks without any water.
While it may be tempting to give them just a little bit of water to make
sure they are okay, don't do it. They do not need it, and it could very
well be harmful to them.
Following these easy to remember rules and using your own common sense
should prevent your houseplants from becoming victims of overwatering.
