How to Water Houseplants for Best Indoor Plant Growth (and Success)

Did you know that most houseplants die from being overwatered versus not getting enough water?

Yep! It’s true! This article is here to help you water your houseplants for best indoor plant growth – and how not to kill them!

I only write about things I love or personally own. The links in this article contain affiliate links. At no cost to you, I’ll receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link. I hope you find something you enjoy as much as I do!

Not Every Plant’s Watering Needs Are The Same

I’m often asked if I have a watering schedule for my plants – “Do you water once a week? Every 10 days?”. The answer is – every plant has its own watering needs. Some need water almost daily, some need water once a month, and others are somewhere in-between. The trick is to get to know your plants. There really isn’t a catch-all schedule for watering all plants.

In addition to the variety of plants and their individual watering needs, the weather and environment also play a part when watering plants. If it’s hot and sunny, your plants might need more watering. If it’s cold and rainy, they may need less water. Plants generally need more water in the Summer months (growing months) than they do in the Winter months (resting months) – it really depends on the plant.

How To Tell If Your Plant Needs Water

There are different ways you can tell if your plant needs to be watered or not. Here are some tips and methods to try.

Don’t wait for it to wilt

Seriously. If your plant has wilted, it will be under stress and will become much more susceptible to insects and other problems.

Use the ‘finger test’

To test the soil of a plant, simply push your finger into the soil about an inch (up to your knuckle) and feel for dryness or wetness. If the soil is dry an inch down, the plant needs water. If the soil feels moist, the plant has enough water at the moment.

If you use this method to test for water needs, you’ll start to get a feel (literally) for what the soil looks like if it’s too dry or too moist. Once you’re more familiar with the soil, you’ll know whether the plant needs water or not just by looking at the soil.

Use a water meter

Water meters (hygrometers) can be a very good way to check the moisture in your potted plants, as they allow you to test the moisture level deeper into a pot than you could with the finger test above. To use a water meter, just turn it on and insert the probes into the soil. The meter will show the level of moisture.

There are many varieties of moisture meters available, choose the one that best fits your needs.

Different Ways to Water Your Plants and How Much Water to Use

There are several different ways to water plants, and knowing how much water to use is also important.

Water from the top down

Most people water their plants from the top down – pouring water onto the soil then allowing the excess water to seep out of the drainage holes in the pot. This method works well – as long as you provide enough water to penetrate the soil and get to the roots of the plant.

• Water evenly around the pot – Plant roots grow towards the water, so make sure you water your plants evenly, all around the pot versus watering just one side of the pot. This will ensure thick roots that keep your plants looking their best.
• Pour off excess water – If you end up watering a plant too much, just pour off any excess water. You don’t want to leave a plant sitting in too much water, as this can cause root rot.

Water from the bottom up

Watering plants from the bottom up can be a great way to water plants! When you water plants in this way, less nutrients run out of the soil and the roots are sure to get water. Of course, your pots must have drainage holes for this method to work.

• Use an individual tray or saucer – One way to water plants from the bottom up is to place a tray or saucer of water beneath each individual plant, and let the plant soak up the water. After a couple of hours, empty any leftover water from the tray. This method also allows the water to evaporate into the air around the plant, providing it with humidity.
• Use a large tray or tub – Another way to water plants is to place potted plants in a large tray or tub (or bathtub) that has a few inches of water in it. Allow the plants to sit in the tray for a couple hours and they will absorb the water in the tray up through the soil. After a couple hours, lift the pots out of the tray, dry them off and replace them on their display shelves.
• Use self-watering pots  – Self-watering pots can also be used for this method. Simply keep the water reservoir filled with water and the plant will use the water as needed. Most self-watering pots only need to be refilled once a month or once every other month – depending on the pot.

How much water to use

Generally, when you have a potted plant, there is room in the pot above the soil line. Fill that area with water and allow the water to slowly seep down into the soil, until it drains out of the bottom of the pot.

If the water rushes out the drain hole right away, the soil is typically too dry to absorb the water. In this case, you’ll need to add more water to the top of the pot, or use the bottom up method mentioned above.

Typically, plants in small pots are going to need to be watered more frequently than plants in larger pots.

When watering your plants, think about where they originated from. Plants native to a tropical rainforest are going to need more water than plants native to the desert.

How to keep water from running all over your house

Your plants are displayed around your house on various shelves, tables, and pots on the floor. The last thing you want to have happen is for the water to run out of the pots and all over these surfaces! To prevent this from happening, here are a few tips:

• Water plants over a sink – Carry your potted plants to a sink (such as your kitchen sink) and water them from the tap. Just turn on the water, fill the pot, and let excess water run into the sink. When the water stops running out the bottom of the pot, set it on a towel and continue to the next plant. When all plants are watered, dry off the bottom of the pot and replace plants back on their display shelves.
• Use saucers under pots – Use a saucer under each pot to capture excess water runoff. You could use a clear plastic saucer, clay saucers, decorative plates, or trays to help protect your surfaces. If you use a clay saucer (or any unglazed saucer), if might leave marks on wood surfaces as it can absorb water. I recommend using a cork trivet under these kinds of saucers to protect the wood.

Determine the Type of Water To Use

Yes. The water you use to water your plants can make a difference to their health, appearance, and growth.

For example, if you live in the city and have treated water, the fluoride levels in the water could affect your plants. If you live in the country and use well water, the minerals in the water could be a factor.

If your plants seem to be suffering and you think the water is the issue, try changing the water you use to see if it makes a difference. For example, collect rain water in buckets in your yard and use that water for your plants versus using tap water.

For some plants, bottled spring water or distilled water might be a better option. Adding a water filtration system to your home is another way to provide quality water for your plants (and for you).

Additional Tips

• Use pots with drainage holes – For best plant growth, make sure to use pots that have drainage holes in them. Without the drainage holes, water will sit in the bottom of a pot and will eventually rot your plant. If you really love a pot that doesn’t have drainage holes, you can always use a drill and create your own drainage holes.
• Group plants with similar watering needs – I have over 200 houseplants in my home. Watering them takes a good amount of time. To make this process easier, I display plants grouped together based on their watering needs (as well as light requirements). For example, plants that need more consistent water are displayed closest to the water source (my kitchen sink). Plants that need less water are displayed further away. By grouping plants in this way, I can check similar plants at the same time, then water them at one time. Some plants are displayed on a very high shelf that requires a ladder to get to them. If I had plants displayed there that required different watering needs, I’d be up and down that ladder way too often. By keeping plants with similar watering needs on that shelf, I only have to go up and down the ladder once to water all the plants there. 😉
• Use a bamboo stick – To determine if your plant needs water or not, insert a bamboo skewer (or craft stick) into each pot when you first get your plant. To check the plants watering needs, simply remove the stick. If it comes out dry and clean – your plant needs water. If it comes out dirty and moist – your plant has enough water. Keep the stick in the pot and check it periodically.
• Choose the right watering can – Not all watering cans are created equal. Some dispense a large volume of water at once, some have a ‘sprinkler’ attachment on them, and some have a narrow spout. I prefer a watering can with a long narrow spout (see image and link below). This allows me to water my plants directly on the soil versus getting the leaves wet (like a sprinkler type can would do). It also allows me to get the water directly into the pot for plants that have very thick leaves.
• Aerate the soil – Over time, the soil in a potted plant can become quite dense. Aerate the soil to make it easier for the water to reach the roots. Simply poke a chopstick or bamboo skewer into the soil throughout the pot to loosen the soil to allow more air to reach the roots. Your plants will thank you!
• Choose the right type of soil – The type of soil you use for your potted plants plays a large part in how often you’ll need to water your plants. Some soil is very dense and will hold water longer, while other soils are more loose or have perlite in them and will drain water quicker. Make sure you know your individual plants and what types of soils are best for them.
• Change how you water with the change of seasons and weather – Houseplants grow faster in the warmer months and tend to rest more in the cooler months. With the change of seasons, adapt how much you water your plants to meet their needs. For example, you might find yourself watering plants every week in the Summer, but every other week in the Winter.
• Don’t stick to a strict watering schedule – Water your plants only when they need it, not on a set day of the week or other watering schedule. For example, don’t water all your plants every Sunday. Instead, check each individual plant and water accordingly.

Watering Tools

Here are some of my favorite watering tools.

Long narrow spout

Watering globes

Plastic saucer

Drip trays

Cork mat

Watering tub

Mister

Water tray

Water meter

For more how-to articles about houseplants, make sure to check out the Houseplants menu at the top of the page. Click Houseplant Visual Index for all my houseplant suggestions.

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