Watering a houseplant well

Routine Care

1. 1

   More houseplants die from misjudged watering than from any other single cause. The mistake is rarely a single dramatic flood or drought; it is a habit — watering on a fixed schedule rather than in response to what the plant actually needs. The routine below describes the conventional "thorough then dry" method that suits the majority of foliage and flowering houseplants. Succulents and cacti use a slower version of the same approach; ferns and prayer plants a faster, lighter version.

2. 2

   The two pieces of equipment that matter most are a pot with a working drainage hole and a way to assess soil moisture below the surface — typically a finger pushed an inch or two into the mix, or a wooden chopstick or moisture meter for larger pots.