There seems to be a lot of anxiety about watering houseplants. Water is essential to all life. We all know that it is vital to healthy houseplants. Unlike native plants that are adapted to their environment, there is nothing natural about houseplants. They live in a sterile environment and don’t get the benefit of outside rain. Because of this, it is also important to feed your houseplants.

The general anxiety makes sense because most people kill their houseplants because they don’t know how to water them correctly. Thankfully (with a few exceptions) there are some general rules that can help you keep your houseplants alive and healthy. Use these tips to keep your houseplants thriving.

Tip 1: Stop overwatering your houseplants.

Most plants do much better with too little water, but will likely die if they are overwatered. This is how most people (raising hand) kill houseplants.

Tip 2: Whenever you feel the need to water, poke the soil with your finger first

This goes along with the first tip. If your soil is at all moist step away from your plant and wait a week(ish) to check it again. If it is dry, then you may water it.

Tip 3: Make sure that your container has drainage

Again, you will likely kill your houseplant by overwatering it. You might be noticing a pattern here. If your pot has drainage, it goes a long way to helping you keep your plant alive. If your pot does not have drainage, water very little so that the roots do not sit in soggy soil for a prolonged tine. You can always add more water, but it is difficult to take it away from a pot without drainage.

Tip 4: What type of pot you’ve chosen effects how often you water

This one may not seem obvious, but a plastic or ceramic container will hold moisture in for a longer period of time. Terracotta planters are more porous and evaporate water quicker from the. This may be advantageous to some plants like succulents who need to be dried out between watering.

Tip 5: Your plant needs different watering requirements seasonally

General knowledge is to water your plant less in the winter because it isn’t growing as much, but I add this caveat. Many homes are heated a great deal in the winter and this tend to dry out the environment. This is especially true if you heat your home using a fireplace. See tip #2 and check to see how the soil is.

Tip 6: Use rainwater

If you have a rain barrel or can simply put your houseplants outside on a rainy day, it will do wonders for your houseplants. We are lucky to live in a place with safe drinking water. To treat that water, municipalities use chlorine, which can be hard on plants. Along with that, most tap water is hard water and is filled with minerals that can be harmful in heavy doses.

If you don’t have access to rainwater, don’t panic. Your plants will be just fine. Rainwater is just a little boost if you can give it to them when available.

Tip 7: Water with room temperature water

Extreme temperatures can be jarring to their system. Watering with warm or room temperature water will keep from shocking your plants.