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Harper's
Houseplant Guide (click here for printable PDF)
Suggestions on When to
Water Houseplants
- Water when the pot has
partially dried out. This means when the soil looks and feels
dry, not only on the surface, but half an inch down.
- Water when the pot feels
very light. Wet soil is heavy.
- Water if the pot gives a
hollow, ringing sound when tapped with a wooden ruler.
- If plant droops and soil is
wet, root ball may be compacted. Submerge plant completely until
all bubbling stops, and then allow plant to dry out.
- Water when plant droops
unless the soil is obviously wet already. A flagging plant in
wet soil may have been damaged by over-watering, and it should
be allowed to dry out almost completely before more water is
poured into the pot. Spraying of the foliage while the soil is
drying out may also help.
- Always water plants from
the top and flush thoroughly to prevent salt burn.
- When watering, do so
thoroughly. Allow water to rush through the pot several times.
Do not allow the plant to stand in water.
- Always water from the top
to leach salts from soil.
Signs of
Distress and Their Causes
- Variegated leaves turning
green. Plant needs more light.
- Leaves becoming pale and
new shoots spindly. The plant needs more light or fresh soil.
- Leaves browning at tips or
edges. The air is too dry, hot, or they are salt burned.
- Stickiness of leaves or
stems. The plant is being attached by aphids or scale insects.
- Fine webs among leaves. The
plant is being attacked by red spider mites.
- Little or no growth in
spring or summer. Plant needs feeding or repotting.
- Pot drying out very quickly
between watering. The soil has almost all been replaced with
roots and needs repotting.
- Leaves flaccid. May be
caused by too much sun on plant.
- Leaves flaccid, soil dry.
Plant needs a thorough watering.
- Leaves flaccid, soil wet.
The roots are probably rotting because of over-watering. Examine
roots, if not completely rotted the plant can be cut back to the
sound part of the root and the plant root repotted in fresh
soil.
- Sudden dropping of several
leaves. Plant has received a shock. Causes:
Considerable rise and fall of temperature, cold water watering,
draft, gas or change of position.
- Succession of leaves
yellowing and falling. May be over- or under-watering, too low a
temperature, gas, or red spider mites.
- Leaves yellowing but
remaining firm and not dropping. The plant is an acid-lover
which is being given hard water, or has been potted in soil
mixture containing lime.
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