More houseplants die from too much water than too little. The trick isn't a fixed schedule — it's checking the soil and learning what your plant is telling you.
The finger test: push a finger 2–3 cm into the soil. Dry? Time to water. Still damp? Wait a few days.
Rough watering frequency by plant type
Over- vs under-watering — know the signs
💧 Too much water
- Yellowing lower leaves
- Soft, mushy stems
- Soil stays wet for days
- Gnats around the pot
- Mouldy topsoil
🏜️ Too little water
- Crispy brown leaf edges
- Drooping, then perking after water
- Soil pulls from the pot sides
- Slow or stalled growth
- Leaves curl inward
A watering routine that works
- 1
Check, don't guess
Feel the soil first — weather, season and pot size change how fast it dries.
- 2
Water thoroughly
Pour until it runs from the drainage holes, so the whole root ball drinks.
- 3
Drain the saucer
Tip out standing water after 10 minutes — roots hate sitting in it.
- 4
Adjust by season
Plants drink far less in winter when light and growth slow down.
No drainage hole? Use it as a decorative outer pot only, or water very sparingly — there's nowhere for excess to go.
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