Incorrect watering is probably the greatest cause of failure in growing interior plants. The most common question plant growers ask is, "How often should I water my plants?" There is no easy answer to this question. Some plants prefer dryer conditions than others. Temperature and humidity also affect how often one needs to water plants. Temperature and humidity will vary from day to day, week to week, and season to season. A good watering schedule in the spring may be totally inadequate for the summer, fall or winter. The best answer to this ques tion, though somewhat vague, is, "Water your plants when they need it!" Most people water their plants either by a calendar schedule or when the surface of the soil becomes dry. Both systems usually result in overwatering. To adequately water a plant, you must know when to water and how much water to apply.

Interior plant roots are usually in the bottom two-thirds of the pot. Therefore, you should not water until the soil in the bottom two-thirds of the pot begins to dry. You can't tell this just by looking. You have to feel the soil; not on the sur face, but about one-third the depth of the pot below the surface. For a 6-inch pot, stick your index finger about 1-1/2 to 2 inches into the soil. This is ap proximately to the second joint of your finger. If the soil feels damp, don't water! How damp should it feel? It should feel about as damp as a cloth you would wet and ring out prior to wiping a kitchen counter. Keep repeating this test until the soil is barely moist at the 2-inch depth. NOW, it is time to water! For larger pots, the one-third from the surface rule should be followed. For smaller pots, about one inch below the surface is adequate.

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Since most of the roots of interior plants are in the lower two-thirds of the pot, this is the area you have to water. The rule to follow is to water the pot until water runs out of the bottom. How much water should run out? About one-tenth the amount of water you applied. Watering this way serves two purposes. First, it guarantees that the lower two-thirds of the pot was properly watered. Second, it helps to flush out fertilizer residue (excessive salts).

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Sub-irrigation or watering from the bottom is a popular and very acceptable watering method. It is often used with African violets. However, continued sub-irrigation can cause a build-up of fertilizer residue into the soil and sometimes onto the soil surface. This is often seen as a white, crystalline appearance on the sur face of the soil and even the pot itself. If subirrigation is to be used, at least once a month, water the plants from the top to flush out the fertilizer residue.

Pots without holes require special attention. They should have longer periods between watering because there is no outlet for excess water to drain. To know when to water these pots, check with your index finger as for normal watering and water when the soil feels dry.

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