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URLhttps://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/
Last Crawled2026-04-17 12:34:33 (1 day ago)
First Indexed2025-02-03 00:52:56 (1 year ago)
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Meta TitleComplete guide to watering | Patch
Meta Description‘How often should I water my houseplants?’ is a question we’re asked more than any other. Watering causes a lot of confusion, but we promise it’s very simple.
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‘How often should I water my houseplants?’ is a question we’re asked more than any other. Watering causes a lot of confusion, but we promise it’s very simple. Plants can’t survive without water, but they probably don’t need as much as you think. When it comes to watering your plants, the key things to remember are: Check your plants at least once per week Only water when the top two inches of soil feel dry In summer, plants may dry out quickly Cut back watering in winter, when plants aren’t growing Remember plants like soil that’s lightly moist, never soggy That’s the basics, but let’s do a deep dive on watering. Also, a quick tip if you always forget to water: try an (almost) unkillable plant . How often should you water your plants? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Plants need different amounts of water depending on time of year and species.  In dry, hot summers they may need water every couple of days. In winter, maybe every few weeks.  The general rule is: water when the top two inches of soil feel completely dry . That will stop you overwatering. Note: Some plants, including zz plants and corn plants, prefer their soil to dry out completely between drinks. Check your plant’s page to check how thirsty it is. How should you water your houseplants? Water the soil, not the leaves. This ensures it goes straight to the roots (and doesn’t splash everywhere). Some people like to pour water into the plant’s saucer (if it has one), so the roots suck it up through the pot’s drainage holes. We don’t use this method, but if it works for you then we support you.  Some plants prefer filtered water to hard tap water, fussy devils (check your plant’s page to see if that’s yours). If you don’t have a filter, you can boil water, then let it cool fully before you use it. When is the best time to water your plants? Honestly, with houseplants it doesn’t make a huge amount of difference what time of day you water. That said, first thing in the morning is the absolute best time for watering. This is because your plant is preparing for a day of growing and will be ready to suck up all that water. If you water at night your plant will wait until the next morning to start drinking. How do you know if you’ve overwatered your plants? It’s pretty easy to tell if your plant has been overwatered. Some of the clear signs are: Lots of leaves are yellow and limp Very floppy leaves  Dropping lots of leaves. A waterlogged plant may shed leaves from stress Soil that feels very soggy, even days after watering  Mouldy soil. Mould and fungus love damp conditions What should you do if you’ve overwatered your plant? An overwatered plant can usually be saved if you stop watering and let it dry out fully before you give it another drink. In severe cases your plant may get root rot. That requires a bit more work to fix. Find out how to tell if your plant has root rot and how to fix it here. Signs of underwatering The signs of underwatering are probably what you’d expect: Dry, wilted leaves Soil feels dry and is pulling away from the edges of the pot No growth. A plant can’t grow without water Light brown, faded leaves What should you do if you’ve under-watered your plant? Very easy. Just water more regularly, but still stick to only watering when the top two inches of soil feel dry. If your plant is constantly drying out very quickly, it may mean the pot is too small to sustain it. Check if it needs repotting here . Solutions for forgetful waterers It’s easy to forget to water your plants, so you could make life easy for yourself by getting plants that don’t mind drying out. Cacti are great bets, or any of these plants on our (Almost) Unkillable list. You could also invest in water dispensers , or hydrospikes, which water your plants gradually with no effort from you. Don’t forget misting One final tip: Plants also like to suck up moisture from the air, so give them a regular mist or boost the humidity in your home. You can learn more about humidity here . Congratulations, you’re now an expert on watering! You might say you’ve just completed your H2O-levels (we’re very sorry). In this article Never kill another plant Plant tips. Special offers. No spam. Free standard delivery on orders over £50 Help Need to get in touch? Just use the help widget to send a message to the team. Customer service opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9am-8pm Live chat is available 10am-5pm Monday to Friday Contact details Security Secure payment - our systems are protected with bank-grade security. Your payment is safe with us. Quality We work directly with over 40 specialist growers to bring you the best quality plants Patch Promise If you need advice, just get in touch - we’ll be your personal plant gurus as long as you need us. If something’s up, tell us within 30 days of delivery — we’ll sort it.
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Delivery Total You might also love ![plant](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/assets/images/plant.png) Sorry you don't meet our minimum order total of . Please add to your bag to proceed to checkout. Keep browsing [CheckoutContinue to checkout]() Close Cart Drawer #### Oops looks like your bag is empty Continue shopping Toggle Cart Drawer Toggle Cart Drawer Close search Recent Popular Close Message # Complete guide to watering ‘How often should I water my houseplants?’ is a question we’re asked more than any other. Watering causes a lot of confusion, but we promise it’s very simple. ![Close-up of person watering a monstera in a concrete pot with a metal watering can](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/16_9_Hero_min_ac20d348c1.jpg) Plants can’t survive without water, but they probably don’t need as much as you think. When it comes to watering your plants, the key things to remember are: - Check your plants at least once per week - Only water when the top two inches of soil feel dry - In summer, plants may dry out quickly - Cut back watering in winter, when plants aren’t growing - Remember plants like soil that’s lightly moist, never soggy That’s the basics, but let’s do a deep dive on watering. Also, a quick tip if you always forget to water: try an [(almost) unkillable plant](https://www.patchplants.com/collections/plants-indoor-unkillable/). ## Jump to [How often should you water your plants?](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/#how-often-should-you-water-your-plants) [How should you water your houseplants?](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/#how-should-you-water-your-houseplants) [When is the best time to water your plants?](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/#when-is-the-best-time-to-water-your-plants) [How do you know if you’ve overwatered your plants?](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/#how-do-you-know-if-youve-overwatered-your-plants) [What should you do if you’ve overwatered your plant?](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/#what-should-you-do-if-youve-overwatered-your-plants) [Signs of underwatering](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/#signs-of-underwatering) [What should you do if you’ve under-watered your plant?](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/#what-should-you-do-if-youve-under-watered-your-plant) [Solutions for forgetful waterers](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/#solutions-for-forgetful-waterers) [Don’t forget misting](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-watering/#dont-forget-misting) ## How often should you water your plants? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Plants need different amounts of water depending on time of year and species. In dry, hot summers they may need water every couple of days. In winter, maybe every few weeks. The general rule is: **water when the top two inches of soil feel completely dry**. That will stop you overwatering. Note: Some plants, including zz plants and corn plants, prefer their soil to dry out completely between drinks. Check your plant’s page to check how thirsty it is. ![Patch finger dip test illustration. Dip your finger into the soil and water your plant if the finger comes out dry.](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/Finger_Dip_Test_74a97233ae.jpg) ## How should you water your houseplants? Water the soil, not the leaves. This ensures it goes straight to the roots (and doesn’t splash everywhere). Some people like to pour water into the plant’s saucer (if it has one), so the roots suck it up through the pot’s drainage holes. We don’t use this method, but if it works for you then we support you. Some plants prefer filtered water to hard tap water, fussy devils (check your plant’s page to see if that’s yours). If you don’t have a filter, you can boil water, then let it cool fully before you use it. ![Close-up of person watering the base of a plant with a cream watering can](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/3_2_How_should_you_water_your_houseplants_min_83e38a0db2.jpg) ## When is the best time to water your plants? Honestly, with houseplants it doesn’t make a huge amount of difference what time of day you water. That said, first thing in the morning is the absolute best time for watering. This is because your plant is preparing for a day of growing and will be ready to suck up all that water. If you water at night your plant will wait until the next morning to start drinking. ## How do you know if you’ve overwatered your plants? It’s pretty easy to tell if your plant has been overwatered. Some of the clear signs are: - Lots of leaves are yellow and limp - Very floppy leaves - Dropping lots of leaves. A waterlogged plant may shed leaves from stress - Soil that feels very soggy, even days after watering - Mouldy soil. Mould and fungus love damp conditions ![Close-up of an overwatered rubber plant with yellow leaves](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/3_2_How_do_you_know_if_you_ve_overwatered_your_plants_min_b287fb5feb.jpg) ## What should you do if you’ve overwatered your plant? An overwatered plant can usually be saved if you stop watering and let it dry out fully before you give it another drink. In severe cases your plant may get root rot. That requires a bit more work to fix. Find out [how to tell if your plant has root rot](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/root-rot-how-to-spot-it-and-fix-it/) and how to fix it here. ## Signs of underwatering The signs of underwatering are probably what you’d expect: - Dry, wilted leaves - Soil feels dry and is pulling away from the edges of the pot - No growth. A plant can’t grow without water - Light brown, faded leaves ![Close-up of plant with dry, wilted and brown leaves](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/1_1_1_Signs_of_underwatering_min_3867663645.jpg) ![Five spider plants in terracotta pots with dry, wilted and dead leaves](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/1_1_2_Signs_of_underwatering_min_dd7719d5a4.jpg) ## What should you do if you’ve under-watered your plant? Very easy. Just water more regularly, but still stick to only watering when the top two inches of soil feel dry. If your plant is constantly drying out very quickly, it may mean the pot is too small to sustain it. [Check if it needs repotting here](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-repotting/). ## Solutions for forgetful waterers It’s easy to forget to water your plants, so you could make life easy for yourself by getting plants that don’t mind drying out. [Cacti](https://www.patchplants.com/collections/plants-indoor-cacti-and-succulents/) are great bets, or any of these plants on our [(Almost) Unkillable](https://www.patchplants.com/collections/plants-indoor-unkillable/) list. You could also invest in [water dispensers](https://www.patchplants.com/products/accessories-water-dispensers/), or hydrospikes, which water your plants gradually with no effort from you. ![Shelf with six cacti in plastic and ceramic pots](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/3_2_Solutions_for_forgetful_waterers_min_9e6d60bc78.jpg) ## Don’t forget misting One final tip: Plants also like to suck up moisture from the air, so give them a regular mist or boost the humidity in your home. You can [learn more about humidity here](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-humidity/). ![Close-up of woman misting a kentia palm with a glass mister](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/3_2_Don_t_forget_misting_min_42dab3c980.jpg) Congratulations, you’re now an expert on watering! You might say you’ve just completed your H2O-levels (we’re very sorry). ### In this article [![Watering can](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/zc5ndlaspozhhrrkackx_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155488)![Watering can](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/zc5ndlaspozhhrrkackx_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155488)](https://www.patchplants.com/products/accessories-recycled-plastic-watering-can/?v=AC-12-027-001) [Watering can](https://www.patchplants.com/products/accessories-recycled-plastic-watering-can/?v=AC-12-027-001) £12.00 Choose how many you'd like Add to bag [![Water dispensers](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/ihuwtbhqfyfsq9lq2rg0_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155520)![Water dispensers](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/ihuwtbhqfyfsq9lq2rg0_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155520)](https://www.patchplants.com/products/accessories-water-dispensers/?v=AC-12-028-001) [Water dispensers](https://www.patchplants.com/products/accessories-water-dispensers/?v=AC-12-028-001) £12.00 Choose how many you'd like Add to bag [![Mister](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/nizovumr6rlisseopexb_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155516)![Mister](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/nizovumr6rlisseopexb_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155516)](https://www.patchplants.com/products/accessories-mister/?v=AC-1-016-001) [Mister](https://www.patchplants.com/products/accessories-mister/?v=AC-1-016-001) £10.00 Choose how many you'd like Add to bag [![Spike](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/tpterdf5w0lpdyecpsjr_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155817)![Spike](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/jdwk9vn9nqsusfde36ep_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155825)](https://www.patchplants.com/products/plants-pilosocereus-azureus/?v=PLANT-1-004-001) [SpikePilosocereus azureus5-10cm](https://www.patchplants.com/products/plants-pilosocereus-azureus/?v=PLANT-1-004-001) Fits pots 5.5cm £5.00 Choose how many you'd like Add to bag [![Unkillable plant bundle](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/uyqprhxwdxligxwedzlo_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155507)![Unkillable plant bundle](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/xfyzx2uuwqfdke9xj14z_820x820_crop_center.jpg.webp?v=1738155532)![Top Right roundel](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/BundleAndSave_120x120_crop_center.png.webp?v=1766074818)![Top Right roundel](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8157/2697/files/BackSoon_150x40_7fa5d8a4-d809-4975-83c0-1a57d73f38ed_120x120_crop_center.png.webp?v=1738104351)](https://www.patchplants.com/products/bundles-unkillable-set/?v=BUNDLE-1-010-002) [Unkillable plant bundlePeace lily, Snake plant, Golden pothos & ZZ plantPots included](https://www.patchplants.com/products/bundles-unkillable-set/?v=BUNDLE-1-010-002) £178.00£165.00 [Join the waitlist](https://www.patchplants.com/products/bundles-unkillable-set/?v=BUNDLE-1-010-002) ##### Never kill another plant Plant tips. Special offers. No spam. ### You might like [![Page image](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/16_9_Hero_min_3766c526e9.jpg)Complete guide to indoor light](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-indoor-light/) Find the right plants for your home [![Page image](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/16_9_Hero_min_03cae5d8cf.jpg)Why is my plant’s soil mouldy?](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/why-is-my-plants-soil-moldy/) Let’s clean up your dirt [![Page image](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/16_9_Hero_d7c773d1f3.jpg)How to care for your houseplants in summer](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/how-to-care-for-houseplants-in-summer/) They love it as much as you do ![Delivery van](https://www.patchplants.com/assets/images/svg/delivery-van.svg) Free standard delivery on orders over £50 - ![Help](https://www.patchplants.com/assets/images/svg/icon-telephone.svg) ### Help Need to get in touch? 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‘How often should I water my houseplants?’ is a question we’re asked more than any other. Watering causes a lot of confusion, but we promise it’s very simple. ![Close-up of person watering a monstera in a concrete pot with a metal watering can](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/16_9_Hero_min_ac20d348c1.jpg) Plants can’t survive without water, but they probably don’t need as much as you think. When it comes to watering your plants, the key things to remember are: - Check your plants at least once per week - Only water when the top two inches of soil feel dry - In summer, plants may dry out quickly - Cut back watering in winter, when plants aren’t growing - Remember plants like soil that’s lightly moist, never soggy That’s the basics, but let’s do a deep dive on watering. Also, a quick tip if you always forget to water: try an [(almost) unkillable plant](https://www.patchplants.com/collections/plants-indoor-unkillable/). How often should you water your plants? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Plants need different amounts of water depending on time of year and species. In dry, hot summers they may need water every couple of days. In winter, maybe every few weeks. The general rule is: **water when the top two inches of soil feel completely dry**. That will stop you overwatering. Note: Some plants, including zz plants and corn plants, prefer their soil to dry out completely between drinks. Check your plant’s page to check how thirsty it is. ![Patch finger dip test illustration. Dip your finger into the soil and water your plant if the finger comes out dry.](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/Finger_Dip_Test_74a97233ae.jpg) How should you water your houseplants? Water the soil, not the leaves. This ensures it goes straight to the roots (and doesn’t splash everywhere). Some people like to pour water into the plant’s saucer (if it has one), so the roots suck it up through the pot’s drainage holes. We don’t use this method, but if it works for you then we support you. Some plants prefer filtered water to hard tap water, fussy devils (check your plant’s page to see if that’s yours). If you don’t have a filter, you can boil water, then let it cool fully before you use it. ![Close-up of person watering the base of a plant with a cream watering can](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/3_2_How_should_you_water_your_houseplants_min_83e38a0db2.jpg) When is the best time to water your plants? Honestly, with houseplants it doesn’t make a huge amount of difference what time of day you water. That said, first thing in the morning is the absolute best time for watering. This is because your plant is preparing for a day of growing and will be ready to suck up all that water. If you water at night your plant will wait until the next morning to start drinking. How do you know if you’ve overwatered your plants? It’s pretty easy to tell if your plant has been overwatered. Some of the clear signs are: - Lots of leaves are yellow and limp - Very floppy leaves - Dropping lots of leaves. A waterlogged plant may shed leaves from stress - Soil that feels very soggy, even days after watering - Mouldy soil. Mould and fungus love damp conditions ![Close-up of an overwatered rubber plant with yellow leaves](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/3_2_How_do_you_know_if_you_ve_overwatered_your_plants_min_b287fb5feb.jpg) What should you do if you’ve overwatered your plant? An overwatered plant can usually be saved if you stop watering and let it dry out fully before you give it another drink. In severe cases your plant may get root rot. That requires a bit more work to fix. Find out [how to tell if your plant has root rot](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/root-rot-how-to-spot-it-and-fix-it/) and how to fix it here. Signs of underwatering The signs of underwatering are probably what you’d expect: - Dry, wilted leaves - Soil feels dry and is pulling away from the edges of the pot - No growth. A plant can’t grow without water - Light brown, faded leaves ![Close-up of plant with dry, wilted and brown leaves](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/1_1_1_Signs_of_underwatering_min_3867663645.jpg) ![Five spider plants in terracotta pots with dry, wilted and dead leaves](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/1_1_2_Signs_of_underwatering_min_dd7719d5a4.jpg) What should you do if you’ve under-watered your plant? Very easy. Just water more regularly, but still stick to only watering when the top two inches of soil feel dry. If your plant is constantly drying out very quickly, it may mean the pot is too small to sustain it. [Check if it needs repotting here](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-repotting/). Solutions for forgetful waterers It’s easy to forget to water your plants, so you could make life easy for yourself by getting plants that don’t mind drying out. [Cacti](https://www.patchplants.com/collections/plants-indoor-cacti-and-succulents/) are great bets, or any of these plants on our [(Almost) Unkillable](https://www.patchplants.com/collections/plants-indoor-unkillable/) list. You could also invest in [water dispensers](https://www.patchplants.com/products/accessories-water-dispensers/), or hydrospikes, which water your plants gradually with no effort from you. ![Shelf with six cacti in plastic and ceramic pots](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/3_2_Solutions_for_forgetful_waterers_min_9e6d60bc78.jpg) Don’t forget misting One final tip: Plants also like to suck up moisture from the air, so give them a regular mist or boost the humidity in your home. You can [learn more about humidity here](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/plant-care/complete-guide-to-humidity/). ![Close-up of woman misting a kentia palm with a glass mister](https://cdn.patchplants.com/uploads/3_2_Don_t_forget_misting_min_42dab3c980.jpg) Congratulations, you’re now an expert on watering! You might say you’ve just completed your H2O-levels (we’re very sorry). In this article Never kill another plant Plant tips. Special offers. No spam. ![Delivery van](https://www.patchplants.com/assets/images/svg/delivery-van.svg) Free standard delivery on orders over £50 - ![Help](https://www.patchplants.com/assets/images/svg/icon-telephone.svg) ### Help Need to get in touch? Just use the help widget to send a message to the team. Customer service opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9am-8pm Live chat is available 10am-5pm Monday to Friday [Contact details](https://www.patchplants.com/pages/contact/) - ![Security](https://www.patchplants.com/assets/images/svg/icon-security.svg) ### Security Secure payment - our systems are protected with bank-grade security. Your payment is safe with us. - ![Quality](https://www.patchplants.com/assets/images/svg/icon-delivery.svg) ### Quality We work directly with over 40 specialist growers to bring you the best quality plants - ![Patch Promise](https://www.patchplants.com/assets/images/svg/icon-patch-promise.svg) ### Patch Promise If you need advice, just get in touch - we’ll be your personal plant gurus as long as you need us. If something’s up, tell us within 30 days of delivery — we’ll sort it.
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Root Hash1727581580795379117
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