Video:How to Properly Water Plants

Transcript:How to Properly Water Plants

Hi, I'm Elaine Weslowski here at Michaels Nursery in Boynton Beach, FL, here for About.com and we're going to talk about  how to water container plants properly. 

Check the Tag for Watering Instructions

In order to properly water your plant, make sure you read that care tag so that you know what's important. Watering is going to keep your plant alive, looking healthy, and keep it growing. 

Plants Need Drainage

It's always necessary to have good drainage in any of your containers and make sure you water the top of the soil, not the top of the foliage. That's very important. The soil is what needs to be watered. 

When to Water Plants

There's 2 methods to check to see if your plant material needs water. The first method is the old finger method. Put your finger as far down in the soil as you possible can to see how wet the soil is, if it's dry add water, if it's not, don't add water. 

The second method is go buy, at your local garden center, a water meter reader. This has a long protruding stem. Put it in your soil, check the face to see where the water level is and if it needs water, water. If you don't, don't.

There are lots of plants that need lots of water. The best sign to see if they need water is that they probably are wilted, that means you are definitely are not watering it enough. So add lots of water and keep your eye on it to make sure it does not dry out. 

Do Not Over Water Plants

When you over water your plants, you are actually causing the root system to break down and deteriorate. You really want your plant to have a nice, healthy, white, juicy, root system. So be careful on how much you water, pay attention to that and you will have a beautiful, thriving plant for a long time. 

If you have a plant that loves humidity and you don't live in an area that has humidity, make sure that you have handy a spritzer, a mister, or a spray bottle works really well too and just give that a little squirt every now and then. 

Thanks so very much for watching. For more information, go to: homegarden.about.com.