Proper watering of indoor plants. Video
The normal growth and development of indoor plants depends on many factors, from light to protecting flowers. But one of the most important, of course, is the correct watering. And this is not surprising, because most plants are 80% water. And without her, even strong representatives of the agate family, surviving in the desert, will simply die.
How to water flowers correctly
Before watering a houseplant, it is important to find out as much information as possible about it, because each species needs a different watering. Representatives of the subtropics, for example, require a large amount of moisture, but the land between waterings must have time to dry out. These plants include almost all bulbs, begonias, azaleas and others.
Moisture-loving inhabitants of swamps and tropics need more water. These are the following species: – fern, – cyperus, – alocasia, – balsam, – tradescantia, – fittonia and others.
The soil in pots with such plants should remain moist at all times. And in addition to watering, they also need to be sprayed frequently. And representatives of the agate family, for example, cacti, require a small amount of moisture and very rare watering, since they do not tolerate water well.
For watering any home plants, you must use soft tap water, which has settled for at least a day in an open bottle. Then it will reach the optimal room temperature and get rid of chlorine. In areas with a fairly clean environment, you can use melt water or rainwater.
Warm room temperature water is especially beneficial for tropical species. But during the dormant period of the plant, it is better to moisten the soil with cooler water, otherwise it will begin to grow prematurely.
The amount of water for irrigation also depends on the temperature and activity of the plants. When the temperature in the apartment drops, they need to be watered less often, and vice versa. The amount of water should decrease during the dormant period and increase during the growth or flowering of the plant.
It is necessary to pour water not on the leaves or bulbs, but on the soil. The only exceptions are some representatives of bromyeliums – their water is poured into a rosette of leaves.
When watering, you should pay attention to the age of the plant. A developed root system requires more water. And newly planted plants must be watered abundantly immediately after transplanting and take a break for a week until the damaged thin roots grow back.
Flowers that do not require a lot of water can be moistened using drip irrigation, or, as it is also called, automatic. For this, special devices are used that periodically supply a small amount of water to the soil. You can buy them at flower shops. This method of watering helps to preserve the flowers during the absence of the owners.
Signs of improper irrigation
Lack of moisture, as a rule, is characterized by rapidly withering and dropping flowers, cessation of plant growth and active dropping of old leaves. Another common sign is the fact that young leaves do not grow to the desired size in any way.
Sometimes the reason for the lack of moisture can be a crust formed on the surface of the soil, which is difficult for water to pass through. Or shriveled soil with a high content of peat, as a result of which water quickly spills into the sump.
An excess of moisture is indicated by the smell of mold, drooping leaves and a slowdown in plant growth. And also the simultaneous fall of old and young leaves.
It is also interesting to read: types of indoor flowers here