Watering errors are the most common cause of indoor plant problems. Fearing drought, trying to give your plants the best care, it’s so easy to overdo it! But overflowing or too frequent watering leads to malnutrition, problems with air access and rot. Only a few indoor crops will tolerate waterlogging. But even those species that require a stable “regime” of humidity will not cope with acidification. For most of your favorite plants, underfilling is much better than vice versa.
10 plants better not to water than to overflow
Waterlogging – too abundant or frequent watering – does not allow the substrate to dry out, violates the structure and air permeability of the soil, creates an ideal environment for the development of pathogenic microflora and, as a result, leads to decay of roots and shoots. Stagnant water in the pallets, lack of normal drainage, crusting with puddles at the top – it is equally dangerous for the soil.
One or two misses of the plant may not be noticed, but the more and longer these problems continue, the stronger the lesions. Loss of firmness, tarnishing, shedding of healthy leaves, brown or black spots are obvious symptoms. But it is much easier to understand everything by the soil itself (sour or moldy, sometimes ammonia smell, sticking, release of drops when squeezed).
For most indoor crops (except cyperus and aquatic species), underfilling is better than overflow. And although a complete drought will also please only cacti, the risks from waterlogging of the soil are much greater than from more careful watering.
Bulbous plants, cacti and succulents – from fat women and aloe to sansevieria and hippeastrum – became famous for the fear of overflow. They rot at the slightest excess of moisture. But even among the “ordinary” indoor plants, there are many crops that cannot cope with dampness. Low resistance to too abundant watering is not always obvious, because many plants at the same time like constant humidity and also do not tolerate complete drought.
Let’s take a closer look at 10 popular houseplants, for which it is better to be wary of watering.
1. Begonias
Among the types of begonias, everyone can find a plant to their liking. Luxurious leaves of decorative deciduous species or charming caps of beautifully blooming begonias are so unlike … But all species are united by their dislike of waterlogging. Overflow for these plants will result in rapid death.
Watering begonias should be done very carefully. Their favorite stable soil moisture is achievable only with constant control of the degree of soil drying. For “insurance” you need to immediately drain the water from the pallets and dry 2-3 cm of soil at the top before the next watering.
Begonia Maculata, like other begonias, does not tolerate waterlogging. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com thenunheadgardener
2. Citrus
Oranges, lemons and other fragrant favorites may seem to be durable and extremely reliable plants, but they cannot stand compaction of the soil and its moisture, not only in winter.
In order to admire a healthy crown of shiny leaves, fragrant flowering and abundant fruiting, you will have to monitor the state of the substrate, preventing water from accumulating in the bottom of the pots, even with very abundant summer watering. And avoid cold water.
In citrus fruits, it is necessary to monitor the state of the substrate, preventing water from accumulating in the lower part of the pots, even with very abundant summer watering
3. Pelargoniums
Thanks to the luxurious large-flowered varieties, pelargonium is back in fashion today. But the more effective the variety, the more sensitive it is to improper care.
Pelargoniums need not only frequent feeding and abundant watering, but also protection from stagnant water. They can die from rot, even if the water is promptly drained from the pallets, but they do not allow the substrate to dry out in the upper layer.
All pelargoniums will prefer drying out the soil to stagnant water. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com julianadaniel
Read also our article Pelargonium – the most hardy of the flowering flowers.
4. Ficuses
Reliable and affordable, ficuses are only good with moderate watering. Both Benjamin’s ficus, and rubber-bearing, and other species are much less afraid of drying out the soil than overflowing or watering with cold water. With regular overflow, the air permeability of the substrate is disrupted – a necessary condition for the normal growth of both compact and giant species of ficuses.
To avoid mistakes, it is better to be careful and dry the substrate slightly more between waterings – up to a third in summer and up to half in winter.
All ficuses are afraid of waterlogging the soil. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com plantz
Read also our article Choosing the perfect indoor ficus.
5. Afellandra
It is difficult to say that in this rather large and bright shrub it is more attractive – wrinkled dark leaves colored with thick light veins or bright spike-shaped inflorescences with unusual bracts. Afellandram needs a cool wintering, but it will not be possible to avoid problems with it without moderate regular watering even in summer.
Stagnation of water for afellandra is destructive; it will be possible to save plants with a strong waterlogging of the substrate only by re-rooting the tops.
Stagnant water is fatal for afellandra. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com smartgardenguide
6. Clivia
There is little that can be compared to the flowering of clivia. Blooming the more magnificently, the older it becomes, it is not by chance that the clivia earned the nickname kaffir lily. Luxurious tubular flowers in clusters of inflorescences above lush fans of tongue-shaped leaves require special care and conditions. But the biggest mistake in growing clivia will be inattentive watering.
This plant categorically does not tolerate stagnant water in pallets. Drain excess moisture immediately after watering. And before the next procedure, you must make sure that the top 3-4 cm of the soil is completely dry.
The biggest mistake in growing clivia is careless watering. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com domashniecvety
Read also our article Clivia – an indoor long-liver among flowering flowers.
7. Decorative pepper
Flaunting a scattering of multi-colored fruits that change color as they ripen, the compact and very attractive decorative pepper is amazingly sensitive to excessive moisture. It is worth pouring pepper a couple of times – and the bushes can die within just a few days.
For ornamental peppers, you need to maintain a constant but light moisture content in the substrate. Stagnant water in the pan is much more dangerous than strong drying out of the soil.
For ornamental peppers, you need to maintain a constant but light moisture content in the substrate. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com gardeningknowhow
Read also our article Indoor hot peppers – varieties and cultivation features.
8. Episode
The fiery violet episode seems to be one of the simplest indoor plants thanks to its love of warmth and modest care. But despite its sensitivity to the complete drying of the substrate, stagnant water and too zealous watering are even more terrible for this amazing indoor plant with velvety leaves, thin flexible shoots and bright scarlet tubular flowers.
For the health of the episodes, a light, uniform moisture is needed. Any wetting during inaccurate watering, stagnant water in the pan or too generous watering leads to the rapid spread of rot not only along the roots, but also along the shoots of the plant.
For the health of the episodes, a light, uniform moisture is needed. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Dr zhang
9. Poinsettia
The Christmas star, with its upper bracts looking so bright in winter interiors, is rarely saved for next year. But even when grown as a seasonal plant, poinsettia requires more careful maintenance than is commonly believed. And it’s not only about coolness, stable lighting and proper feeding, but also in constant monitoring of the moisture content of the substrate.
Stagnant water is the main cause of leaf shedding. Even with light overflows, the poinsettia will lose its decorative effect in a matter of weeks.
Stagnant water is the main cause of leaf shedding. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com homestolove
Read also our article Poinsettia – the main houseplant in winter.
10. Camellia
Exemplary luxurious flowers with inimitable textures and beautiful dark leaves of this indoor legend more than pay off the complexity of growing and the need to find a cold spot to bloom. Despite the sufficient moisture content and recommendations for stable soil moisture, camellia does not tolerate overflow.
For camellia, it is worth letting the top layer of soil dry between waterings. And when the period of dormancy begins – and flowering (!) – the substrate needs to be dried by half. You can check the humidity manually or using special indicators.
Camellia does not tolerate overflow. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com gardeningexpress
Other plants that cannot tolerate overflow
Plants that are better to “underfill” than waterlogged also include: pylaea, clerodendron, bryophyllum, calceolaria, philodendrons, cypress and other conifers, gardenia, hoya, ixora, jasmine, hemantus, justice, fremontia, anredera, isoloma, fremontia aspidistra, alocasia, anigosanthus, allamanda, bell, catharanthus, peperomia, zamioculcas, vriesia, pachira, pandanus, banana, myrtle, cryptantus, dieffenbachia, cordilins, yuccas and dracaena, calathea, cissuchriosa, eczacum anthurium.
What if the plant is “overflown”?
In order to prevent excessive soil moisture, it is enough to remember three basic rules for reasonable watering:
- Study what moisture is needed for a particular species and carefully follow the recommendations for watering (differences at different stages of development, the degree of drying out of the substrate, watering method, etc.)
- Always monitor how dry the soil is before watering again.
- Check water quality and temperature.
In any doubtful situation, you should choose the safest option – a little more careful, poor watering than vice versa.
No matter how frightening the consequences of too much watering, they are not at all irreversible. Overflows will lead to the death of a plant only if the situation is “started”.
If irrigation misses have not been consistent, a simple maintenance correction will help. Before the next watering, the soil should be allowed to dry out deeper, gently loosened at least in the surface layer, put the pot on moisture-absorbing materials (sand, perlite, towels, etc.) to quickly “drain” excess moisture from the lower layers of the substrate. And change the frequency in the future.
If there are signs of root damage, moldy soil, simple measures cannot be avoided. Emergency transplant is a difficult and often disastrous procedure, but also the only way out of the situation. Trimming all damaged areas after washing and examining the roots, treating with fungicides and drying the sections with planting in a new disinfected substrate are typical for any emergency transplant.
If the rot has reached the points of growth and shoots, you will have to save the plant by reproduction – by re-rooting the top or cutting cuttings to obtain healthy offspring.
