Post by @shoptansy

If you’ve been struggling with your plants lately, there’s a chance you’re falling for a few common plant myths. Here are 10 watering tips that actually work😉: 1. Stop watering on a schedule. Water when the soil is dry, not just because it’s a specific day. Light changes, seasons change, and your plant’s water needs changes with it. 2. STOP relying on the finger test. Your fingers only check the top inch or two, but roots live way deeper than that! Topsoil lies 😭A wet bottom half + dry top half = root rot. Try lifting the pot to feel its weight or try a moisture meter. 3. Aerate before you hydrate. When soil gets really dry, it goes hydrophobic (meaning water repels instead of absorbs)… Take a chopstick, poke around to loosen the dirt, and then water. 4. Drench your plant’s! When it is time to water, give it a full, thorough soak until it drains out the bottom or bottom water! Little sips only wet the top layer, ALL the roots need to drink! 5. Try bottom watering if you soil is hydrophobic or old. If your soil is repelling water, set the pot in a bowl of water for 30 min to 1 hr. Let the plant drink from the bottom up until the topsoil feels damp. 6. Always dump the drip tray!!!! If you have self watering pots, always clean and dump the reservoir!!!! Never leave your plant sitting in runoff water. 7. Watch out for ice-cold water and tap water. Cold water can Shock your plant’s roots and cause yellowing leaves. Aim for room temperature water whenever you can. also, there are lots of plants that are sensitive to the fluoride and chlorine and tapwater. Distilled water, RO water or rainwater is always best. 8. Adjust for pot materials. Terracotta is porous so it breathes and dries out fast, while plastic and glazed ceramic trap moisture for way longer. Make sure you don't treat a plant in clay the same as a plant in plastic! 9. Match watering to light levels. More light = faster growth = thirsty plant. Low light = slow growth = soil stays wet. If you move a plant to a dimmer spot, you need to cut back on watering. 10. Scale back in the winter. Plants drink heavily during spring and summer ( growing season), but slow down in fall and winter. Expect to water half as often during the colder months! #gardening #DidYouKnow #EduTok #planttips #DidYouKnow