Adding a houseplant or two to your home is an easy way to bring life and colour indoors, but as any plant parent will know, it can be tricky to juggle the amount of water and sunlight they need to keep them from wilting and eventually dying.
But thanks to indoor plant expert Kate Lindley - who is the Product Manager at Baby Bio, Britain’s iconic houseplant feed and care products brand - we can now keep our leafy friends alive for much longer, as she's shared the secrets to making sure we're giving plants the right amount of water.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Kate said the "key" is to always "test the soil" before watering to prevent either over or underwatering and shared a simple "pencil" trick that makes testing soil a breeze.
She said: “When it comes to watering plants in winter, the key is to always test the soil first to prevent over or underwatering.”
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Kate recommends sticking a pencil into the top two inches of soil to test if this area is still moist from the last time you watered your plants - and if it is, then you should avoid watering until this area is dry.
You can also use your finger to do this, but a pencil ensures you don't get soil under your fingernails!
The expert added: “Instead of sticking to a rigid water regime of once or twice a week, instead insert your finger or a pencil into the top two inches of the soil.
"If this is still moist, there is no need to water.
“If the soil is dry beyond the top layer, aerate the soil to allow for an even distribution of water, again using your finger or something like a pencil.”
Overwatering a plant of any kind can lead to rotting, and this problem is much more prevalent over the winter months when plants need less water than they do in the summer.
How often a plant needs water will also depend on the size of the pot it's in, as well as the soil, light conditions, humidity, and how warm the home is.
Kate also advises houseplant owners to avoid using cold water when watering their plants, as this could cause the houseplant to go into shock due to the sudden temperature change. Instead, use tepid room temperature water.
She said: “Don’t use water from the cold tap, as it can become too cold during winter months and shock the root system. Instead, use tepid water by allowing it to reach room temperature before watering your plants."
And ultimately, Kate insisted all houseplants are different, and it's important to know the needs of your plant before you start committing to a watering routine.
She explained: “Remember that every houseplant is different.
“Some plants, such as cacti and succulents, are especially sensitive to being overwatered, while species like ferns don’t like to become dry.”
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