One of the most common questions
we hear is “When do I water my houseplants?” Many houseplants have differing
water needs. The water requirement for plants is based on the light,
temperature, air circulation and stage of plant growth. This means a plant’s
water needs will change seasonally and depending on the size of the plant and
it’s root mass. With the aid of a water meter and this guide, judging the
watering needs of your plants will be easier.
Simply place the end of the meter
into the soil. The ideal location is a depth equaling 1/3 the depth of the pot
and about equal distance from the pot edge. This insures the placement will be
in the root zone of your plant. When the meter reading reaches the desired
number, it’s time to water your plant. Plants are listed by the most generally
accepted common names.
Red Zone Plants, 1-3 on your
water meter:
Aloe Vera, Agave, Asparagus
Fern, Baby Jade, Beaver Tail, Burro’s Tail, Bishop’s Cap, Bloodleaf, Cacti,
Calceolaria, Cast Iron Plant, Chicken Gizzard Plant, Chinese Evergreen,
Christmas Cactus, Clivia, Crown of Thorns, Dieffenbachia Tropic Snow, Easter
Cactus, Euphorbia, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Firecracker Plant, Flaming Sword, Geranium,
Golden Dew Drop, Hawaiian Schefflera, Hibiscus, Ice Plant, Ivy, Jade Plant,
Jasmine Star, Kalanchoe Pen Wiper, Kalanchoe thyrsifolia, Lantana, Marguerite
Blue Daisy, Oleander, Panda Plant, Pocket Book Plant, Poinsettia, Pothos, Sedum,
Schefflera, Succulents, Umbrella Tree, Yucca, ZZ Plant
Green Zone Plants, 4-5 on your
water meter:
Airplane Plant, Balfour Aralia,
Begonia, Black Aralia, Bird of Paradise, Birdsnest Sansaveria, Bonsai,
Bougainvillea, Bromeliad, Canary Island Date Palm, Ceropegia, Chinese Aralia,
Citrus, Corn Plant, Cryptanthus, Dracaena Lemon Lime, Dracaena Limelight,
Dracaena Magenta, Dracaena marginata, Dracaena massangeana, Dracaena Medusa,
Dracaena warneckii, Dragon Tree, Duranta Sapphire Showers, Earth Star, Echeveria,
Eucalyptus, False Aralia, Hens and Chicks, Goldfish Plant, Grape Ivy, Inch
Plant, Janet Craig, Kalanchoe Calandiva, Kalanchoe, Lakeview Jasmine, Lipstick
Vine, Madagascar Jasmine, Mock Orange, Monkey Puzzle Tree, Mother in Law’s
Tongue, Norfolk Island Pine, Oak Leaf Ivy, Philodendron, Pleomele, Plumeria,
Ponytail Palm, Pygmy Date Palm, Sago Palm, Sansaveria, Spider Plant, Snake
Plant, Song of India, Song of Jamaica, Stephanotis Vine, String of Pearls,
String of Hearts, White Bird of Paradise
Green Zone Plants, 5-6 on your
water meter:
African Lily, African Violet,
African Mask, Agapanthus, Algerian Ivy, Allamanda, Alocasia, Angel Tears, Angels
Trumpet, Anthurium, Baby Tears, Bleeding Heart Vine, Bower Vine, Boxwood,
Buddhist Pine, Camellia, Celosia, Cineraria, Clerodendron Blue Butterfly,
Cordyline, Crape Myrtle, Creeping Charlie, Croton, Cyclamen, Datura,
Dieffenbachia Camille, Emerald Gem, Euonymus, Fatsia, Fishtail Palm, Fittonia,
Flamingo Flower, Foxtail Palm, Gardenia White Gem, Gloxinia, Goldust Plant,
Hoya, Impatiens, Ixora, Jasmine Arabian, Kentia Palm, Lady Palm, Lavender, Leea,
Lollipop Plant, Mandevilla, Marengo Ivy, Medinilla, Money Tree, Ornamental
Pepper, Peace Lily, Peperomia Tricolor, Pandorea, Persian Shield, Podocarpus,
Prayer Plant, Rosemary, Rubber Plant, Shooting Star, Shrimp Plant, Silver Nerve
Plant, Solomon’s Seal, Star of Bethlehem, Streptocarpella, Streptocarpus, Wax
Ivy, Weeping Fig Tree
Green Zone Plants, 6-7 on your
water meter:
Amazon Lily, Arrowhead Vine,
Azalea, Bamboo, Banana Tree, Bead Plant, Bridal Veil, Butterfly Gardenia,
Caladium, Calla Lily, Chenille Plant, China Doll, Cobra Plant, Coconut Palm,
Coffee Plant, Coleus, Columnea, Copperleaf, Creeping Fig, Crossandra,
Darlingtonia, Dwarf Lily Turf, Easter Lily, Ferns, Friendship Plant, Fuchsia,
Gardenia First Love, Gardenia Mystery, Gardenia veitchii, Heather, Hemigraphis,
Jacobinia, Jasmine Pink, Moses in a Boat, Moon Flower, Mosaic Plant,
Neanthebella Palm, Nepenthes, Night Blooming Jasmine, Peperomia Red Ripple,
Peperomia Silver Goddess, Peperomia Watermelon, Persian Violet, Pitcher Plant,
Plectranthus Mona Lavender, Plectranthus Zulu Wonder, Plumbago, Purple Velvet
Plant, Purple Passion Plant, Passion Flower Vine, Sea Grape, Selaginella,
Sensitivity Plant, Splash Plant, Snowbush, Swedish Ivy, Wandering Jew, Zebra
Plant
Plants registering in the blue
zone do not require watering at this time.
Remember to wipe the
meter clean between plants for more accurate readings.
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