Master these few principles for watering potted plants, and the plants will grow well

1. Water quality The water used for watering flowers is best slightly acidic or neutral. For plants native to tropical and subtropical regions, the ideal water is rainwater. Potable groundwater, lake water and river water can be used for watering potted flowers. Tap water in cities contains more chlorine and its temperature is rather low, so it is not suitable for watering potted flowers directly. It should first be stored in a reservoir for several days so that the chlorine volatilizes, and it is better to water the flowers when the water temperature is close to the air temperature. The difference between water temperature and air temperature should not exceed 5°C. 2. Watering amount Anyone experienced in growing flowers knows that watering potted flowers is not a simple matter. Mastering the watering amount and judging whether the potting soil is dry or wet requires accumulating experience through practice. You can test with your hand and look with your eyes: if the surface of the potting soil is dry while the layer below is slightly moist, then it is time to water; if the surface soil is still moist, you can hold off for the time being. You can also judge whether the potting soil is dry or wet by tapping the pot with your hand; a clear, crisp sound means the potting soil is already dry and needs watering. Potting soils of different types differ greatly in their water-holding capacity. Fine sandy soil has poor water retention and dries quickly; peat soil has strong water retention and dries more slowly. For plants in large pots, one thorough watering can last 1-2 days or longer without watering; small pots need to be watered thoroughly every day. In short, water according to the potting soil: not too much and not too little, varying from pot to pot. 3. A few basics on watering First, for newly planted pots or newly repotted plants, the first watering should be thorough, generally watering twice: after the first round has seeped down, water once more. When potting with dry fine leaf mold or peat soil, this kind of soil is not easy to soak through, and sometimes many rounds of watering are needed. In such cases, it is best to first mix the soil until slightly moist, leave it for 1-2 days, and then pot the plant. Second, the leaves of many potted flowering plants cannot tolerate standing water, otherwise the leaves easily rot. For example, gloxinia, African violet and slipperwort have dense fine hairs on the leaf surface, so it is not suitable to spray water on the leaves, especially not in the evening. The flower buds and young leaves of some flowering plants cannot tolerate water and moisture, such as the flower buds of cyclamen and the leaf buds of Gerbera daisy; they often rot when kept wet for too long.Cymbidium sinense、Cymbidium ensifoliumLeaves often develop anthracnose, and once infected the leaf damage is severe; when the disease is found, leaf spraying should be stopped. Other flowering plants show similar phenomena. Third, epiphyticorchidsafter division or transplanting, until new roots grow out, must not be watered or soaked in water; each day you may only spray water on the leaves and the surrounding environment to maintain relatively high air humidity.