How I Kept a Jasmine Kalanchoe Blooming Abundantly for 10 Years, All Thanks to Remembering This One Saying

Succulents, Snake Plants - Water Thoroughly Only When Completely Dry

Tips for "Water Thoroughly Only When Completely Dry"

Wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering. When you water, make sure the soil is thoroughly soaked from top to bottom, and do not give "halfway water." Generally, when you see a small amount of water seeping from the bottom of the pot, it has been watered thoroughly.

Suitable Plants

"Water thoroughly only when completely dry" suits drought-tolerant plants that fear waterlogging, such as aloe, succulents, snake plants, agave, and so on.

Gardenias, Azaleas - Water When Dry, Thoroughly When Wet

Tips for "Water When Dry, Thoroughly When Wet"

"Water when dry" means that when the surface of the potting soil is dry or slightly pale, you should water the flower, rather than waiting until the potting soil is completely dry; "thoroughly when wet" means the same as "water thoroughly," watering until a small amount of water seeps from the bottom of the pot.

Suitable Plants

This method suits plants that like moisture and fear drought, such as azaleas, camellias, gardenias, Impatiens, Milan, banana shrub (Michelia figo), Madagascar periwinkle, and so on.

Pothos, Clivia - Alternate Wet and Dry

Tips for "Alternate Wet and Dry"

"Alternate wet and dry" falls between "water thoroughly only when completely dry" and "water when dry, thoroughly when wet." Generally, water when the potting soil is almost completely dry but still has a trace of moisture and has not yet dried out completely, and when you water, water thoroughly.

Suitable Plants

This method suits semi-shade plants that like warmth and moisture but cannot tolerate heavy watering, such as clivia, pothos, spider plants, peace lilies, Christmas cactus, Alocasia, and so on.

Note: When using the alternate wet and dry method, the soil's wetness and the timing of watering are hard to judge. You can insert a bamboo stick to check - pull it out every few days to look; when its color gradually turns yellow and pale, it is time to water.

Cacti, Black Pines - Better Dry Than Wet

Tips for "Better Dry Than Wet"

Rather than watering too little, do not let the soil get too wet. Each time you water, make sure the soil is completely dry before watering, and when you water, water thoroughly. The interval between waterings for "better dry than wet" is longer than for "water thoroughly only when completely dry."

Suitable Plants

This principle suits plants that are drought-tolerant, tolerate poor soil, and fear water accumulation, such as golden barrel cactus, cacti, black pines, and so on.

Pennywort, Lucky Bamboo - Better Wet Than Dry

Tips for "Better Wet Than Dry"

"Better wet than dry" means the potting soil should be kept moist at all times and must not be allowed to dry out and lose water.

Suitable Plants

Plants that like water and moisture and tolerate waterlogging but fear drought should be watered according to the "better wet than dry" principle, such as pennywort and lucky bamboo, which are suited to half-soil, half-water conditions.

4 Major Cautions for Watering

1. Do not water at noon

The best time to water is in the morning or after evening. Be sure to avoid watering at noon, especially at noon in midsummer, and even more so, do not water flowers with cold water. Tap water is best left to sit in the sun first, making sure that when you put your hand in the water it does not feel piercingly cold.

2. Fixed schedule and fixed amount

No matter what kind of flower, watering should be regular, with a fixed schedule and fixed amount. Over time, plants adjust their own metabolism and adapt to the watering frequency. Binge one moment and starve the next will certainly affect their health.

3. These waters can be used to water flowers

Sun-warmed tap water, rainwater, river water, air conditioner condensate, and so on can all be used to water flowers.

4. These waters cannot be used to water flowers

Soapy water, laundry detergent water, dishwashing water, and the like are best not used to water flowers; they are too alkaline and easily burn the roots. However, low-concentration soapy water or laundry detergent water can be sprayed on branches and leaves to kill insects and disinfect the flowers.