Module 2 · Water — by the plant, not the calendar
lesson 2.2
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Lesson 2.2 · 7 min
The finger check and the weight check
After this you can decide whether a plant needs water without guessing.
The whole skill comes down to checking the soil before you pour. Two checks, both free, both take seconds. Do them instead of watering on a schedule and you have already fixed the most common mistake in houseplant care.
The finger check
- 1.Push a finger into the soil up to about the second knuckle (three to four centimetres).
- 2.If it comes out with damp soil clinging to it, the plant does not need water yet — check again in a day or two.
- 3.If it comes out dry and clean at that depth, most common foliage plants are ready for a drink.
- 4.For succulents and cacti, wait until the soil is dry much deeper, nearly to the bottom.
The weight check
- 1.Lift the pot right after you have watered thoroughly and let it drain — feel how heavy it is.
- 2.Lift it again when the soil is dry — feel how much lighter it has become.
- 3.Learn those two weights, and from then on you can tell whether a plant needs water just by picking it up.