Learn about flagging, which is the first sign that houseplants require watering. This is a stage that many people miss, but it is the best time to water houseplants. When flagging, plants look slightly wilted, but it is almost unnoticeable. This video shows you what the flagging stage looks like. Wait another 24 hours or so, though, and the plant will be wilting. Wilting plants are more likely to become damaged by under-watering. If you catch plants when they are flagging, they will suck up the water readily and soon be buoyant and happy once again.
Welcome to Healthy Houseplants, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you can find in the description below.
Today, I’m going to talk about watering plants, or more specifically, when to water plants. Looking at this Chinese evergreen, you might think it doesn’t need watering. It looks okay and pretty, but it’s actually experiencing what we call “flagging.” Flagging occurs in the 12 to 24-hour period before a plant starts to visibly droop from needing water.
Watering plants when they’re flagging is one of the best times to do so. This is the point where they really need watering, but they’re not still wet. Overwatering is the easiest way to kill plants and is the number one cause of houseplant death. So when you catch flagging, that’s the perfect timing for watering.
If you look closely at this plant, especially the leaves, you’ll notice they have a dull appearance rather than a sheen. The plant is also drooping slightly here and there. To demonstrate, I’m going to water this plant now and let it sit for at least an hour before we see any results.
When watering houseplants, always use warm to tepid water. It’s important to soak them thoroughly rather than just giving them a little bit of water. Water them well and then don’t water again until they need it, ideally when they’re flagging.
[After watering and waiting]
Now we’re back with the plant after it has sat for at least two hours. You can see that it is more buoyant now, fuller, with more turgidity in the leaves. This is what happens after a plant has been properly watered.
This particular plant doesn’t show a dramatic change after watering. Some plants, like the peace lily, display more noticeable changes. Regardless, you want to catch plants when they’re flagging and water them in time to keep them happy and healthy.
Thank you for watching this video today. Please keep enjoying gardening in the Great Indoors. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video.
Patreon: healthyhouseplants
One-time donation: https://ko-fi.com/healthyhouseplants
Sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/g1PCSH
Find out more by reading, How to Water Houseplants, https://bit.ly/2F1GmPV