Learn what temperature of water to use on your houseplants. Warm water is best for watering houseplants. If you water your houseplants with cold water that can shock the plant. The plant roots may die back, which can lead to root rot. Cold water can also cause brown spotting on leaves.
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Hello and welcome to Healthy Houseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you can see in the comment section below.
Today, I’m going to talk to you about why you want to water with warm water and why it’s not a good idea to water with cold water. In today’s video, we have Henry, who has been the star of my series on getting rid of root rot in houseplants, and he’s doing really well! Actually, since the last follow-up video, he has a nice new leaf. One of the reasons why he’s doing well is because I have been watering him with warm water.
Before you water a plant, you want to make sure that it’s ready for watering, and Henry is. We’ll do that in a second, but first, let’s discuss why warm water is beneficial. It seems like you’re in a hurry and just want to turn the water on and water the plants quickly, which is okay if you’re pressed for time. However, it’s best to water with warm water when possible.
There are a few reasons for this. First, when you water with cold water, it can harm the roots. The cold temperature can cause the roots to die back, starting a chain reaction where the roots die back, leading to too much wet soil and ultimately root rot. I have other videos explaining how that happens as well, so that’s one major reason not to use cold water.
Another significant reason to avoid cold water is that it can cause brown spotting on the leaves. If you see brown spots appearing on the leaves, especially during the winter months, it could be because you’re watering with cold water.
You might think, “What if I grow plants outdoors?” You might be used to watering outdoor plants with cold tap water. However, there’s a difference between watering outdoor plants with cold water and watering indoor plants. The soil temperature for indoor plants is generally around the temperature of your house, which is usually between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
The water you’re pumping through your kitchen tap can be much colder, especially during the winter months. It could be 30 to 40 degrees colder, or even lower depending on where you live. For example, if your plant’s soil is at 70 degrees and you water it with 40-degree water, that’s a significant temperature shock. Think about it: it’s like jumping into a really cold bathtub when your home is at 65 to 75 degrees.
If you continually shock your plants in this way, you’re likely to have problems. That’s why it’s important to stick to warm water. You can also let the water come to room temperature, but sometimes room temperature can still be a little too cold, so consider warming it up a bit.
Now Henry is ready for some watering, and I’m going to make sure he is pretty dry. Yes, he’s in the dry zone right now. I’ve been careful about this because of his root rot, which is a whole other story. But for this video, he is definitely ready for watering.
This is warm water. You don’t want it hot because that would have the same effect as very cold water and could harm the plant. You want nice lukewarm water, and Henry is going to get a thorough soaking with this warm water. I will also make sure to empty out the drainage dish afterward so he’s not sitting in any water. He will be well watered and very happy with the nice warm water.
So that’s it for today about watering with warm water. Please leave any comments about any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see, and remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video.
FAQ about Watering Houseplants with Warm Water
Why should I water my houseplants with warm water?
Watering your houseplants with warm water is beneficial because cold water can harm the roots. The cold temperature can cause the roots to die back, which may lead to root rot due to excess wet soil.
What are the effects of using cold water on houseplants?
Using cold water can cause brown spotting on the leaves, especially during winter months. If you notice brown spots on your indoor plants, it may be due to watering with cold water.
How does the temperature of outdoor water differ from indoor plants?
The soil temperature for indoor plants is generally between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, while tap water can be much colder, especially in winter months. Watering indoor plants with much colder water can create a significant temperature shock.
What temperature should water be when watering houseplants?
Water for houseplants should be lukewarm. You don’t want it hot because that could also harm the plant. Ideally, it should be warm enough to not shock the plant’s roots.
How do I prepare my plants for watering?
Before watering, ensure that the plant is dry enough to need water. Check the soil moisture and only water if the plant shows signs of being ready for hydration.
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