If you find yourself wondering how often to water philodendron, you should know that these plants require deep soaking once a week, especially during the active growth periods of spring and summer and once every ten days in winter.
Additionally, because philodendrons thrive in environments with higher humidity, the plant’s leaves should be sprayed with water twice per week.
In this article, we discuss all the watering schedules of the philodendron plant species in detail, as well as watering tips and tricks and how to spot underwatered plants.
Continue reading to find out how to identify whether your philodendron is getting too much or too little water, as well as all of the best techniques for watering it.
Contents
How Often Should You Water Philodendron Plants?
You should water philodendron plants thoroughly once every seven days and once in ten days during colder days in winter. Temperature, relative humidity, and overall quality of the soil are all factors that can determine how frequently you will need to water your philodendron.
– How Often To Water Philodendron Cordatum
When the soil has dried about halfway through the pot, the Philodendron Cordatum enjoys receiving water.
This plant prefers bright light. It is good to let the soil dry at least two-thirds of the way through the pot when growing plants in areas with low to medium light. When the foliage on your plant begins to wilt and curl, this is a good indication that it needs more water.
– How Often To Water Philodendron Brasil
Water the soil once a week, and then dry it out completely before the next watering. Be careful not to overwater, and remember that your regular watering schedule may call for less frequent watering during the winter months.
– How Often To Water Philodendron Micans
Once in ten days or when the top two to three inches of soil have completely dried, it is time to water your philodendron micans. Examining the plant’s leaves is yet another easy way to determine whether or not your micans need more water. The leaves will droop and slightly curl inward when the plant is dehydrated.
– How Often To Water Philodendron Birkin
You want to use soil that can hold moisture but also allows it to dry out in between waterings for your Philodendron Birkin.
Birkin plants are hardier in dry conditions than they are when they receive an excessive amount of water. Regarding the watering frequency, do so once a week, but check to see if the top inch of the soil is dry before proceeding.
– Watering Philodendron in Winter
Because of the low temperatures, philodendron watering in winter can be challenging. This is because less water is lost from the soil and as a result of the low humidity, the philodendrons cannot take in as much moisture through their aerial roots as they would otherwise.
Only give your Philodendrons a drink of water in the wintertime if the top few inches of their soil are completely dry, which equates to once every two weeks in most circumstances.
During the winter, you can also benefit your philodendron such as the heart leaf philodendron by placing a humidifier close to it so that it can take advantage of the increased humidity.
An additional solution to the problem of a lack of moisture in the environment is to run a plant humidifier for at least four hours each day.
Additionally, it would be best if you considered gathering some of your other houseplants in the same area as your philodendron, as this will increase the overall humidity level in the space.
– Amount of Water to Use
Although the frequency with which you should water your philodendron can change depending on several factors, the amount of water that you use should always be the same. When you water philodendrons, you should always give them a thorough soak until excess water drips from the bottom of the pot.
This ensures that the water has adequately penetrated the soil, making it evenly moist so that the roots of the philodendron can take in the necessary amount of water for the plant to thrive.
Giving the soil a good soaking every time you water will encourage healthy root development. If you water the potting soil for the philodendrons insufficiently, only the top inch or so will become moist, and the water will not reach the roots deeper in the soil. This will cause droopy and brown leaves, a sign of drought stress.
What are the Factors Determining Philodendron Frequency of Watering?
The factors that will determine the frequency of watering for your philodendrons include the dryness of the soil, the temperature and humidity in the environment, the state of the plant’s leaves, the location of the plant, soil composition, and pot size.
To thrive, plants such as philodendron hope, hope selloum, lemon lime, pink princess, philodendron prince, tree philodendron, thaumatophyllum xanadu, philodendron erubescens, philodendron hastatum, philodendron brandtianum and other similar varieties need water.
This is probably something you already know. But you may be unaware that improper watering techniques can cause diseases to spread in your philodendrons, ultimately resulting in the plants’ demise. Here is how you determine if you need to water the plant or not yet.
– Check the Soil
It is best to wait until the top surface of the soil has dried out before beginning to water. Digging in with your fingers or turning over the top layer with a hand shovel are good ways to determine the level of dryness present in an area. It is time to water your philodendron if the dryness extends up to an inch deep in the soil.
It is not a good idea to water the soil any further while it is still damp because this could result in overwatering, which is harmful to your philodendron.
After all, it will cause the roots to rot. Because the effects of this disease might not be reversible, you shouldn’t be concerned if the soil gets a little dry in between waterings.
– Know the Temperature and the Relative Humidity Around
Because the weather in your region affects the condition of the soil in a way that isn’t the same in every part of the world, it is in your best interest to become knowledgeable about the weather patterns in your area.
When temperatures get too high, the moisture in the soil can start to evaporate before the roots have a chance to take in most of it. Because of this occurrence, it is essential to check the weather and relative humidity of the zone you are growing your philodendron in and water your philodendrons more frequently throughout the summer.
– Monitor the State of the Leaves
Monitoring the state of the leaves, in addition to the soil, will be of great assistance. Philodendrons are native to the tropical rainforests of South America, where they thrive in high humidity. Their leaves will retain their quality and become more attractive if they have it.
If the leaves on your philodendron appear to be drooping or browning along the tips and edges, this could be a sign that the plant is not receiving the appropriate amount of water.
It is essential to mimic the conditions of the philodendron’s natural habitat by providing it with consistent watering if you want to successfully cultivate the plant in your home.
– Location
When determining whether or not your philodendron has the capacity to withstand the loss of water, you should also take into account its location.
If we take the example of a philodendron plant, one grown indoors may have a reduced need for watering compared to one grown outside. A rise in temperature and dehydration caused by evaporation and transpiration can result from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
A philodendron needs medium light with bright indirect sunlight. Yellowing is a natural process that occurs in older leaves. On the other hand, if you find several leaves turning yellow all at once, this could be a sign that the plant is receiving an excessive amount of sunlight.
– Soil Composition
Philodendrons do best when grown in aerated soil with good drainage. If these conditions are met, you can water your plant frequently without worrying that it will receive excessive moisture. Waterlogging can be caused by improper drainage and compacted soil, and the mixture of loose soil and adequate sunlight exposure will allow the excess water to drain.
Adding peat moss to loose soil can help retain moisture, reducing the time you spend watering your plants. Because of this, it is helpful to consider the components used in the soil mix to understand the frequency of watering philodendrons.
– Repotting
After repotting, it is necessary to water the Philodendrons. Because of their rapid growth, philodendrons need to have their containers changed every two years.
Make sure that the potting mix you use is clean and sterile and that you use it in a pot with good drainage and ventilation. The new container shouldn’t be any wider or taller than the first one by more than an inch and a half (2.5 centimeters).
After repotting the philodendron, it is essential to give it a generous amount of water and then place the pot over the sink so that any excess water can drain out. After giving the plant its first drink, you can continue to water it like before it was repotted.
– After Propagation
After the philodendrons have been propagated and planted in a clean and sterile potting mix, you should give them a good soaking. To prevent the philodendron from becoming overly saturated with water, allow any excess moisture to escape through the holes.
– Pot Size
The philodendron’s container size is an essential indicator of watering frequency, and smaller pots can dry the soil much quicker than larger pots.
After giving the philodendron a thorough soaking — enough so that water seeps out of the drainage holes in the base — water it and wait for the top two inches of the soil to become slightly dry before adding more moisture. This recreates the typical soil moisture conditions in the philodendron’s natural habitat.
How Can I Tell if My Philodendron Needs To Be Watered?
You can tell if your philodendron needs to be watered when it starts to have browning leaves, when its leaves start falling, when the soil is dry and cracked, and when the plant’s growth is stunted. These are tell-tale signs that your plant is underwatered.
If you have a hectic life or are frequently away from home, it can be easy to forget to water your philodendron plant. Even though philodendrons have a high tolerance for dry conditions, the plant will perish if exposed for an extended period of time. Here are signs that you are underwatering the plant and need to increase watering frequency.
– Browning Leaves
Browning on multiple parts of the leaves, for instance, could indicate an underwatered philodendron. You will typically notice the tips and edges turning brown or yellow.
Every day, plants naturally lose and gain water through their tissues. When lost water cannot be restored for some reason, the tips of the leaves turn brown or you will have completely yellow leaves.
– Leaves Falling Apart
Droopy leaves that wither too soon are another classic reaction to less watering of your philodendron. You may also notice that leaves begin to wither and curl at the tips.
– Soil Is Dry and Cracked
Notice that the soil is dry and cracked? The plant has lost all of its moisture and requires immediate action.
Philodendrons need evenly moist soil because they are so well acclimated to relatively high humidity and frequent rains. As much as the plant is drought tolerant, an underwatered dry soil will not help the plant thrive for long.
– Stunted Growth
If your philodendron isn’t producing new shoots or the growth is slow or stunted, it is time to look into your watering schedule. You are most likely underwatering the plant.
Philodendrons are only found in their natural habitats in tropical regions, where the climate is warm and wet year-round, the soil is porous, well-drained, and rich in organic matter, and the relative humidity is high.
What Are the Signs You Are Overwatering Your Philodendron?
Some signs that you are overwatering your philodendron include yellowed leaves, wilted leaves, and bacterial growth. There is a common misconception among gardeners that philodendrons require the same amount of water as other houseplants, but this is not the case.
It is essential to remember that philodendrons have a lower tolerance for being overwatered and that excessive humidity can be fatal to the plant.
– Yellowed Leaves
The plant can suffer from problems associated with overwatering if the soil becomes boggy rather than moist and does not drain effectively. Over-watering can cause some of the leaves on a plant to turn yellow, in contrast to under-watering, which causes the edges of the leaves to become dry and brown.
Root respiration is prevented and root function is hampered by a lack of oxygen in the soil, which causes the philodendron leaves to turn yellow and droop. This is because the roots cannot properly absorb water and nutrients.
– Wilted Leaves
Because there is excessive water in both the roots and the leaves, the Philodendron plant’s leaves may begin to wilt because they cannot exhale properly. Because fungi thrive in warm, water-logged soil, overwatering can cause severe root rot, which can be identified by the leaves turning yellow and becoming deformed.
– Bacterial Growth
Both overwatering and high humidity can promote the growth of certain types of bacteria, such as Xanthomonas and Erwinia, which can attack a philodendron plant that is susceptible, resulting in root rot and the formation of spots on the leaves. Bacterial and fungal infections can spread throughout the plant and infect other plants.
How Do You Check Moisture in Philodendron Soil?
You can check moisture in philodendron soil by using the finger test, using a moisture meter, or weighing the pot’s total weight. These are just a few ways to determine whether or not the soil around your plants is too dry or just right.
– Finger Test
To determine if the soil is dry, stick your fingers into it and try to go as deep as possible. Check the soil with your finger to see if your plant needs water.
After removing your finger from the soil, look to see if any residues are still clinging to it to determine its moisture level. If your finger comes out relatively clean after sticking it in the soil, this indicates that the soil is extremely dry and it is time to water the plant.
– Test of the Soil
You don’t have to use your finger to find out how dry the soil is; you can use something else instead of your finger in case you want to avoid getting your hands dirty.
You can purchase probes that have been specially designed at the garden center near you. But if that seems like too much of an issue for you, you should be able to get the job done just as well with a metal rod, such as a chopstick or a skewer.
Drive the metal stick into the ground until it is buried to a depth that brings it into contact with the base of your container. After removing the stick, examine the amount of soil that is clinging to the probe. You must water your plant as soon as possible if there is a significant amount of loose soil.
– Moisture Meter
Another method for determining how dry your soil is using a moisture meter. These inexpensive tools and supplies are available at all local garden centers. Insert the meter probe into the ground until it reaches the level of depth that you want to measure.
Examining the meter’s display will show you how saturated your ground is. If the number is higher than 3, the soil does not need to be watered immediately; however, if it is lower than 3, you need to water the plant.
– Pot’s Total Weight
The last method is measuring the weight of your pot. It is the least reliable way, but is still a good indicator when you’re in a pinch.
Dry soil tends to have a lighter feel to its weight. It is time to water your plant when the soil in the container begins to feel too dry and the container itself begins to feel too light.
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On the other hand, having larger plants will make it more difficult to track how heavy your container is. Use a moisture meter or probe to check the soil’s moisture level instead of lifting your plants’ container.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to water the philodendron from its frequency to checking for signs of underwatering, you can give plant care in an ideal way.
Let us summarize our learnings in the points mentioned below.
- When they are actively growing in the spring and summer, water philodendrons once a week to raise the humidity and mist the philodendron leaves twice a week. During the winter, water philodendrons once every ten days.
- Always give philodendrons a full soak to ensure that the soil is evenly moist. Excess water should seep from the base of the pot.
- To enhance drainage and soil structure, plant philodendrons in a mixture of three parts potting mix to one part perlite. This aids in simulating the soil’s natural habitat for philodendron plants. Well-draining soil is crucial when watering philodendrons.
- Philodendron leaves that aren’t getting enough water droop and turn brown to show stress. The leaves droop and turn yellow when there is a lot of moisture around the root ball. To keep the philodendron alive, ensure the potting soil is consistently moist.
- Planting philodendrons in pots or containers with drainage holes in the base is crucial because they prefer evenly moist soil; they cannot tolerate their roots being in saturated soil.
With your newly acquired knowledge of watering the philodendrons, you can easily have them thriving, lush green and healthy in all seasons in your home. So have your watering schedule in place and enjoy the charm of these attractive and robust plants!
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