One of the biggest reasons new plants and even house plants do not survive long is due to inappropriate watering schedule. Plants can neither have too much or too little water to survive and every plant has a different amount it needs. Some plants like it hot and humid so they can absorb moisture out of the air regularly. Other plants would prefer constant moist (not wet) soil to feed their roots. Environment and soil types affect both of these. The key is knowing your plant and knowing the type of ‘home’ you are making it live in.
- Know your soil type: Clay can initially allow water to run off of it, but once saturated will hold on to that moisture for a long time. Sandy soil is very loose and can soak up moisture quickly, but also allows it to run through it or evaporate out of it quickly.
- Know your environment/micro-climate: Consider sun exposure and shade which affects how quickly moisture evaporates. Is it a windy area or sheltered? Are there lots of plants close together?
- Know your plants needs: How much water does it like? Would it rather go periods without?
Keep in mind establishing a plant in a new area or container requires an adjustment period. Plants undergo stress from moving and touching their roots similar to showing stress from lack or over-watering. New plants should be watered regularly, slowly and deeply. Testing the soil around the plant to see how deep the moisture is retained can help determine if it is receiving enough.
