I'm new to taking care of plants and I'm concerned about my soil drying out too quickly. I have all my houseplants in Fox Farm's Ocean blend, and my cacti and succulents are in Dr Q's cactus soil. I live in Zone 9B, where the humidity level can drop to around 11% year-round.
Both my indoor and outdoor plants are positioned near a south-facing window, although light does get slightly obstructed by a wall that's about 20 feet away. My inside plants include a Marble Queen Pothos, a money tree, a variegated pep. obtusifolia, an Echeveria Painted Lady, and a Haworthia Cathedral Window. On the outside, I have a bunny ear cactus, a Joseph's coat cactus, a lemon ball cactus, and an Aeonium Kiwi.
I'm using the Planta app for watering reminders, but I've noticed that most of my plants' soil is drying out faster than the app suggests. I'm often watering them every 10 days rather than the recommended two weeks. Is this okay, or am I overdoing it and risking my plants' health?
1 Answer
It sounds like you're doing a decent job! Since you live in such a dry climate, shortening your watering intervals could be the right move. It’s essential to listen to your plants—if they're drying out quicker than expected, watering sooner makes sense. Just make sure you’re not overwatering, as that can lead to root rot. You're bottom watering, which is great, just ensure the top of the soil is also getting sufficiently moist without staying soggy!
Exactly! The Planta app provides general advice, but it can’t account for every variable like your specific conditions. Trusting your instincts and making adjustments based on what you observe is super important.