Watering

A lot of beginners struggle with under/overwatering, and to add to the confusion, in both cases the plant with wilt. Plants should be watered until there is some drainage from the pot to remove old salts (nutrients) and stagnant air from the soil and ensure the plant is sufficiently watered. Consider using a plant pot saucer or trip tray to easily collect the drained water. Fabric pots provide the best drainage as fabric is very pourous.

Under/over watering symptoms

Under-watering causes leaves to wilt due to a loss in rigidity as there is low moisture content. They will feel very thin as a result. Over-watering causes leaves to wilt due to the weight of excess moisture content. Feeling the texture, thickness, weight, and flexibility of the petiole will help you determine if the plant is over or under watered.

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  Over watered plant

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  Under watered plant

pH

The ideal pH of the water applied should be between 6.2 and 6.7. Note to also measure pH after adding nutrients to the water. If it's too high for too low, the nutrient intake will be blocked. This is an especially important rule to observe when using nutrient formulas as to not waste them! It's important to note that pH is a logarithmic scale, meaning that 6 pH is 10 times more acidic than 7 pH.

It's a good idea to check your tap water with a digital pH meter as it will vary depending on your geographical location. If water is too alkaline (pH too high) a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar can be added. To increase pH you can add dolomite lime.

Wet-Dry Cycle

When growing in soil, the soil should be left to dry before watering. Allowing the soil to dry encourages roots to grow as they search for water and also reduces the chance of root rot.

Water stakes

A form of automatic watering that allows the plant to “drink” water through a straw. Ideal if you need to leave a plant unattended for a few days.