Plants are a great hobby to have in your home. It is not only a soothing hobby to be interested in, it also has been proven to make your home a better place. For beginners, succulents are the best choice and watering from the bottom is one of the best methods to use for them.
Watering your plant from the bottom up can be a simple process but there are a lot of things to consider when you are using this method. You will want to know the best route that will keep your plant healthy and avoid root rot.
You will be surprised how effective watering from the bottom up can be and it will take little to no time from your day. All you need is a few things and you can begin this process.
How To Water Succulents From The Bottom
If your succulent still resides within the thin plastic pot, this is good. This will be easier for you to water the succulent from the bottom up. If your plant is in a regular pot, check to see if there is a hole at the bottom. You will need to have a way for the water to access the roots that isn’t via the top.
What You Will Need
Once you have your succulent in a pot where water can access from the bottom up, you are good to go to begin the process. Here are a few things you may need to complete this process:
- Wide tub or basin or container to set the pots in.
- A towel
- Water
- Timer of some sort
Gather all these things and your plants. Once you have done this, you can begin the process of watering your precious succulents.
Steps To Watering Your Succulent
You have everything gathered, now it is time for you to nourish your little greens of life. Here is what you need to do.
- If you haven’t already, remove the inner pot from your decorative pot.
- Lay a towel out.
- Grab the basin and fill it with water, about two inches deep (just enough to cover the base of the pots).
- Set your succulents into the basin.
- Let the succulents soak up the water for about 15 minutes (larger pots and plants may need a little more time).
- Check the topsoil to see if it is moist. If it is, you can remove the plant from the water basin.
- Pull the plant from the water and set it on the towel to dry.
- Let the plant dry for about 5 minutes.
- Place succulents back into the decorative pot.
- Make sure your succulents have enough sunlight.
This is an easy process, and you don’t have to keep an eye on the plants. There is an alternative to this method if you would like to not worry about air drying and placing the succulents back into their original pots.
Alternative Method
For this, you will need to have an inner lined pot that has holes to give water access to your succulent roots and soil. Then you will need a larger pot that can house your plant along with the inner lining.
Fill the bottom of the larger pot with about an inch of water. You don’t want to add too much water as it could overwater your succulent. Succulents don’t need a lot of water like other plants because they house water within their leaves.
Place the inner pot and plant into the larger one, and the roots will soak up the water as time continues forward. You won’t need to water your plant for a while with this method, and it will prevent root rot.
Try not to waterlog your succulents, though. They need fast-draining soil and shouldn’t sit in water for long periods. Just give enough water that doesn’t soak the entirety of the roots. This is how you can get root rot.
When Should You Use This Method
You don’t necessarily need a reason to use this method. This method is great for ensuring all the soil has water and not just the top layer, but there are moments where this method works best for a plant.
Here is when you should use this method over watering from the top:
- When the plant is root-bound.
- When the soil is extremely dry.
- When the soil becomes hydrophobic.
- To avoid damaging farina.
- To prevent bacteria from growing on the leaves.
- To prevent fungus from growing on the leaves.
How Often Should You Water Succulents
Succulents aren’t like other plants because they can last longer without water compared to other plants. To decide when you should water your plants, you have to consider the size of the pot.
If the pot your succulent is in is larger than the plant itself, you won’t have to water it as often. If the pot is a little smaller, you will need to water it more often. Also, take into consideration how much soil is in http://www.canadianpharmacy365.net the inner lining. The less the soil, the more frequently you have to water.
You also need to take the environment into play as well. In a dryer atmosphere like the West Coast, you will need to water the plants more often, while in a more humid environment, you don’t have to water as often.
You should water these plants for about 1 to 2 weeks. A good rule of thumb is to put your finger into the soil. If the soil has moisture, your succulent is still all right, but you should probably water it if there is no moisture.
Why Water From The Bottom Up
Watering from the bottom up can help with many aspects of the plant. Here are the many reasons this method benefits your plant:
- Helps build stronger roots.
- Prevents fungus and bacteria growth on the soil’s surface.
- Avoids damaging the plant.
- Reduces the chances of root rot.
- More efficient watering.
If you have trouble with the amount of water to give your succulents, this process is a great way to feed them. You will find that it is more efficient with less chance of negative outcomes.
Signs Of Overwatering
Succulents can easily be overwatered. Often a rookie mistake with succulents is overwatering the plants. There are many signs you can look out for, like the following:
- Wilting leaves
- Discolored leaves
- Leaves may become translucent, soft, and squishy.
- Leaves are falling off.
- Shrunken, shriveled plant.
If you notice a change in your plant’s leaves and color for the worse, then you may be overwatering your plant. Check the roots for any signs of root rot. If there is root rot, you will need to cut the diseased roots to further damage your plant.
Signs Of A Healthy Succulent
Your plant will always tell you when it needs something. When your plant is naturally thriving, it will show you this. Here are some signs to look for when your plant is doing well:
- Papery brown leaves (it just needs thinning).
- The color is vibrant.
- Leaves aren’t drooping or becoming squishy.
- Your plant is getting too big for its pot.
Pay close attention to your plant. It will tell you when it needs water and when it has too much water. If your plant is changing in any way, it is trying to tell you something.
Outro
Succulents are a wonderful plant to damage your plant further due to their easy nature and little to no upkeep. Watering them from the bottom up is a great way to make taking care of them even simpler. There are many benefits to this process, and you won’t want to go back to the traditional method.
Last update on 2023-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
