It feels like care, but too much water is one of the fastest ways to stress a plant. Roots need oxygen as much as they need water. Here is how the Potent Roots team keeps plants happy.

Signs you are overwatering

• Leaves droop and feel firm and heavy, curling down like a claw.
• The soil stays wet for days.
• Growth slows and fungus gnats show up.

Signs you are underwatering

• Leaves droop and feel thin and papery.
• The pot feels very light.
• Soil pulls away from the sides of the pot.

The lift test

Pick up the pot right after watering so you know how heavy it feels. Then water again only when it feels noticeably light. This simple habit beats any fixed schedule.

Water in stages

Water slowly around the whole pot until you see a little runoff at the bottom, about 10 to 20 percent. That means the medium is evenly soaked and old salts are being flushed.

Match pot size to plant size

A tiny seedling in a huge pot will sit in wet soil for days. Start small and transplant as the plant grows, or water just around the stem at first.

Use fabric pots

Fabric pots let roots breathe and dry out evenly, which makes overwatering much harder.

Stay Potent

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