Watering Your Potted Plants the Right Way

Horticulturist Mary Kay Pope shows you how to water your potted plants for maximum effectiveness and the way many folks do it incorrectly.

[@s.alexander4629]

Mary Kay, I know this video about watering plants is 5 years old but I must tell you, as novice gardner, it has been invaluable information! I discovered this video for the first time in 2022, and my potted plants have been thriving ever since. THANKS - You should write a book with all of your incredible information about gardening.

[@annann-fn2zi]

Hi Mary, I can’t thank you enough for this video. I’ve been afraid of overwatering but after watching your video I now have a good understanding of how to water.

[@scottcolyn504]

Mary Kay pope knows her stuff! My plants are so happy after her guidence. Keep up the great videos! A FAN!

[@blanu2]

This was very informative. I've been watering incorrectly my whole life!

[@carllaura7903]

Straightforward, great expert advice. Damn I’ve been watering wrong, too often and too little. Thanks for the video!

[@chiefredbird7315]

GREAT INFORMATION!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Its funny but the reason i can here to utube was because my outside potted fig tree keeps drying out...wow!!! I RESPECT PROFESIONALS. UR AWESOME!

[@ROlson-dx2jc]

This is the best watering KZbin I've seen! I really misunderstood the whole process all these years. Thanks 😊

[@blondietehdino]

Omg I love this woman she reminds me so much of my extremely practical mother who isn’t a fan of saying things twice ahahah

[@ms.inspiration385]

So Helpful!!! All of your videos are so informative!!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@dyanstarr5553]

THANK YOU!!! So all my life I've been doing it wrong. I always assumed, something so simple, just water it. But now I know how. Your video is awesome, clear and really, really helpful. Seeing you actually doing it real time and how long it takes and now I know to look for bubbles. You rock, Mary Kay!

[@-sstevens5444]

How did I not know this... Thank you.

[@peterott9156]

Wow! Revolutionized the way I approach watering. Thank you Mary!

[@o0o-jd-o0o95]

Very helpful thank you Mary Kay

[@wesleywesley3012]

Thank you! Great advice. Hopefully i will have some luck growing my seeds now.

[@maryannmcrae6736]

Thank You so much I needed this advice.

[@jodijools5935]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. My plants thank you too!

[@christopherlopez4044]

Great video!!! Thank you so much.

[@hiddenflorida]

I learned! Thanks so much.

[@deborahhart-curtis9952]

Thank you for your thorough video on watering. I was glad to be reassured I was watering properly. Also, could you recommend options for using the long handle sprayer, such as whether there are some that are better than others? And, if so, could you list them. I just found your videos and subscribed. Thanks for your time spent sharing with us.

[@L1GHT119]

Thank you!! Very helpful!

[@moizalam8582]

Thanks and God bless.

[@ddruciellahotmailcom]

Oh wow thank you so much from Hamilton Ontario Canada! I had NO IDEA!!!!!!!

[@yvettesummers1339]

thanks so much. very enlightening

[@johnwilkins3995]

Great tips, thank you

[@peatieginger8025]

Very informative. Thank you

[@ALYoung-wj8td]

Oooohhh your good!! Thank u for sharing!!

[@alpinesbabymomma]

Thank you!

[@prospectorjake933]

Very informative , this is helpful information 👍

[@rosyortzd9566]

Thank you so much for teaching how to water 💦😊

[@bubutushar]

thank you very much for dis informative video... THXALOT LRNALOT..

[@Bago700]

Very informative. What hose setting is that you used?

[@DenoyAmbrose]

Thank you

[@mokuho]

Thank you so much! 😢

[@joemc111]

Mary I am new to your channel. Looking for potting seedlings today, I got a tray with water that my pots are sitting in so no on that idea. I am in zone 9B so it’s getting hot. Thanks for the information. Joe in Dunedin,Florida"

[@melaniee8781]

Hi, I'm in round rock! I got a tree from home depot online a bare root multiple apple, it's not dead but having issues not putting out leaves, some little buds. It's in a self watering container and I spilled out the water from the reservoir because it stunk. Should I make sure it's emptying?

[@mitchtaylor4944]

Do your recommend adding mulch to the pots?

[@hongngocnguyen357]

We live in CA ,can’t use a lot of water like that.do you have another way ? Thanks

[@mokuho]

This mode of watering prevent compact soil?

[@lnagy88]

Thank you Mary for showing us how to properly water. Doesn’t this technique leech nutrients from the soil? Looking forward your guidance. Also, can you please do a video on fertilizing house plants? God bless!

[@johhny303]

yes, looks like she's flushing the pot if anything.

[@ROlson-dx2jc]

That is why you must fertilize potted plants regularly.

[@johngillen8642]

Mary….thank you for this helpful video! It all makes total sense! Question; won’t the plant soil lose a lot of nutrients if flushed so thoroughly each watering?

[@backbonevalleynursery104]

Potted plants often require fertilization more often than plants in beds and landscapes.

[@annann-fn2zi]

Question for you Mary. Do we need to water like this everyday or what is the right frequency? I’m looking forward to hearing from you please!

[@mokuho]

The technique is fill the reservoir again and again till drain to the hole?

[@mokuho]

This technique would prevent compact soil?

[@michellebaca1024]

When I’m have my impatient flowers plants in large pots outside. When I water do I fill up the whole pot with water and soak all of the soil?

[@edflowers7456]

Those large plants in tiny nursery pots will require constant watering but in the real world they would be transferred tomuch larger pots that require less watering and flushing micronutrients.

[@hpeteacher9445]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. With watering with so much water, have you ever had a problem with Fungus Gnats?

[@backbonevalleynursery7802]

Fungus gnats are most often a problem on soil that is kept constantly wet, or in pots with saucers under them. It is not the AMOUNT of water applied that contributes to this problem, but the fact that the soil is kept wet. Fungus gnats can be controlled by applying "Mosquito Bits", which are granules of Bt (Bacilllus thuringiensis) that you sprinkle on top of the soil and water in-it is an organic approach and really works. Letting the soil dry a bit more between waterings is also a good control method.

[@hpeteacher9445]

Thank you for getting back to me and answering my question. I do use granulars on the top of the soil, solution I put in the water and I use the yellow strip traps. I live by my community pond. That is where they breed and come to my townhouse to find a great place to live. I will try watering thoroughly and then not water for 2 weeks. Thank you again.

[@christopherlopez4044]

So how often do you water potted plants? Is it safe to assume that it depends and you water them as needed? based on just checking to see if they are drying out? or is it everyday?

[@johhny303]

if i watered my plants like that i'd probably end up killing them...

[@mokuho]

Always It should be watering when the soil is completely dry?

[@mitchtaylor4944]

Should I water a container for 15 minutes with a drip system to make the soil is completely watered?

[@sixmillionsilencedaccounts3517]

Lignines are repeling the water? How abour coco coir? It has a lot of lignine in it and it's hydrophilic unlike peat moss.

[@missixty2099]

Does the same watering technique apply to plants in ceramic pots with only one hole? I am worried that it wouldn't have the same drainage as a pot with multiple holes.

[@backbonevalleynursery7802]

Yes, as long as you have a drainage hole in the pot, and no saucer under it, it should drain freely.

[@onefineday9266]

Thank you! I will do this! One question though, when do you know it's time to water? Some people say when the top is dry, some say when you put your finger in the soil and it comes out dry. What is your advice?

[@backbonevalleynursery104]

Every plant has different watering needs. What does not change is the need to water thoroughly and let the water drain away from the pot. Some plants should be kept evenly moist, others should approach dryness and still others, such as cacti, should dry completely and remain dry for a period of time. There is no "blanket" answer for how often to water.

[@juansanchez4301]

You water when your plant asks for it. Once you see the pattern of how many days it took to dry; just water it one day before.

[@oneworldawakening]

Thank you! It's a long time after the fact to ask a question, but if Mary doesn't see this comment, maybe a viewer will know the answer. She said not to use drainage saucers on outdoor plants because water retained in the saucer could cause the roots to rot. For indoor houseplants, saucers of course are necessary; should drained water be emptied from the saucer?

[@backbonevalleynursery104]

I do not recommend using saucers under any plants. If you keep them in saucers, whether inside or outside, remove them from the saucers when you water so that the water can drain and drain. When the pots have finished draining you may place them back on the saucers to protect the surface underneath.

[@oneworldawakening]

@@backbonevalleynursery104 Thank you so much! For sharing your knowledge 🪴🌞🌈

[@mokuho]

Always in watering the plant should be wet?

[@abcxyz8136]

Thought she was over watering but she is correct. In ground there is large amount of earth to hold water but in a pot there is only small amount so need to water frequently or saturate the soil in the pot.

[@mokuho]

We should watering when the soil is dry or before? 🙄

[@gabriel63impala]

Thank u for the video . I've killed 2 orange trees from over or underwatering . No laughing matter but I can't help it. Strange when I ask at the nursery how to water they don't get very specific. Once a week or when the top 2 inches are dry or till the water leaks out the bottom is what I usually get for advice on how much to water . I wish the answer could be so easy like give it 2gallons of water or 1 1/2 gallons a week. I think and hope this video helps my tinker upstairs cuz I'm blowing it when it comes to watering. I'm gona try 1 more orange tree if I don't get it right the third time I will quit the orange tree growing

[@gabriel63impala]

Like if I had a career in it😄

[@justanotherjessica]

What if the pot never stops bubbling no matter how much water you put in? I have a pot of geraniums and the pot just bubbles even though I've filled the top 5 or more times. It has a good lip of 2 inches. It's a big pot (about 15" across and 12" tall so 10" deep of soil) so I know it needs a ton of water but I tried this method this morning and it bubbled on top of the soil every time. Is it possible that something else is causing the bubbling? I think I filled it at least 7 times this morning and ran out of time before I had to work. I was thinking maybe the next time it needs water that I should soak it in a tub of water to rehydrate the soil, would that help?

[@backbonevalleynursery7802]

I'd say either the soil has a lot of peat moss in it and it was really dry and hard to re-wet, or the plant is extremely root-bound. Soaking it it a tub is helpful if soil gets really dry and pulls away from the edge of the pot. I always follow up after the soak by top-watering so that there will be pore space for oxygen.

[@EzekielsCall]

Would you water a Gardenia the same way? I worry about overwatering mine and having the soil be soggy. I just purchased some "cactus blend" allegedly fast draining soil thinking to use it with the Gardenias, and tested it in the sink... putting a lot of water in it does make it soggy.. I mean by soggy, that you can squeeze it and have water come out of it. Isn't that a problem for Gardenias if you put too much water in that pot? When the soil is that dry where the water rushes out the bottom, I assume you wont' see air bubbles, so how would you know when you are done watering a plant that got that dry? I thought that if you put too much water, the soil inside the pot can get soggy? I am afraid of overwatering my Gardenias because I believe they were already overwatered and may have some root rot/damage as a result. I am planning on treating it with hydrogen peroxide to try to remedy that, hoping it has enough healthy roots left to survive. But I am trying to figure out the best way to water my potted gardenias so they don't get overwatered. Are you SURE that potting soil won't get soggy if you water it that much!? Also, will that much water flush out any fertilizers that I have used? I have to use chelated minerals in an acid plant fertilizer as I try to correct the PH because the place I bought it did not keep the soil acidic. Now I have been having iron and magnesium deficiencie because of the PH, but also recently a nitrogen deficiency despite watering recently with a plant food. I worry that either too much water, or possibly damaged roots are causing the problem. Can too much water flush the fertilizer out of the soil? The water does come out the bottom pretty quick because I am trying to let the soil dry a bit between waterings. I would love to know when it's time to water potted gardenias based on what the soil meter says as it goes 3-4" deep into the pot.

[@laraparks7018]

I used to water potted plants daily in the summer in NYC Not this year, it's very odd. Maybe it's the humidity? Idk Never experienced this before. Hmm

[@fv6463]

Dam must be why my $140 6ft alacasia plants are dying because I have them in a 40gallon pot and prob only put a gallon of water in scared I would over water them. I thought they were dying from over watering ...The amount of water she used has me feeling completely stupid! I pray I can revive them 😩

[@00BeesKnees00]

Can't I do bottom watering so the plant drinks from the bottom to top? It seems like such a waste of water and soil nutrients escaping through the plant.

[@mokuho]

My plant stay with a compact soil after i watering! I dont know why? 😭

[@SarahSobieski]

Never knew you had to start and stop on the hanging. The more you know 😂

[@alcylon]

don't you flush all the nutrients out of the plant that way?

[@backbonevalleynursery7802]

Soluble nitrogen will always leach when watering. Not applying enough water to thoroughly drench the soil has far worse ramifications for the plant. Nitrogen may always be added in small amounts throughout the growing season.

[@bryantinnin27]

I try to tell my wife about the soil repelling water in her hanging plants. But she knows better 😁 that's why they're not growing 😏

[@jasonnixon433]

To water indoor plants one have to bring out to water.

[@valeriesanchez3074]

I been doing it all wrong 😱

[@mokuho]

One day i try to do this and all the water stay inside and kill all the roots of my plants! 😭😭😭😭

[@user-fq4ij8ez7w]

Water early evening @ 6: 00 P.M. Why ? Because your Fruit Grows at Night !! That's when they need the nutrients.

[@palehorseplayhouse]

WOAH I WAS POSITIVE THAT WAS A DUDE

[@mememe84]

I don't believe this video. If I water my house plants this much they will have root rot the next day. 1 bottle of water and its wet a week later.

[@bushylingus6272]

Don't worry about wasting water then.