Our advice for successfully watering your houseplants - Guide for beginners

There is no magic formula for watering, but now there is our super guide. Follow our advice step by step to finally understand your indoor plants and satisfy their little thirst as best as possible :)
To get started we ask you to forget everything you know or think you know. Watering is not something you can do on an exact frequency, watering every Sunday is possible, but respecting the needs of your plants is optimal.
Above all, don't be afraid: once you get used to it, you will do it alone and don't worry. will even think more (we speak from experience!)

Here are all the elements and advice to take into account:

The genus and species of your plant must be taken into account when watering

Certain plants only need very little water (cacti, succulents), others only need to be watered when the substrate is dry, still others prefer to grow in moist soil.

• The size of the plant

Naturally you will need more water so that your large plant can absorb enough for all its cells.

• The nature of the substrate

Each substrate has a different absorption rate, depending on its composition.

• The environment

Exposure and humidity levels influence watering frequency.

• The season

In winter some plants take a vegetative rest, we then give up on watering because the plant reduces its needs.

What are the signs, when should you water a houseplant ?

Stay tuned to your plant, often it will show you that it needs your green thumb :) Whether it's being repotted, moved, fed or watered, your plant will show signs, it's up to you to listen to it and interpret them correctly. For this we have some advice to give you.
Do not water your plant if it is not thirsty. This is what can happen if you plan your watering.
Some signs of thirst:

How often should you water your houseplants ?

Period watering (Cacti, succulents and so-called camel plants)
1x per month or even every 2 months in winter
Examples of plants:

• Cacti
• Euphorbia
• Sansevieria

Moderate watering (let the soil dry completely)
Examples of plants:

• Ceropegia woodii
• Zamioculcas zamiifolia
• Peperomia
• Pothos (can be watered as soon as the soil dries on the surface)
• Ficus lyrata, elastica
• Pilea peperomioides
• Philodendrons
• Anthurium clarinervium

Frequent watering (let the soil on the surface dry to a maximum of two or three centimeters  between two waterings)
Examples of plants:

• Dieffenbacchia
• Areca Palm
• Alocasia
• Begonia (depends on species!)

Moist soil (the soil must not dry out between two waterings, or only very slightly)
Examples of plants:

• Calatheas
• Marantas
• Chamaedorea, fittonia ...
• Ferns (asparagus, boston, phlebodium etc.)

There is also papyrus and catnip which like to have their feet in the water :)

Thus we realize thatplants do not need to wait to be watered at a precise interval, but rather when it is time. It is up to us to adapt to their pace, and rarely the opposite. :)
In case of doubt or failure to identify the plant, wait for it to signal you to water it, then observe the frequency and get a day ahead of it .

Our advice for healthy indoor plants

1.The pot
All plants must be planted in a pot with holes, so that the water can drain. You can then place this pot in a pot holder, which will not have any holes. You must then take care to take the plant out of the pot to water it so that it does not risk bathing in possible excess water stagnant at the bottom of the pot. The same goes for the cup used with a holey pot; it must be emptied within ten minutes of watering.
The risk is that the roots of your plants will rot and die (become brown, brittle), this can be fatal to your shoot.
The POTS terracotta plants are beautiful, affordable, practical, but may not match certain plants, or hinder the maintenance you are going to give them. In fact, they absorb moisture from the earth, this effect is observable when you water a plant in one of these POTS : you will see the water level rise along the pot and turn it brown. Due to this ability, it is not recommended to plant plants with high water and humidity requirements; you should opt for a ceramic or plastic pot or a pot cover.

2.The substrate
What we call substrate is “the earth”, or another element or set of natural elements containing minerals. The objective with our small indoor plants is to recreate as best as possible the natural habitat of our plants, and to create a substrate where they will enjoy, will be able to establish and grow their roots and will absorb what they need.
Their substrate will have a draining function, it must not remain waterlogged for hours or hinder the proper flow of excess water out of the jar. Our next guide will be about that, stay tuned. :)
3. The environment
In order to recreate a plant's habitat to best meet its needs, it is important to take several elements into account.
The exhibition

• The plant needs to be in the sun.
• The plant needs high light without being in direct sunlight.
• The plant needs subdued light , appreciates shade.

Often this corresponds to the need for water, but we cannot make a generalization of it. However, the soil will dry more quickly in the sun than in the shade, so don't forget to check your plant more regularly.

4. Humidity level
Plants all need hygrometry, humidity content of the air or percentage of water vapor in the air, specific to its needs.

• Tropical plants: hygrometric rate between 80% and 100%
• Succulents and cacti do not require too much humidity.

Indoors the air is dry and can undergo large variations. Be sure to keep your plants away from heating in winter and possibly place a bowl of water on them to diffuse some humidity. If you have underfloor heating, chances are you'll find it difficult to keep tropical plants alive. However, try to place them high up.

5.Temperature
Most houseplants appreciate our moderate temperatures, and this should be the same goes for the water with which they are watered. Choose water at room temperature, slightly lukewarm in winter to water them.

6.Composition of water
Certain plants like our friends calatheas and marantas will not appreciate water from faucet, too strong in limescale for their needs. They show this by letting the edges of their leaves turn yellow and dry. To avoid this it will be necessary to favor rainwater, demineralized for watering and misting them.

7.Mist
Water do not just harvest water at their feet in their natural state. Some develop specifically to better capture humidity from the air. The best way to support our plants which have this need is to invest in an air humidifier, because misting will only be beneficial when the water is vaporized. However, this action also helps them clean their leaves and thus improve their photosynthesis.

8.Placement
We were talking a few lines above about placing your plant up high. However, we must not forget that the air is often drier there, and that the heat rises.Remember to check the humidity of the soil more often if this is the case :). The opposite happens for a plant placed on the ground, in a shade, water it less often because it will take more time to dry.

9.Watering method
Unless otherwise indicated, the universal method is:

• use a watering can with a long spout and pour the water at the base of the plant
• pour the water slowly
• moisten the entire surface of the pot
• water until water comes out of the bottom of the pot
• you can leave your pot for a few minutes so that it absorbs water well. If the potting soil was very dry, it will surely still be light.

For plants that are rarely watered, it is possible to bathe them, by placing them in a tray of water for 5 to 10 minutes, because the substrate will need a little time to moisten properly.
It should be noted that some plants will not want their leaves to be moistened by watering (like the Streptocarpus Pretty Turtle), you will have to be careful about this, while others will even appreciate being placed under the shower (like the Ficus Lyrata)
Finally, never leave your sole with its feet in water. It is the leading cause of death among houseplants … Help them get better, take your plant out of its cache pot to water it, or remember to empty it the bottom of the pot. Don't forget your little sprout in its dish for hours after spraying it on a whim. You can keep your plants alive, we are counting on you. :) With this guide, and the care instructions given for each plant on our site, you no longer have any excuses!