Houseplants offer many different benefits to the home. They can clean the air and bring life into your space. They will generally make a room feel more grounded. But there is a catch that too many people ignore when it comes to house plants. Over watering your houseplants can also wreck your floors and walls if you do not pay close attention to their water management. There are a few ways to keep your plants and your home in good shape at the same time.
Use Pots With Drainage
If you have pots without drainage holes, you are just asking for trouble. If water can’t escape the bottom of the pot, it will either pool up and rot the roots or overflow when you least expect it. When that happens, your floors will get soggy or you will have a wet shelf that leads to mold. Always use pots with drainage, and place them inside decorative containers if looks matter. Just do not forget to empty those outer containers regularly.
Use Trays That Work
Cheap plastic trays are better than nothing, but they can crack easily and warp over time. You will be better off going for trays made of ceramic or even a thicker plastic that can hold up under regular use. Make sure they are wide enough to catch overflow from watering mistakes. A tray that is too small is almost as bad as having none at all.Be careful where you are watering your plants too. Top watering often leads to excess runoff that escapes too quickly. Bottom watering, where you let the pot soak up water from a tray, gives roots what they need without creating spill risk. This can take more time, but it is far less likely to cause damage to the surface under your plant.
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Avoid Letting Plants Sit Directly on Wood
Wood surfaces do not forgive water rings. You may not notice them at first, but they will build up. Set your pots on ceramic coasters or raised stands that allow airflow underneath. That way, if there is anything seeping, it does not go straight into the finish of your table or floor.
What About Plumbing?
It is easy to overlook plumbing when thinking about houseplants, but it is worth mentioning. Sometimes people water plants in the sink and splash far more than they realize. Over time, that kind of habit can wear down caulking or even cause leaks around the faucet. A licensed plumber can inspect fixtures and sealants if you think there might be an issue starting to form. Plumbing Idaho Falls can offer a small visit that can save a lot of money in repairs.
Set a Routine
Most of the damage from houseplants is not caused by watering too often, but by inconsistent habits. Skipping a week, then overwatering to catch up, leads to spills. A simple schedule prevents most of these issues. Using the same container each time and measuring roughly the same amount will help to keep an eye on how much drains out. Caring for plants and caring for your space go hand in hand. You just have to watch where the water goes.
