Guide
How often should you water your houseplants?
Most plants die from overwatering, not neglect. This guide explains how to think about watering frequency for indoor plantsand how PlantCare can turn that into a simple schedule you don't have to remember.
Add your plants once and get a personalized watering schedule with reminders.
There is no single "how often" that works for every plant
Search results often promise a magic number like "water every 7 days". In reality, watering frequency depends on light, pot size, soil mix, temperature, and the specific plant. A Monstera in bright light might drink every 42 days, while a Snake Plant in low light might need water only every 33 weeks.
Instead of memorizing rules for every plant, it helps to understand what dries the soil faster and which plants prefer consistently moist vs almost dry.
Factors that change watering frequency
- Light: brighter light = faster drying soil = water more often.
- Pot size & material: small terra cotta pots dry fastest; large plastic pots hold moisture longer.
- Soil mix: chunky, airy mixes drain quickly; dense mixes stay wet longer.
- Plant type: tropical foliage likes evenly moist (not soggy); succulents and cacti prefer to dry almost completely between waterings.
- Season: plants usually drink more in spring/summer and slow down in fall/winter.
Simple starting points by plant type
These are starting pointsnot strict rules. Always adjust based on how fast your soil dries and how your plant looks.
- Most tropical foliage (Monstera, Pothos, Philodendron): every 714 days.
- Succulents and cacti: every 1428 days.
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria): every 1430 days in low to medium light.
- Ferns and high-humidity lovers: keep evenly moist, often every 37 days.
How PlantCare turns this into a schedule for you
When you identify a plant with AI or add it manually in PlantCare, the app stores awatering frequency in days for that plant. Behind the scenes, AI suggests a starting point based on the species, and you can refine it as you observe your plant.
From there, PlantCare tracks when you last watered and calculates the next watering datefor every plant. All you see is a simple list of which plants need attention today, which can wait, and which are overdue.
Instead of trying to remember dozens of different schedules, you just open the app and follow the list.