How to Water Houseplants: How Often and How Much

In short

Water when the top inch or so (2–3 cm) of soil is dry, not by the calendar alone. Then water thoroughly and empty the saucer. How often that is depends on the plant, pot size, light and season: in winter most houseplants need water far less often. More houseplants die from too much water than too little.

How often? Four things decide

The plant. Succulents, cacti and snake plants store water and need little. Peace lilies and calatheas dry out fast and like evenly moist soil. Most foliage plants are in between.
Pot size. Small pots dry out faster than large ones because there's less soil.
Light. A plant in a sunny window uses more water than one in a shady corner.
Season. From about April to September most houseplants grow and need the most. In winter they rest and the soil stays moist longer, even though heated air is dry.

The finger test

Push a finger about an inch (2–3 cm) into the soil. If it's still moist there, wait. If it's dry, water. Succulents and cacti can dry out almost completely.

Weight is a second clue: a freshly watered pot is noticeably heavier than a dry one. Lift your pots a few times and you'll get a feel for it.

How much? Guide values by pot size

The table shows guide values for a plant in a bright spot out of direct sun, calculated with the same formula as the Gießtag app. Pot size means the diameter at the rim. In a sunny window water a little more often, in a shady spot less often. March and October fall between summer and winter.

Water needs	Pot	Summer (Apr–Sep)	Winter (Nov–Feb)
Thirsty peace lily, calathea, prayer plant, cyclamen	12 cm (5 in)	90 ml twice a week	150 ml every week
	16 cm (6 in)	200 ml twice a week	325 ml every week
	21 cm (8 in)	750 ml every week	750 ml every week
	28 cm (11 in)	1.8 l every week	1.8 l every week
Moderate monstera, rubber plant, pothos, philodendron, palms	12 cm (5 in)	150 ml every week	150 ml every week
	16 cm (6 in)	325 ml every week	375 ml every 2 weeks
	21 cm (8 in)	750 ml every week	850 ml every 2 weeks
	28 cm (11 in)	1.8 l every week	2 l every 2 weeks
Sparing snake plant, ZZ plant, jade plant, aloe, cacti	12 cm (5 in)	125 ml every 2 weeks	125 ml every 3 weeks
	16 cm (6 in)	325 ml every 3 weeks	325 ml every 4 weeks
	21 cm (8 in)	700 ml every 3 weeks	700 ml every 4 weeks
	28 cm (11 in)	1.7 l every 3 weeks	1.7 l every 4 weeks
Orchid phalaenopsis in bark	12 cm (5 in)	80 ml every week	80 ml every week
	16 cm (6 in)	200 ml every week	225 ml every 2 weeks
	21 cm (8 in)	450 ml every week	500 ml every 2 weeks
	28 cm (11 in)	1.1 l every week	1.2 l every 2 weeks

Guide values based on common care rules, rounded. The finger test decides: if the soil is still moist on watering day, skip a round. 100 ml ≈ 3.4 fl oz.

The rule of thumb: the less often you water, the more you give at once. With very large pots, water in two passes so it soaks in instead of running down the side into the saucer.

How to water

Thoroughly, not in sips. Water until all the soil is moist. A sip every day only wets the surface.
Empty the saucer. Pour off whatever is left in the saucer or cachepot after about 15 minutes. Roots that stay wet rot.
Room-temperature water. Many tropical plants dislike cold water straight from the tap. A can left out overnight is at room temperature.
On the soil, not into the leaves. Exception: bromeliads, which collect water in their cup.
Orchids (phalaenopsis) in bark need little water at a time. Many people dip the pot briefly and let it drain well.
One fixed watering day a week makes it easier: check all plants on one day and water only the ones that are due.

Too much or too little water?

Sign	Too much water	Too little water
Leaves	yellow, soft, dropping	limp, dry, brown tips
Soil	always wet, smells musty	hard, pulls away from the pot
Pot	water standing in the cachepot	noticeably light
Other	small flies above the soil (fungus gnats)	water runs straight out the bottom

Limp leaves can mean either. The finger test tells you: wet soil and limp leaves point to rotting roots, dry soil to thirst. A dried-out plant usually recovers quickly; one that's been overwatered for a long time often doesn't.

Watering in winter

From November to February most houseplants barely grow. They often need water only half as often as in summer, cacti and many succulents hardly any. Dry heated air is misleading: the leaves lose moisture, but the soil stays wet for a long time. Plants on a windowsill right above a radiator, on the other hand, dry out faster.

While you're away

Up to about a week, most plants manage alone: water thoroughly beforehand and move them a bit away from the window.
Longer, ask someone to water. Ideally with a plan saying which plant gets how much on which day, measured in a container in your home, such as "one glass" instead of "250 ml".
Thirsty plants can sit together in a tub with a little water for a few days. Not succulents.

As of October 23, 2026. Guide values for the Northern Hemisphere; in the Southern Hemisphere the seasons are shifted by half a year.

The matching app

One day, the right amount: Gießtag

Gießtag reminds you on one fixed day a week about all your houseplants and tells you how much water each one gets, based on the plant, pot size, spot and season, even in your own glass. For iPhone and iPad.

One reminder a week instead of many, with a watering round by room
62 common houseplants; pot size by comparing with a cup, bowl or bucket
Tap “Still moist” and the plant gets watered less often from then on
Vacation plan for whoever waters for you; three plants free

More about Gießtag

Frequently asked questions

How often should you water houseplants?

It depends on the plant, pot size, light and season. Many foliage plants need water about once a week in summer and often only every two weeks in winter; succulents and cacti much less often. Water when the top inch (2–3 cm) of soil is dry.

How much water does a houseplant need?

As a guide, a foliage plant in a 16 cm (6 in) pot in a bright spot gets about 325 ml a week in summer, in a 21 cm (8 in) pot about 750 ml. Water until all the soil is moist and empty the saucer afterwards.

How can I tell I'm overwatering?

Yellow, soft leaves, soil that's always wet and smells musty, water in the cachepot and small flies above the soil. Overwatering is more common than underwatering and harms the roots more.

Should houseplants get less water in winter?

Yes. From November to February most houseplants barely grow and often need water only half as often. The finger test shows when the soil is really dry.

How do houseplants get through a vacation?

For up to about a week, it's usually enough to water thoroughly beforehand and move the plants a bit away from the window. For longer trips, ask someone to water with a plan of which plant gets how much and when.

How to water houseplants