Can we talk about how I used to water my plants on a strict schedule?

I used to water my houseplants every Monday and Thursday without fail, like clockwork. But after moving my pots around last summer in Seattle, I noticed some were drying out faster while others stayed damp. So I switched to checking the soil moisture with my finger before each watering. Has anyone else had to ditch a routine for a more hands-on approach?

3 comments

3 Comments

wren8061mo agoTop Commenter

You're mixing up two different things there. A strict schedule isn't the same as a routine, since a schedule means watering on set days no matter what, while watering when the soil feels dry is just being attentive. Most plants actually prefer that finger check method anyway, so you're on the right track.

finley7771mo ago

It's wild how this same thing shows up everywhere once you start looking. People try to force schedules on stuff that just doesn't work that way, like feeding pets at exact times when they'd rather graze, or following a rigid workout plan when your body's telling you it needs rest. We get so hung up on having a system that we forget to actually pay attention to what's in front of us. The finger test thing is just common sense dressed up as a hack, but somehow we needed someone to spell it out. Feels like half of adulting is unlearning all that rigid nonsense we picked up.

spencerl321mo ago

Exactly this... I killed so many plants before I figured out they don't care about my calendar, they just want water when they're thirsty. The finger test saved my pothos and snake plant for sure.