4 Obvious Signs Your Plant Needs Water (Don’t Ignore These!)

Not sure your plants really need water or not? The question that comes into every gardener’s mind. Plants do not talk to us, but nature has given them their own way of expressing themselves.

It is almost true that in the natural environment, plants get everything automatically to survive, such as rain providing water, air maintaining moisture, and soil offering nutrients. Here’s how plant influence by environmental factors.

We can not become the alternative to nature, but if we fulfill their needs, we can keep them healthy.

This is why understanding the hidden hints of these plants is necessary to avoid common mistakes in their maintenance.

Regarding water for plants, they give signals to determine their thirst and water them at the right time. So, what are the signs that tell plant needs water?

Here, we will highlight four subtle and clear signs your plants need water!

Common and Clear Signs Plants Need Water

The signs of water deficiency are not the same in every plant, but factors like soil type, plant type, weather and temperature, place where the plant is established (pot or ground), and the amount of sunlight can make a difference.

Here, 4 common signs are given that show the watering need for your plants, no matter what the factor is.

The signs that a plant needs water can be recognized by looking at the soil, plant leaves, and overall condition.

Sign 1: The upper layer of soil becomes dry and light

Soil dryness is the most common sign that your plant needs water and can be easily identified by your hand or spoon.

Check the soil! If it feels dry, hard, rough, or cracked, it is a clear sign water depletion in the soil that affects the plant growth.

However, it would be wrong to judge only the upper layer of the soil as a sign that your plant need water, because different soil types react differently. For example;

• Sandy soil dries out quickly, but the plant is not necessarily thirsty.
• While clay soil is hard on the upper surface; may contain moisture inside.
• Soil with organic matter can hold moisture for a long time.
• Additionally, sunny, rocky soil loses water more rapidly.

Here’s another thing: if soil is not stored properly, it can become susceptible to moisture loss, nutrient deficiencies, and increased risk of disease.

Learn how to store bulk garden soil so that you can not only preserve your established plants but also save newly planted crops in that soil.

How to check?

Press your finger or wooden skewer in the soil 2 to 3 inches deep. If the soil feels dry even after checking deeply, watering is needed. You can use a soil moisture meter to identify instantly how dry or moist.

• Sandy: Dry out→ Light yellow, greyish brown
• Loamy: Dry out→ Hard, lightly gray, or grayish
• Clay: Dry out→ Light brown or dull brown
• Organic-rich: Generally maintains moisture but when dry out→May be dull brown or reddish

Sign 2: Drooping and Wilting Leaves

When plants face water deficiency, their leaves may bend, soften, or wilt. But this sign is not always the same! Other factors contribute to this sign’s appearance;

Plant type affecting sign 2

Plants with softened leaves, such as eggplant and gourd start immediately to drop, while plants with thick leaves, such as aloe vera and cactus show signs later.

Additionally, the plant’s ability to tolerate water differences and its preference for water also affect on appearing this sign.

Weather conditions affecting sign 2

In summer, leaves may droop due to the rapid transpiration from intense sunlight and high temperatures. If the leaves revive in the evening, it is temporary wilting, but if they continue wilting in the evening, it may be a sign that the plants need water.

Soil Type Affecting Sign 2

Now, let’s discuss the role of soil type in wilting leaves. Different soil types have different retention and drainage capacities, that affect directly plant wilting or drooping.

• Sandy soil: Releases water quickly, plants may wilt more rapidly due to water deficiency.
• Clay soil: Can hold water for a longer, but plants may droop due to overwatering, which also damages the roots.
• Loamy soil: Has the best water balance retention or drainage, decreasing the chances of leaves’ wilting or drooping.
• Silty soil: Absorbs more moisture, but if the drainage is low, roots may get less oxygen, causing leaves to droop.

This is why many expert gardeners say that water should always be given based on the soil type.

Root Health affecting the sign 2

The plant’s roots are the main source of absorbing water and other nutrients, so when the roots become unhealthy due to other environmental factors, the plant can not soak water properly, whether the soil is moist.

How to check sign no.2 to determine whether the plant needs water or not?

1. Firstly, understand the problem and check the soil dryness to ensure there is really lack of water.
2. Observe whether the leaves are wilting softly or becoming hard and shriveled. Drooping leaves softly can mean water deficiency, while severely shriveled leaves can indicate overwatering or root disease, depending on the weather (summer, winter).
3. If the plants are fresh in the morning but wilt in the afternoon, the problem may be heat or drought stress, not lack of water.

Remember! Each wilting leaf may not be a sign that your plant needs water, considering roots, weather, and soil conditions are also crucial factors in understanding the real problem.

Sign 3: Browning or drying of leaf edges

Browning of the edges of the leaves is also known to be a sign that tells, whether plant needs water or not, but it is not always a sign of water deficiency.

If you are thinking that just watering is the solution, then stop!

If the soil is dry and the leaves are wilting, it could be lack of watering. But if the soil is moist and the edges of the leaves are brown or drying out, the problem is something else— excess nitrogen, too much fertilizer, or dry air.

First, check the soil and then decide whether to water it or not.

Sign 4: your plant needs water in a pot

The soil in pots or containers dries out more rapidly than the ground due to limited space.

Especially during summers or sunny days, the water from the pot evaporates fast, causing water deficiency.

Additionally, roots can not absorb water properly due to less space in the pot or containers.

The signs of water depletion in plants include shrinking soil from the edges and becoming dry and hard. In severe cases, the leaf also may be curled or browned.

Examine the pot weight to check signs that your plant really need water or not. If it is light, the soil can be dry and if it feels heavy, the soil may be moist (normal).

So, medium-sized pots or containers with drainage holes are the best option for gardeners to keep a balanced water flow and provide enough moisture to roots. In advance, store extra potting soil safely to decrease more issue.

Apart from water, here are 10 other reasons why your plant is growing slowly.

Final Thoughts: Signs Plant Need Water

There are unlimited signs that plants need water. Water deficiency slows plant growth in several ways, such as wilting, drooping, yellowing leaves, and drying the soil.

However, many factors contribute to showing signs when plant needs water, such as soil type, plant type, weather, temperature, location, and sunlight.

• Wilting or drooping leaves are the initial signs of water scarcity.
• If the leaves look weak or wilted in the evening, watering is necessary.
• Browned edges or dry leaves indicate a lack of water or high salinity.
• Forming cracks in the soil is a clear sign of intense dehydration.
• Water shortage appears in pots more quickly than ground, especially if the pot is small and without holes.
• The light weight of the pot means dry soil and lack of water.