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We’ve all read or been told how harmful it is to overwater your succulents and cacti plants. If you give your plants too much water, they can quickly develop root rot and die! I have experienced this before and want to avoid experiencing it again.
Most of the time I have no problems, however, occasionally I have trouble getting the right balance, particularly when working with new varieties of succulents or cacti plants, ones that I’m not too familiar with.
Recently I’ve come across some information that might help me know when and how much to water my plants and it’s something I can use in addition to what I’m already doing… and that is to use clear plastic or glass pots. With clear, plastic pots I can visibly see if the soil is dry and as a bonus, I can also monitor its root health.
Methods for Determining When to Water
Watering Succulents and cacti can be challenging at times. The biggest challenge is knowing how much water is enough. It is very easy to overwater these plants, leading to root rot and other issues.
Underwatering can also be an issue, but the problem I’ve experienced the most is giving them too much water. There are several methods to determine when your plants need water, and some are more effective than others. These methods work very well in most cases.
The “Finger Test” For Testing Soil Dryness
A commonly used technique is the “Finger test,” where you insert your finger one to two inches into the soil to check for dryness.
This method is simple and low-tech and it’s what I use the most, but it isn’t always reliable. Soil often dries from the top down, so even if the surface feels dry the deeper layers may still be damp.
If you water your plants based only on the surface dryness or the “finger test”, you may be overwatering your plants.
The Chopstick Method For Testing Dryness
Another low-tech method often used is the “Chopstick” or “Shish Kabob” stick method. By poking a stick into the soil and checking to see if it comes out damp, you can tell whether your plant needs water. In this method, the stick reaches deeper into the soil than your fingers could and can detect moisture in the bottom of the pot that your fingers would otherwise miss.
The Soil Moisture Meter Method For Testing Dryness
A more accurate way to test soil for dryness is to use a soil moisture meter.
The meter reader’s probes reach deep into the soil and can give you an accurate idea of how dry the soil is. Most of the time, a moisture meter is an excellent tool for everyday use, better than the other methods mentioned above.
We also discuss in seperate articles how to use these devices and why they are a good tool to use.
If you’re considering purchasing one, we recommend options like this one from Amazon (affiliate link). Many of the newer meter readers also test for pH and how much light your plants are getting.
Soil moisture meters are generally reliable, but they do have some limitations. Their accuracy depends on the probes making proper contact with the soil. If the soil is not uniform– such as if it contains large chunks of bark, pebbles, or mulch, which are sometimes used in succulent and cacti mixes – then the probes won’t have good contact with the soil and you won’t get an accurate reading.
Another potential issue is caused by the buildup of mineral salts in the soil. Over time, water can leach out mineral salts from the soil, creating a crusty white residue on the surface or along the edges of the pot. When the probes come in contact with these salts, they can produce false readings.
In my experience, these problems don’t occur very often, but it is good to be aware that they do occasionally occur.
Note: If you notice significant salt buildup, it’s a good indicator that your plant needs to be repotted into fresh soil.
The Advantages of Clear Pots
This leads us to why I believe there’s an advantage in using clear pots to help you determine when your plants need water.
With clear pots, you can easily see whether the soil is still damp or if it’s thoroughly dry, reducing the guesswork involved in determining the right time to water.
This won’t replace your other test methods, instead, it adds visible confirmation to those other tests. In addition to helping you know when your plants need water, clear pots will allow you to monitor your plant’s root health. You can quickly see whether the roots are crowded and the plant needs to be repotted. You can also see any signs of root problems and address them before they worsen.
Regardless of which method you use to determine when to water your plants – whether it’s the finger test, the chopstick test, or a soil moisture meter – having your succulents or cacti planted in clear pots will give you an additional visual cue about the soil’s condition.
Addressing Algae Growth Caused by Clear Pots
One potential drawback of using clear pots, whether they are plastic or glass – is their tendency to encourage algae growth when exposed to sunlight. Algae growth can be easily prevented by placing the clear pot inside another outer pot that is not transparent such as a terra cotta pot, or some other decorative pot.
The outer pot blocks light, preventing algae growth, while the inner pot remains easy to lift out for inspecting soil and roots. All you have to do is lift the inner pot out of the outer decorative pot to see the condition of the soil and the roots.
Using Clear Pots With or Without Drainage
I think having drainage holes in your pots is ideal, but I’ve also used pots without drainage and had no problems. Even if you use clear pots without drainage holes, the transparency allows you to monitor moisture levels to ensure you aren’t overwatering your plants.
Orchid growers often use clear pots for their plants, which can easily be used for this purpose. There are some options here that would work. (Amazon affiliate) These pots have slots/holes on the sides and drainage holes on the bottom.
These here (Amazon affiliate) are nursery pots with drainage holes and no slots/holes on the side.
Although I believe it’s best to have drainage holes in your pots, I’ve used pots without any drainage holes and have had no issues at all.
The transparency of plastic or glass pots lets you keep an eye on moisture levels and even if the pots don’t have drainage holes you’re less likely to overwater your plants.
Conclusions
I will continue to use the “finger test”, the “chopstick test” and my soil meter reader since they are convenient and work very well for me. However, as I continue to expand my indoor garden, I intend to use clear plastic or glass pots for my plants. I like the fact that they help take the guesswork out of watering and that I can use them to keep an eye on my plant’s soil and root health.
This post was written for cactus-central.com and is not permitted to be used on other sites.