Does water overflow in your houseplant pots when you water instead of sinking into the soil? This trick will help the water absorb quickly.
#healthyhouseplants #indoorplantcare #wateringplants #dracaenacare #plantwateringtip
Welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening and the great indoors! If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below.
Today, I’m going to share a helpful trick for getting plants to absorb water more quickly. This is especially useful if, when watering your houseplants, the water flows over the soil and ends up in the drainage tray—or worse, on the floor.
I always recommend leaving about ⅛ inch of rim around the inside of the pot when repotting. This space helps water sink in. Avoid more than ¼ inch. But even with that, if the soil is really dry, it can repel water. That’s when this trick comes in handy.
Use a wooden skewer to make holes in the soil. This helps the water absorb rather than run off the surface. Making a few holes won’t hurt the roots and allows for better water penetration.
This particular Dracaena is in a ceramic pot that dries out quickly. The plant is healthy but dries out faster because the pot is only slightly glazed. Also, it’s summertime, so water evaporates more rapidly.
When poking holes, avoid overdoing it—just a few strategic spots will suffice. Bonus tip: these holes are a perfect place to add dry fertilizer or mycorrhizae, getting nutrients directly to the root zone.
Once you’ve made the holes, leave them for future watering. They’ll partially fill in after watering, but they still help water reach deeper levels quickly. This is also handy for large planters where runoff is a problem.
As you’ll see, with the holes in place, water absorbs quickly—even in dry soil. If some water collects in the saucer, let the plant sit for 30–60 minutes. If water remains, discard it—or, if the plant needs more water, pour it back on top.
We now have a “Thanks” button below the video if you’d like to support the channel. Your donations help me answer your plant questions and create new helpful videos.
Please like, comment, subscribe, and ring the bell for notifications. Let me know if there are specific indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see!
FAQs: How to Help Your Plants Absorb Water Quickly
Why does water sometimes flow over the soil instead of absorbing?
This often happens when the soil is extremely dry. It can become hydrophobic and repel water, causing it to run off the surface rather than soaking in.
What can I do to help water absorb better into dry soil?
Use a wooden skewer to poke a few holes in the soil. This breaks the surface tension and allows water to penetrate deeply into the root zone.
Will poking holes in the soil hurt my plant’s roots?
No, if done carefully. A few strategic holes won’t harm the roots and can actually improve water and nutrient absorption.
Can I use these holes for fertilizing?
Yes! You can sprinkle dry fertilizer or mycorrhizae into the holes to deliver nutrients directly to the root zone.
What should I do if water collects in the saucer?
Let the plant sit in it for 30 to 60 minutes. If there’s still water left, discard it or pour it back on top if the plant needs more hydration.
Patreon: 
/ healthyhouseplants
One-time donation: https://ko-fi.com/healthyhouseplants
Sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/g1PCSH
Green Gourmet Houseplant Food: https://bit.ly/38owIIl