I finally looked up how much water my balcony plants actually need

I finally looked up how much water my balcony plants actually need after my basil turned yellow again. A university extension site said overwatering kills 80% of container plants, not underwatering. Anyone else been drowning their herbs for years without realizing it?

2 comments

2 Comments

sarah_nelson5d ago

Oh I feel this in my soul. I think I've given my mint more water than actual rain has hit it, and it's still sitting there looking sad and confused. My succulents are basically on life support from all the guilt-drowning I've put them through over the years. Actually looked it up a few months ago and realized I was basically running a small pond in every pot. My basil is still mad at me though, it refuses to perk back up no matter how little I water it now.

troymorgan5d ago

My golden pothos is still holding a grudge from that time I watered it three days in a row back in 2021. I mean, I get that overwatering is bad, but basil is a special case @sarah_nelson - it actually likes consistent moisture, not drowning, but not bone dry either. I switched to bottom watering everything and my mint finally stopped throwing a fit, but my snake plant still just sits there like it's judging my entire existence. Maybe try giving that basil a drink every other day but only a little bit, like a shot glass worth, and see if it stops being so dramatic.