What factors determine how often plants should be watered?

The frequency with which plants should be watered primarily depends on the field capacity of the soil and the evapotranspiration rate.

Field capacity refers to the amount of water that soil can retain after excess water has drained away and the soil has settled. Understanding field capacity is crucial because it indicates the soil's ability to hold moisture for plant roots to absorb, thereby determining how often and how much water plants will need. If the soil is at or near field capacity, it can generally support plant growth efficiently, reducing the need for frequent watering.

Evapotranspiration rate encompasses the combined processes of evaporation from the soil and transpiration from plants. This factor is vital as it indicates how much water is lost from the system to the atmosphere. Higher evapotranspiration rates, influenced by factors like temperature, humidity, and wind, mean that plants require more frequent watering to compensate for the moisture loss.

In contrast, while soil acidity, temperature, watering schedules, plant size, humidity, and wind speed all influence plant growth and health, they do not directly determine watering frequency in the same foundational way as field capacity and evapotranspiration. The interplay of these two core factors provides a more precise understanding of when and how much to water, ensuring plants