What Are Watering Categories?

Plants differ somewhat on how much water they require and will generally fall into 5 categories.  These categories are most relevant for plants in containers but also apply to in ground plantings.

Dry - Water only when the soil is quite dry.  Plants that prefer dry conditions may be susceptible to root rot disease if kept too wet.  Dry plants will need little to no supplemental water once established if they are planted in the ground.

Dry to Normal - Water when the top of the soil in a pot is dry to the touch but err on the side of dry rather than wet.  While these plants will be more tolerant of moist conditions than Dry plants they still do not like constantly moist soil.  Dry to Normal plants will need little to no supplemental water once established if they are planted in the ground.

Normal - Water when the top of the soil in a pot is dry to the touch.  For in ground plantings they will need some supplemental water if there is an extended dry spell but will not need constant watering.

Normal to Wet - Water when the top of the soil in a pot is dry to the touch but err on the side of wet rather than dry.  Plants that like Normal to Wet conditions will prefer that the soil be constantly moist and will not tolerate dry soils well.  These plants are often good planted at pond edges.  For in ground plantings you will need to provide an inch of water each week if mother nature doesn't do it for you.

Wet - These plants need soil that is constantly moist to wet. Plants in the wet category also will do well on pond edges or as pond plantings.  They do not tolerate dry soils.