PSA: Stop overwatering your balcony herbs, they don't need it every day

I kept killing my basil and mint for about 6 months before I figured out what I was doing wrong. Everyone told me to water them daily, but my balcony gets full sun from noon to 4pm and the pots were staying wet. I started sticking my finger an inch into the soil before watering, and now I only water every 2 or 3 days. My parsley went from yellow to dark green in just one week after I cut back. Has anyone else had success with checking soil moisture before watering?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliver8111mo agoProlific Poster

Yeah, the finger test is honestly the way to go with herbs. I mean, that whole "water every day" advice is way too generic, it doesn't account for sun, pot size, or airflow. Idk why we always want a simple rule instead of just paying attention to what the plant is actually telling us.

hugo_coleman281mo ago

That bit about "why we always want a simple rule instead of just paying attention" really hit home for me. I've noticed this same pattern everywhere, not just with plants. People want a one-size-fits-all answer for things like sleep schedules, diet advice, even how to deal with stress. We'd rather have some guru tell us "do this one thing" than actually listen to our own bodies or situations. It takes more work to pay attention and adjust, but it usually gives you way better results in my experience. Your mileage may vary of course, but I think most of us could stand to trust our own observations a little more.