Last updated on September 23rd, 2022 at 03:00 pm
When it comes to raising certain unique plants, you may not know exactly what they need. And because cilantro is particularly delicate, it can be pretty challenging to know precisely its needs.
But among the few things all plants need to survive, water is undoubtedly paramount. Therefore, it is not uncommon to ask about the water requirement of your cilantro plant.
So, how much water does cilantro need? Cilantro needs about one inch of water once a week to enable it to grow well. Cilantro is water-loving and grows mainly in pretty damp areas where the soil is soft. Cilantro can be grown both indoors and outdoors. However, when you grow it in pots or seed boxes, the quantity of water it needs when growing indoors differs from when grown outside on natural soil.
Does Cilantro Need A Lot Of Water?
No, cilantro doesn’t need too much water. It will bloom and grow even when it has access to only minute quantities of water.
Even though cilantro stands when being transplanted grow in water, it doesn’t mean that they require a lot of water. Thus, if you overwater your cilantro, you could lose the entire plant.
Furthermore, cilantro does not need much water to grow because of its hydrophilic nature. Therefore, too much water could lead to the rotting and complete destruction of its roots, leading to your cilantro’s death.
Moreover, you should not attempt to overwater cilantro grown indoors for fear of not having enough water to grow. There typically isn’t enough heat indoors to make the water in the pot evaporate.
Pots in which cilantro are grown should have drainage holes, and when watering, you should water only the top to avoid over-soaking the roots.
Can You Overwater Cilantro?
Yes, if you overwater cilantro, you can cause the leaves to wither and turn yellow. This particular adverse effect is called chlorosis. These issues may lead to the rotting of stems, leaves, roots, and the plant’s death.
So, to avoid overwatering your cilantro, it would be best to measure water accurately and apply it only once a week.
Checking the water quantity and avoiding frequent application is the most effective way to prevent overwatering. Nevertheless, if you weren’t checking before, you may be worried that your plant is overwatered.
| If that’s the case, then here are some of the signs that suggest that your cilantro is overwatered: |
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| 1. If your cilantro is overwatered, it will have saggy leaves even when water is applied. |
| 2. If you give them excess water for an extended period, your cilantro leaves will develop a yellow, dark/black color. |
| 3. Your cilantro will have stunted growth if it is over-watered. |
| 4. In excess water for extended periods, your cilantro will develop abnormally soft roots and stems. |
| 5. Accumulating excess moisture, your plant will have edema. |
| 6. Also, over-watering your cilantro may make it have brown leaves. |
Is Cilantro Drought Tolerant?
Typically, cilantro is a drought-tolerant plant. This tolerance is because they grow in dry soils and also because they are deeply rooted.
Some of the features of cilantro that make it drought-resistant include:
- Their small leaves
- The type of soil or site it is planted on
- Deep roots
- Hydrophilic nature of the leaves
Nevertheless, it does require some water to produce leaves. Hence, its yield may drastically reduce during drought.
So, to avoid loss during drought, it is best to harvest cilantro as soon as it becomes mature and due for harvest. This harvesting gives room for the regrowth of leaves and stems.
You should, however, not get carried away with the fact that cilantro is drought tolerant and underwater your plant. This could be very dangerous and lead to permanent loss.
So, moderation is essential in the watering process.
How Do You Revive Cilantro That Seems To Be Dying From Over Watering?
Cilantro can get easily overwatered and may lead to acute or partial death of some leaves or the entire plant. This situation may become overbearing and cause you to be worrisome.
In addition, you may begin to think that you can do nothing to retrieve or revive your dead or undergrown cilantro.
However, you can easily take up a few crucial steps to get your Cilantro back in shape and to bloom. Some quick steps that can help you in achieving this include:
1. Trim the dead part of the plant. Trimming will prevent decay from spreading to the other part of the plant.
Trimming off the old stems and leaves of the cilantro will enable new branches and leaves almost immediately.
It would be best not to attempt to trim all the parts of the dead plant if the roots seem to have some form of life in them.
2. Replant the overwatered cilantro in dry soil. Overwatered cilantro usually has signs such as brownish looking or yellow looking leaves.
Replanting overwatered cilantro in dry soil is the best way to revive it.
3. Replant the cilantro in a sizable pot or sea or herb boxes. If your cilantro seems to be overwatered, one of the quickest and surest ways to revive it may just be by replanting or transferring them into much bigger pots with dry soil.
4. Stop watering the cilantro. Continual watering of dead cilantro may just make the plant lose its ability ever to be revived again.
Likewise, cilantro should not be watered if there is any slight indication of its watering, leading to its death.
Conclusion
Cilantro doesn’t need a lot of water. Although it can stay alive in water in certain conditions, it doesn’t mean that it likes too much water. Thus, it’s pretty easy to over-water cilantro.
Also, cilantro’s drought resistance makes it independent of water to some extent. So, if you happen to overwater your plant, you can take the practical steps mentioned in this article.
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