Watering schedule
How often to water Licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare) — the schedule
Also called Licorice plant, Silver licorice, Liquorice plant.
More about licorice plant
About Licorice plant
Helichrysum petiolare · also called Licorice plant, Silver licorice · flowering
Licorice plant is a trailing South African sub-shrub prized for its velvety, silver-grey felted foliage rather than its small, unremarkable white flowers. It cascades beautifully from containers, hanging baskets, and border edges, providing a soft foil for bright companions. It demands excellent drainage and full sun and is frost-tender outside zones 9–11.
Ideal humidity: 30–55%
Watch for — Root rot: The most frequent problem; caused by waterlogged soil or containers without drainage holes. Use very free-draining compost and never allow the pot to sit in water.
The watering schedule, season by season
Licorice plant flowers best on steady, even moisture — let it dry out hard and it drops buds; keep it soggy and the roots rot before it can bloom. The base rhythm for licorice plant is every 7–14 days; allow top 2–3 cm to dry, but the real interval moves with the season, the light and the pot — so treat the figures below as a starting point and always confirm with the plant itself.
- Spring & summer (active growth): Spring and summer (active growth and bloom): keep evenly moist, watering when the top 2-3 cm is dry — typically every 7–14 days.
- Autumn (slowing down): Autumn: ease back as flowering finishes and growth slows; let it dry a little more between waterings.
- Winter (rest / dormancy): Winter / rest: water sparingly while it rests, then resume as new growth and buds appear.
Grows in dry to medium moisture soils. Sensitive to overwatering and waterlogging — root rot is the leading cause of plant loss. Felted leaves trap surface moisture; always water at the base. Reduce watering significantly in winter.
Want this turned into a live reminder that adjusts to your home and the weather? The Growli watering calculator takes your pot size, light and season and returns a starting interval for licorice plant in seconds.
How to tell licorice plant needs water
A calendar is the worst way to water licorice plant. Check the plant and the soil instead — for this species, look for these signals in order:
- The top 2-3 cm of soil is dry to the touch.
- Leaves or flower stems lose turgor and start to droop.
- Buds stall or the pot feels light.
The most reliable single check is the first one on that list. When two signals agree, water; when they disagree, wait a day and look again — under-watering licorice plant for a day is almost always safer than over-watering it.
Overwatering vs underwatering licorice plant
The two failure modes can look alike at a glance, so check the soil weight and wetness before you decide. For licorice plant specifically:
Signs you are overwatering
- Yellowing leaves, bud drop, and a heavy, constantly wet pot.
- Mushy stems or crown rot at soil level.
- Fungus gnats and a sour soil smell.
Signs you are underwatering
- Wilting, bud and flower drop, and crispy leaf edges.
- A faded, stressed look and a rootball that has pulled from the pot sides.
Erratic watering — bone dry then flooded — makes licorice plant drop its buds and flowers. Consistency through the budding period is what protects the display.
Water quality notes
Tap water is generally fine for licorice plant unless your water is very hard; rainwater is a safe default if leaf tips brown.
Seasonal and environmental adjusters
Every figure above shifts with the conditions in your home. For licorice plant, the levers that matter most are:
- A blooming plant in good light drinks faster than a resting one — shorten the interval during flowering.
- Brighter, warmer spots dry the pot faster; check before watering rather than fixing a date.
- Empty the saucer after every water so the roots are never sitting in run-off.
Pot choice is part of this too — work out the right size with the pot size calculator, since a pot that is too big stays wet long enough to rot the roots of licorice plant.
Licorice plant watering — frequently asked questions
How often should I water licorice plant?
Water licorice plant every 7–14 days; allow top 2–3 cm to dry. Spring and summer (active growth and bloom): keep evenly moist, watering when the top 2-3 cm is dry — typically every 7–14 days. Winter / rest: water sparingly while it rests, then resume as new growth and buds appear.
How do I know when licorice plant needs water?
The top 2-3 cm of soil is dry to the touch. Leaves or flower stems lose turgor and start to droop. Buds stall or the pot feels light. The single most reliable test for licorice plant is the first signal on that list — checking the soil or the plant directly always beats watering by the calendar.
What does an overwatered licorice plant look like?
Yellowing leaves, bud drop, and a heavy, constantly wet pot. Mushy stems or crown rot at soil level. Fungus gnats and a sour soil smell. Erratic watering — bone dry then flooded — makes licorice plant drop its buds and flowers. Consistency through the budding period is what protects the display.
What are the signs of an underwatered licorice plant?
Wilting, bud and flower drop, and crispy leaf edges. A faded, stressed look and a rootball that has pulled from the pot sides.
Can I use tap water on licorice plant?
Tap water is generally fine for licorice plant unless your water is very hard; rainwater is a safe default if leaf tips brown.
Keep reading
- Watering licorice plant in the UK — hard vs soft tap water
- Licorice plant care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Watering calculator — get a starting interval for your exact pot and light
- Pot size calculator — the right pot keeps watering forgiving
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry diagnosis
- Overwatered plant — signs and how to recover it
- Underwatered plant — signs and how to rehydrate it
- How often to water kniphofia uvaria
- How often to water kniphofia 'tawny king'
- How often to water kniphofia 'alcazar'
- All 8452 watering schedules in the Growli library