Watering schedule

How often to water Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) — the schedule

Also called Liquorice, Licorice, Sweet Root, Common Liquorice.

More about liquorice

Watering at a glance

Base rhythm	Weekly during active growth; reduce in autumn
Spring / summer	Spring and summer: water deeply but only when the top few centimetres are properly dry — roughly weekly in the ground, more often only for pots in heat.
Autumn	Autumn: cut right back as growth slows; established plants need very little.
Winter	Winter: keep nearly dry, especially in pots — wet winter soil is the classic killer of rosemary, lavender and thyme.
Light	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

About Liquorice

Glycyrrhiza glabra · also called Liquorice, Licorice · herb

Liquorice is a deep-rooted perennial legume native to the Mediterranean and southwestern Asia, cultivated for its thick, sweet taproot which contains glycyrrhizin — up to 50 times sweeter than sucrose. It requires a long, warm growing season, deep well-drained soil, and full sun. Roots are typically harvested after 3–4 years for culinary and medicinal use.

Ideal humidity: 40–65%

Watch for — Root rot in poorly drained soil: Heavy or waterlogged soils cause root and crown rot, leading to plant collapse. Ensure excellent drainage — raise beds or mound planting positions by 15–20 cm. In persistently wet regions, grow in large containers with a fast-draining mix.

The watering schedule, season by season

Liquorice is a lean, sun-loving Mediterranean herb — it grows best kept on the dry side and rots fast if it is watered like a leafy plant. The base rhythm for liquorice is weekly during active growth; reduce in autumn, 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: water deeply but only when the top few centimetres are properly dry — roughly weekly in the ground, more often only for pots in heat.
Autumn (slowing down): Autumn: cut right back as growth slows; established plants need very little.
Winter (rest / dormancy): Winter: keep nearly dry, especially in pots — wet winter soil is the classic killer of rosemary, lavender and thyme.

Needs consistent moisture during spring and summer to support vigorous root development. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep taproot growth. Reduce watering significantly in autumn; roots can rot if kept wet through winter dormancy.

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 liquorice in seconds.

How to tell liquorice needs water

A calendar is the worst way to water liquorice. Check the plant and the soil instead — for this species, look for these signals in order:

The top 3-4 cm of soil is fully dry and the pot is light.
Foliage looks slightly dull or limp in heat (recovers fast once watered).
For potted plants, the rootball has shrunk slightly from the sides.

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 liquorice for a day is almost always safer than over-watering it.

Overwatering vs underwatering liquorice

The two failure modes can look alike at a glance, so check the soil weight and wetness before you decide. For liquorice specifically:

Signs you are overwatering

Yellowing, blackening or dropping lower foliage; a sour, wet pot.
Soft, rotting stems at the base — often fatal in rosemary and lavender.
Sudden collapse despite "looking thirsty" (it was actually drowning).

Signs you are underwatering

Crisp, brittle, browning foliage and stalled growth (less common — these herbs are drought-hardy).
For young, unestablished plants only, wilting in extreme heat.

Overwatering and rich wet soil are what kill liquorice, not drought. It evolved on dry, stony hillsides — err on the side of too little.

Water quality notes

Tap water is fine for liquorice; drainage and restraint matter, not water type.

Seasonal and environmental adjusters

Every figure above shifts with the conditions in your home. For liquorice, the levers that matter most are:

Sharp drainage is everything — grit in the mix and a terracotta pot keep it alive.
Established plants in the ground are highly drought-tolerant and rarely need watering at all.
Pots dry faster and need more attention than open ground, but still let them dry between waterings.

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 liquorice.

Liquorice watering — frequently asked questions

How often should I water liquorice?

Water liquorice weekly during active growth; reduce in autumn. Spring and summer: water deeply but only when the top few centimetres are properly dry — roughly weekly in the ground, more often only for pots in heat. Winter: keep nearly dry, especially in pots — wet winter soil is the classic killer of rosemary, lavender and thyme.

How do I know when liquorice needs water?

The top 3-4 cm of soil is fully dry and the pot is light. Foliage looks slightly dull or limp in heat (recovers fast once watered). For potted plants, the rootball has shrunk slightly from the sides. The single most reliable test for liquorice is the first signal on that list — checking the soil or the plant directly always beats watering by the calendar.

What does an overwatered liquorice look like?

Yellowing, blackening or dropping lower foliage; a sour, wet pot. Soft, rotting stems at the base — often fatal in rosemary and lavender. Sudden collapse despite "looking thirsty" (it was actually drowning). Overwatering and rich wet soil are what kill liquorice, not drought. It evolved on dry, stony hillsides — err on the side of too little.

What are the signs of an underwatered liquorice?

Crisp, brittle, browning foliage and stalled growth (less common — these herbs are drought-hardy). For young, unestablished plants only, wilting in extreme heat.

Can I use tap water on liquorice?