Start with the plants, not the calendar
Different plants drink at different speeds. A big leafy plant on a sunny sill can dry out much sooner than a small succulent in a shady corner, and the same plant may need more water in summer than in winter. So before you set any dates:
- Check the label or care guide. The tag that came with the plant, or the shop's care notes, usually say whether it likes moist soil or prefers to dry out between waterings.
- Group plants by thirst. Put the ones that dry out quickly in one group and the slower ones in another. Two groups are easier to look after than ten separate plants.
- Note where each plant stands. Light, warmth and pot size all change how fast the soil dries. Small pots and bright windows usually mean more frequent checks.
The soil check: the habit that matters most
Whatever schedule you choose, the watering day is really a checking day:
Touch the soil
Push a finger into the top layer of soil. If it feels dry, the plant probably needs water; if it's still damp, leave it for now.
Lift the pot
A dry pot feels noticeably lighter than one that has just been watered. After a few weeks you'll know the difference by hand.
Water thoroughly when you water
Give the plant a proper drink until water starts to come out of the drainage holes, then let it drain rather than leaving the pot standing in water.
Look at the leaves
Drooping, yellowing or crispy edges are a sign to look again at the plant's care guide.
Many plant owners find that watering properly when the soil is dry works better than giving a little water very often. If you're unsure about a particular plant, the care guide or the shop where you bought it is the right place to ask.
Adjust for the season
Plants usually use more water when it's warm and bright, and less in the cooler, darker months. In hot weather, check more often, especially plants on sunny sills, on balconies or near a heater. In winter, you may find that many checks end with “still damp, skip it”. That's exactly why a schedule built around checking works well: the date stays the same, and what you do depends on the soil.
Set up your plant watering schedule as repeating errands
A note on the fridge saying “water the plants” is easy to walk past. In Family Errands, each group of plants can be an errand that repeats on its own and reminds you on the day.
Create the errand
Add a new errand in the calendar and name it after the group: “Check the window sill plants” or “Water the balcony pots”.
Choose how it repeats
Make it repeat every N days — for example, every 3 days — or on chosen weekdays, such as Monday and Thursday. Set an end date if it's only for the summer.
List the plants inside
Add each plant as a checklist item and tick them off one by one, so you can see which ones you've already looked at.
Add a reminder
Set a time reminder, or several, so the check comes to you instead of waiting to be remembered.
Change the rhythm when the season changes
When you edit a repeating errand, you choose whether the change applies only to this occurrence, to this and the following ones, or to all of them — handy for switching from a summer rhythm to a winter one.
If the soil is still damp and you decide to leave the plants, you can skip one occurrence without touching the rest of the chain. In the calendar, an orange dot under a date means something is still open that day, and a grey dot means everything for that day is dealt with.
For other jobs around the home that come round on a schedule, see the household chores list and the home maintenance schedule.
Share the watering with whoever is at home
Plants don't mind who waters them, as long as someone does. If you live with a partner or family, share the watering errand with them by tapping their avatars. Everyone it's shared with sees it, can edit it and can tick plants off the checklist, and changes show up on the other phones automatically. So whoever happens to be home that day can do the check, and the others can see which plants have already been ticked off.
Each person sets their own reminders on a shared errand. One of you can be reminded in the morning, the other in the evening, while the errand itself stays the same for both.
Before a holiday or a trip
If you're going away and the errand is shared with whoever is staying, they already see it with its checklist of plants, so they know exactly which pots to check. If it isn't shared yet, share it before you leave. Before you go, it helps to add a few words to the errand's description about any plant that needs something special, copied from its care guide.
Questions
How often should I water my houseplants?
It depends on the plant, its pot, the light and the season, so check the plant's label or care guide. A simple habit is to check the soil on a regular day and water only when the top layer feels dry.
Is it better to water plants on a schedule or when the soil is dry?
Both work together: the schedule sets the day you check, and the soil tells you whether to water. That way you don't forget the plants, and you don't water soil that's still damp.
Should I water plants more often in hot weather?
Plants usually dry out faster when it's warm and sunny, so check them more often in summer. You can shorten the repeat of your watering errand for the hot months and change it back later.
Can two people share the same plant watering reminder?
Yes. Share the errand, and everyone it's shared with sees it and sets their own reminder time. If one person is away, whoever is at home sees the same errand and can tick the plants off.
Is Family Errands free?
New accounts start with a free trial. After the trial, one subscription, monthly or yearly, covers the whole family of up to 5 people: family members who join don't need a subscription of their own.
