Cilantro needs around 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week. Aim to give your plants 0.5 gallons (1.8 liters) of water daily at first. As the plant grows, water more deeply every couple of days instead. Water your cilantro at the base of the plant without letting puddles form. Cilantro plants prefer to have consistently moist soil instead of a lot of water overall. You can overwater your cilantro plants if you’re not careful about how much you give them. Underwatering is a risk, too. If that happens, the leaves will turn yellow, and then the plant will begin to die.
How Much Water Does Cilantro Need Per Day?
Cilantro needs 0.5 gallons (1.8 liters) of water per day. When cilantro seeds are planted at the correct depth, consistently moist soil helps the plants develop a strong root system. The plant won’t dry out as easily once the central taproot reaches its full length. Most taproots will reach 18 inches (45 cm) by the end of the season.
- Cilantro requires 0.5 gallons (1.8 liters) of water each day to get established.
- Moist soil helps cilantro plants develop a robust root system, including an 18-inch (45 cm) tap root.
- Decrease the watering frequency to once every 2–3 days once your cilantro plants are 12 inches (30 cm) tall.
- Once you reduce watering frequency, increase watering volume to 0.75 gallons (2.8 liters) to promote good root growth.
- Dial down the watering at the end of the growing season if you want to harvest cilantro seeds.
Reduce watering frequency to once every 2–3 days your plants reach 12 inches (30 cm) in height. Increase the water amount to 0.75 gallons (2.8 liters). Deeply watering your plants will help their roots grow longer. Decrease both the watering frequency and volume toward the end of your growing season if harvesting cilantro seeds are a part of your plan.
What is the Best Way to Water Cilantro?
Water cilantro all around the base of the plant without splashing water on the leaves. Overhead watering practices promote disease, like powdery mildew. If your cilantro is attacked by mildew, you will then need to treat your plants with a fungicide to help them recover.
- Water your cilantro plants around the base of the plant, near the soil.
- Do not allow the water to splash on the leaves.
- Water on the leaves can cause powdery mildew to develop.
- Avoid watering too fast and letting puddles form around the plant.
- Add perlite if the water pools up on the surface of the soil.
Do not let puddles form on the surface as you water. Otherwise, they may kick up debris from the soil onto the plant. Wait for the soil to absorb the water if you notice any pooling on the surface. This is a good sign that you need better draining soil. Consider mixing perlite into the top few inches of soil to help solve the problem.
Does Cilantro Need a Lot of Water?
Cilantro plants do not need a lot of water. They do best when the soil stays reasonably moist at all times. They do not like waterlogged or overly dry soil. Give your plants 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week.
- Cilantro doesn’t need a lot of water to grow big and strong.
- Cilantro thrives when the soil stays consistently moist.
- Give your cilantro plants 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per-week.
- Your soil type and climate will influence how fast the soil dries out between waterings.
- Use this soil moisture meter to accurately gauge when to add more water.
Your soil type, climate, and amount of sunlight will influence how fast the dirt around each plant dries out. Poorly draining soil and low temperatures slow down the process. Well-draining soil and high temperatures speed it up considerably. So, use a soil moisture meter if you cannot tell when your plants need water next.
Can You Overwater Cilantro?
You can overwater cilantro quite easily. Cilantro plants do not like to sit in waterlogged soil. If the soil stays wet for too long, the roots will get starved of oxygen. When that happens, the plant starts to die. Drooping, yellow leaves appear first before the plant rots from the roots.
- It’s possible to overwater cilantro if you’re not careful about how much water you give.
- Cilantro plants do not like to have their roots in soggy, waterlogged soil.
- Cilantro roots quickly get starved of oxygen when the soil stays overly saturated.
- Nutrients in overwatered soil will become diluted.
- Nitrogen gets depleted fastest from overwatering, but it can be restored with ammonium nitrate.
The nutrients in the soil will get diluted from overwatering as well. Nitrogen is usually depleted fastest in overly wet soil. You can restore the nitrogen content with a side dressing of ammonium nitrate. If you prefer to take the safer route, apply a balanced fertilizer instead.
What are the Signs of Underwatered Cilantro?
Underwatered cilantro will develop yellow, drooping leaves first. Then, the plant matter will start to brown and dry up. Not long after that, the plant will die and fail to revive even after getting water.
- The first sign of underwatered cilantro is drooping, yellow leaves.
- The rest of the plant will turn brown and dry if it goes without water for too long.
- You can often save your plants by giving them water when they start to droop.
- If watering works, you’ll see your plants perk back up by the end of the day.
- The yellow leaves will likely remain discolored, but the plant will grow new leaves.
In order to save an underwatered cilantro, water when the leaves start to droop and turn yellow. The plant will immediately start to recover from water stress as its cells get hydrated. By the end of the day, you’ll likely see your plant perking right back up. The damaged leaves will stay yellow, but your cilantro plant will grow new foliage over time.
How Often Should You Water Cilantro?
Water your cilantro plants daily at first. Then, water once every 2–3 days once they establish their roots. Give your plants 0.5 gallons (1.8 liters) when watering daily. Then, switch to 0.75 gallons (2.8 liters) of water when you decrease watering frequency to once every 2–3 days.
- If your cilantro plant is under 12 inches (30 cm) tall, water it daily
- When watering daily, provide 0.5 gallons (2.8 liters) of water per-day.
- Once your cilantro plant reaches 12 inches (30 cm) tall, you can change from daily watering to watering every 2–3 days.
- When you reduce watering to once every 2–3 days, provide 0.75 gallons (2.8 liters) of water each time.
- Water your cilantro plants at the base to avoid splashing the leaves.
- Avoid overwatering and underwatering your plants, so they stay healthy.
When well taken care of, fresh cilantro is the gift that keeps on giving. You can harvest the leaves all season long to dress up all your meals. At the end of the season, you can harvest the seeds to have tons of coriander seasoning.
