How Often to Water Parsley? Let's See! (2024)

Having access to a fresh parsley plant can open up a lot of culinary opportunities and flavor profiles in your kitchen.

Parsley is chock-full of vitamin C, and it adds a fresh taste to a lot of recipes and dishes, making it a healthy garnish for meals.

Choose curly leaf, Italian, or flat-leaf, and keep a bed or pot of parsley growing in a sunny spot on your property.

How Often to Water Parsley?

For indoor-grown parsley, water two to three times per week, but only when the plant is dry and never allow the plant’s roots to sit in water. For outdoor parsley plants, water deeply into the soil once a week.

Watering In-Ground Parsley

If your parsley is outside in the ground, water the plant deeply once a week. If you have had rain or a lot of humidity, you may need to water less often.

Shelter the plant to protect it from overwatering during precipitation and only water when the topsoil surrounding your plant feels dry.

If the weather is extremely dry or hot, you may want to check the plant often and may need to bump up your watering to twice weekly.

You can help the plant retain some moisture during warm weather with a layer of bark mulch on top of the soil around your plant.

Watering Container Parsley

Water your containers of parsley a couple of times a week, but not if the soil feels damp to the touch. Move the containers of parsley in from outside during heavy rain to protect the roots from potential rot.

Check the soil first and proceed with watering your potted parsley plants when it’s dry. Water deep into the soil, and try not to get the leaves wet, when possible, to prevent mildew.

Look at your plant’s container to make sure the drainage holes are adequate, and that water is not sitting at the bottom of your pot.

Best Soil for Parsley Plants

When talking about watering a plant of any kind, it is prudent to also pay attention to the soil that it is in. Parsley does best in well-draining soil, or in a pot with ample drainage holes on the bottom.

Add some organic compost or quality manure to enrich the soil and know that soil with a pH of around 6.0 is ideal.

Signs Of Overwatered Parsley

If your plant is dropping, but the soil feels wet to the touch, you are likely overwatering your parsley. Adjust your watering schedule after careful consideration of the rainfall amount that your outdoor parsley gets.

If rainfall is excessive, shelter the plant indoors to prevent root rot.

The following situations could also point to overwatering.

Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves could point to the plant not receiving their due dose of water.

If you keep watering a plant with yellow leaves that have been overwatered, you will likely cause the roots to rot, which kills the plant.

Dark Leaves

Too much water also breeds fungi that live in the wet soil. Dry out your wet parsley plants outside in the sunshine or cover the plant outdoors to shelter it from additional precipitation.

Overwatering your parsley can cause fungus that leads to black or dark-colored leaves.

When your plant is stricken with fungus, remove it or separate it from other plants, if possible, to prevent them from becoming contaminated.

Pests

Overwatered plants are also susceptible to pests and insects. The best prevention is well-draining soil and careful watering.

Since pests like moist, wet places, they will lay eggs in the soil, wreaking havoc on your parsley.

Try trimming back your parsley, as well as using a horticultural soap that deters bugs. Some gardeners recommend spritzing the plant and surrounding topsoil with canola oil.

These are some non-toxic pest solutions that may work for your parsley plants!

Mold

Overwatering also leads to mold and mildew, which you should see on the parsley leaves themselves. Instead, water the roots of the plant, deep into the soil.

Try not to water the leaves to reduce the risk of mold and mildew.

Signs Of Underwatered Parsley

It makes the most sense to water your parsley plants deeply, but not very frequently. Generally, watering well weekly works better than frequent, shallow watering.

The following signs could be an indicator of underwatering your parsley plants.

Wilting

A sure sign of underwatering is wilting of parsley.

Before you give it a drink, however, touch the soil to make sure it is dry before giving the plant water, since wilting could also be a sign of other issues.

Cracked Soil

Do you see cracks in the soil where you plant your parsley plants? They’re ultimately indicative of your parsley needing more water.

Frequently Asked Questions about How Often to Water Parsley

What is parsley?

Parsley is a flowering biennial plant that is used for cooking, regarded as an herb as well as a vegetable. Parsley is a popular addition to soups, stews, and salads.

Does parsley grow in pots?

Parsley thrives in pots and containers. Some other plants that do well in pots are herbs like thyme, oregano, basil, and chives- as well as garlic, cucumbers, and a wide range of lettuce plants.

What are the best parsley growing conditions?

Conclusion

Parsley isn’t just a garnish. It is a healthful herb that can bring a fresh flavor to a wide range of dishes and fare.

Use these tips to cultivate and properly water your parsley plants, whether you choose a container or bed for your plants!