Summer and monsoon plant care: a guide for potted plants in India
An Indian summer can dry a pot out in a day, and the monsoon can keep it wet for a week. This guide covers when and how much to water, how to shade, mulch and move pots in the heat, and how to handle drainage, root rot, fungus, pests and mosquitoes in the rains, with a quick checklist.
Lasaki Ceramics team11 min read
Product details checked 28 October 2026
In this guide
Potted plants in India face two hard tests a year, pulling in opposite directions. In May, a small pot on a sunny balcony can dry out between breakfast and dinner. In August, the same pot can stay wet for a week while its roots run out of air. A pot holds only a little potting mix (the soil you fill it with), and extra water can drain away only through the drainage hole, so it swings from bone-dry to waterlogged far faster than a garden bed.
Treat the timings in this guide as rough: a terrace in Jaipur and a shaded balcony in Kolkata behave very differently, and so do plants. Let the soil and the leaves have the final say.
Summer: helping pots through the heat
From roughly March to June, depending on where you live, there are two jobs: keep the soil moist and stop the pot overheating.
Check every day, then water deeply
- Check daily, sometimes twice. The RHS (the UK's Royal Horticultural Society) suggests checking containers daily in warm or windy weather, and twice a day when it is hot.
- Use your finger, not the calendar. Push a finger into the soil to the first joint. If it feels dry at the tip, most leafy plants need water (Clemson Extension). Succulents and cacti, such as aloe vera, are the exception: let their soil dry out completely.
- Water until it runs out of the drainage hole. A quick splash wets only the top few centimetres. If water rushes straight through, the dry soil has probably shrunk from the sides (Colorado State University Extension): stand the pot in shallow water until the surface feels damp, then let it drain.
- Water early. Early morning is generally best (University of California). In a heatwave, pots in the open may need a second round in the evening.
Shade, group and lift
- Find the afternoon shade. A west-facing balcony gets the afternoon sun. Even a spot that is shady in the morning can be hot after midday (Penn State Extension). Tulsi needs six or more hours of direct sun a day (NC State Extension), so keep it in the sun and water well, though a small tulsi pot can take some afternoon shade in a severe heatwave. Money plant (pothos) is the opposite: direct summer sun can scorch its leaves (RHS).
- Shade what you cannot move. University of California suggests a 30 to 50 per cent shade net, held up on poles so it does not touch the plants.
- Group pots together. Pots standing close shade each other and raise the humidity around them (RHS).
- Lift pots off hot floors. On a hot terrace, stand pots on a pallet or a stand that lets air move underneath (Clemson Extension).
- Empty saucers after watering. Shallow saucers in the sun heat up quickly (University of California).
Small pots on a tray are quicker to move into the shade, and the water the tray catches is easy to tip out. All product sizes in this guide are from our catalogue data. The long Slato tray antique is about 23.5 × 11.5 cm and 2.5 cm high; the round Bubble big tray mint, about 13 cm across and 3 cm high, suits a single small pot.
Mind the weight of big pots
Even a mid-sized ceramic pot can be heavy before you add soil. Morvo rustic, about 20 cm high and 20 cm across, is listed at about 2.5 kg, and wet soil adds a lot more. Move heavy pots before watering, and slide rather than lift them. For pots that move with the seasons, NC State Extension suggests a plant trolley (a stand on wheels).
Mulch the surface
A layer of mulch on the soil cuts water lost to evaporation (RHS) and keeps the soil cooler (University of California). Bark chips, coco husk chips or small pebbles all suit pots; keep the layer thin enough to push a finger through.
Pick pots with the heat in mind
- Light colours for full sun. Dark containers absorb more heat and dry out faster, so NC State Extension advises keeping them out of full sun. In US Department of Agriculture research on nursery containers, white pots lowered temperatures in the base layer by about 4 to 7 °C compared with black ones. Vaidika white is about 15 cm high and 15 cm across; there are many more shapes among the white pots.
- Bigger pots dry out more slowly (University of California), but a pot far too big for the roots holds water the plant cannot use, which Illinois Extension links to root rot. Go up one size at a time.
- Small pots need the most attention, especially in hot, windy weather (NC State Extension). A desk pot such as Peblo small white, about 7 cm high and 9 cm across, holds very little soil, so check it first.
Monsoon: too much water, too little air
By the India Meteorological Department's normal dates, the south-west monsoon reaches Kerala around 1 June, covers the country by about 8 July and withdraws by mid-October. In Tamil Nadu, almost half the year's rain comes with the north-east monsoon from October to December, so use this section in those months.
Water less, and only after checking
Roots need oxygen as well as water, which is why Clemson Extension calls overwatering the main reason potted plants die. It adds that a plant in a cool, dim spot needs water less often than one in warm sun. Monsoon weeks are often cloudy, so drop the summer routine but keep the finger test: pots in the open may need nothing for days, and indoor pots dry slowly in damp air too.
Make sure water can leave the pot
- Drainage holes are not optional. NC State Extension says every container needs them, so roots don't sit in water and rot. Check that nothing blocks the hole.
- Skip the gravel layer. It does not help drainage, because water collects in the soil just above it (Illinois Extension).
- Raise pots on bricks or pot feet to keep the drainage holes clear (RHS).
- Pots without holes. Plant in a plastic nursery pot with holes, set it inside the decorative pot, and lift it out to drain whenever water collects in the outer one (Illinois Extension). Our catalogue data doesn't record which pots have a drainage hole, so check the product photos or ask us.
- Move pots under cover in a downpour. In very wet spells, the RHS suggests temporary cover if the soil stays soaked.
Plants that hate wet roots need the most care this season. Tulsi does poorly in waterlogged soil (NC State Extension) and aloe vera can rot if overwatered, so in heavy rain move them under a chhajja or a covered part of the balcony, away from where roof water drips, or to a bright window indoors. Keep money plant (pothos) and aloe vera out of reach of pets and small children: money plant is toxic, and aloe vera is mildly poisonous if eaten (RHS; NC State Extension).
Plates and saucers in the rain
Outdoors, a plate fills with rain and leaves the pot standing in water. The RHS advises taking saucers away for the UK's wet winter; in India, do it for the monsoon.
Pearl medium antique with plate, about 15 × 15 cm and 13.5 cm high, comes with its own plate; the data doesn't say whether it lifts off, so check the photos or ask us. A separate plate, such as Plate circular 5 inch antique R5 (listed at about 15 cm across) or Plate circular 6 inch black R6 (about 16 cm), can simply be put away for the rains. For more pots sold with a plate, see pots with plate. When choosing a plate, measure the pot's base, not its rim.
Spot root rot early
Soggy soil invites root rot, which is easy to miss because it looks like thirst.
- Know the signs. The bottom leaves wilt and the problem works upwards, even though the soil is wet (Iowa State University Extension).
- Check the roots. Ease the plant out. Healthy roots are firm and white; rotted ones are mushy and brown or reddish.
- Trim, or let the plant go. If only a few roots are affected, cut them off (Clemson Extension). If most are dark and soft, Clemson says it is better to discard the plant.
- Clean the pot if you reuse it. Scrub off the old soil, soak the pot for at least 10 minutes in one part liquid household bleach (not bleaching powder) to nine parts water, then rinse it well with clean water. Keep the solution off skin and clothes, and never mix bleach with other cleaners, such as toilet or floor cleaners (Iowa State University Extension; CDC).
- Repot in fresh, sterile potting mix. Then water only when the soil is dry at your fingertip, because overwatering makes root rot more likely (Clemson Extension).
Fungus on the leaves
Many leaf-spot fungi need hours of continuous leaf wetness to infect a plant (University of California IPM), and humid air keeps leaves damp for longer. Powdery mildew also spreads fastest in humid weather (Clemson Extension).
- Water the soil, not the leaves, in the morning, so the plant dries before night.
- Pick off spotted leaves as soon as you see them.
- Grouping helped in summer; now spread pots out so air can move between them (Clemson Extension; Penn State Extension).
Pests that like the wet
- Fungus gnats are tiny, mosquito-like flies that rise from the soil. Their larvae live in moist potting mix, and letting the soil dry somewhat between waterings is the main fix (Colorado State University Extension).
- Snails and slugs are most active at night and on cloudy days, and hide under flowerpots by day (University of California IPM). Pick them off after dark with a torch.
Keep mosquitoes out of saucers
The Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue lay eggs on the inside walls of water-holding containers, just above the water line, and an egg can become an adult in 7 to 10 days (CDC). India's National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control lists flower pots and coolers among their breeding places.
- Empty and scrub every plate, saucer and tray, indoors and out, at least once a week (CDC). Scrub, because the eggs stick to the sides.
- Change the water in vases and money plant bottles every week.
- Turn spare pots and plates upside down so they cannot collect rain.
Before a storm
Tall, narrow pots blow over easily, especially with tall plants in them (RHS). When strong wind or a cyclone is forecast, move them to a sheltered corner and clear every ledge and parapet, where a falling pot could hurt someone below.
When the rains ease
Bring sheltered plants back into bright light over a few days, because a sudden jump in light after a move can sunburn leaves (University of California IPM). Then put the plates back and return to daily checks.
Quick seasonal checklist
| Task | Summer | Monsoon |
|---|---|---|
| Checking the soil | Daily; twice for small pots in sun or wind | Before every watering, often days apart |
| How much | Until water runs out of the hole | The same, but only when dry at your fingertip; skip after rain |
| Plates and saucers | Empty after watering | Off pots in the open; empty indoor ones after watering |
| Where pots stand | Out of afternoon sun, grouped, off hot floors | Under cover in downpours, spaced out, on feet or bricks |
| Mulch | A thin layer to slow drying | Thin or remove it if the soil stays soggy |
| Watch for | Afternoon drooping (check the soil first) | Root rot, leaf spots, fungus gnats, snails |
| Weekly | Scrub saucers and trays | The same, and again after heavy rain |
For nurseries, garden shops and cafés
The same routine works on a nursery bench or a café terrace. Lasaki makes ceramic pots, plates and trays for businesses like these: request trade access to see trade details, or ask us about a particular pot, its drainage or the plate that suits it.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water potted plants in an Indian summer?
There is no fixed number of days. Check the soil every day, and twice a day for small pots in full sun or wind. Water when it feels dry at your fingertip, and give enough for water to run out of the drainage hole. Succulents and cacti are the exception: let their soil dry out completely before watering again.
Is it better to water plants in the morning or the evening in summer?
Early morning usually works best, and any wet leaves then dry quickly. In a heatwave, pots in the open may need a second round in the evening as well. Aim the water at the soil rather than the leaves.
Should I remove the plate from under my pots in the monsoon?
For pots standing out in the rain, yes, or at least tip the plates out after every shower, because a plate full of rainwater keeps the base of the pot wet. Indoor pots can keep their plates, as long as you empty them after watering and scrub them once a week.
Why are my plant's leaves turning yellow in the rainy season?
Yellowing has several possible causes, but in the monsoon too much water is a common one. If lower leaves wilt or yellow while the soil is still wet, ease the plant out and look at the roots: firm white roots are healthy, soft brown ones are rotting. Cloudy, cooler weeks also mean the plant needs less water than it did in summer.
How do I stop mosquitoes breeding in plant saucers?
Once a week, tip out and scrub every saucer, plate and tray, and look at them again after heavy rain. Tipping out alone is not enough, because Aedes mosquitoes lay their eggs on the sides of containers just above the water. Turn spare pots upside down, and don't let water sit in vases or money plant bottles for more than a week.
Do Lasaki pots have drainage holes?
Hole details aren't part of our product data, so we don't state them in this guide. Look at the photos on the product page, or send us the product name and we'll check for you. A pot without a hole can still be used as an outer pot around a plastic nursery pot that has one.
Products in this guide
Stock Lasaki pots, vases and décor in your store
Retailers, nurseries, cafés and interior designers order from the full Lasaki catalogue with a trade account.
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