1. Use the Right Size Pot

Oversized pots lead to overwatering and potential issues like root rot, so it’s best to use pots that are appropriately sized for the plants. However, if you want to reduce watering a bit, selecting containers that are slightly larger than the usual pot size for the plant can keep the soil moist a little longer and reduce watering frequency. For example, one tomato plant can be grown in a container with a capacity of at least 5 gallons, but tomato plants will be even happier and need less frequent watering in 10- to 15-gallon pots.

2. Swap Pots

Aside from pot size, the material pots and growing containers are made of also matters when it comes to keeping soil damp. Fabric grow bags and terracotta pots are more porous and allow soil to dry out faster than plastic and glazed ceramic pots. Placing pots on top of saucers also helps potting mixes retain moisture a little longer.

3. Move Plants as Needed

Plants need the right amount of sunlight to grow properly, and you should never move full sun plants directly into deep shade. However, if your plants are drying out too quickly on a sunny porch or patio, shifting container gardens into an area that receives light shade in the afternoon can help reduce soil evaporation rates. That said, if your plants start to look stunted or leggy, you may need to move them back into full sun.

4. Don’t Overcrowd Plants

Packing too many plants in a pot can also lead to plant stress and make the soil dry out too quickly. The number of plants that can be grown in a single container varies depending on the plants you’re growing and whether or not you intend to harvest edibles quickly. To avoid overcrowding, be sure to follow the spacing recommendations on plant labels and seed packets or refer to the square foot gardening spacing guidelines.

5. Refresh Soil Regularly

Potting mixes should not be reused from one season to the next if you’re growing annual flowers and herbs, or vegetables. Not only does reusing potting mix increase the risk of soil-borne pests and pathogens, but potting mixes also break down over time and don’t hold onto water well as they age.

If you notice that water is running right through your pot and your potting mix looks dry and degraded, it may be time to refresh your pots with new potting soil.

6. Add Compost

Blending compost into potting mixes before you plant adds nutrients, but it also helps potting mixes hold onto moisture longer and prevent pots from quickly drying out. For most potted plants, you’ll want to use about 1 part compost to 4 parts potting mix. To cut down on cost, skip the store-bought compost and try making your own compost with kitchen scraps and yard waste instead.

7. Apply Mulch

Adding compost to potting mixes helps lock in soil moisture levels, but pots will retain water even better if you top off your potting mix with natural mulch after planting. Wood and bark mulches work well for ornamental plants, while weed-free straw mulch is a good choice for edible gardens. Light-colored mulches like straw also reflect light better and can reduce the risk that plant roots will overheat in hot weather.

8. Water the Correct Way

Deep watering works best for most potted plants as it allows water to percolate through potting mixes to reach the deepest buried roots. How often you’ll need to water depends on the season and the plants you’re growing. Most veggies, herbs, and annual flowers should be watered when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry, which may be multiple times a day in hot weather.

You can often cut down on watering by watering plants in the morning or early evening when the weather is cooler, and moisture evaporates a little more slowly.

9. Group Pots

Positioning potted plants close to each other can increase humidity levels slightly and reduce moisture evaporation rates. Just make sure that your plants are positioned far enough apart that air can move freely between their leaves and the sun can still reach them.

10. Use Drip Irrigation

Installing drip lines takes a bit of work, but it’s a savvy solution if you have a lot of potted plants to water or you don't want to worry about regularly watering your container garden. If you have just a few plants that need frequent watering, you can also simply install a few solo emitters that provide water to just a plant pot or two.

11. Install Shade Cloth

If a period of intense or prolonged heat is in the forecast, stretching shade cloth over your container garden helps to protect your plants from heat stress and sun scorch and slightly cuts down on watering needs. Shade cloth that filters out 30% of UV rays is suitable for most plants, but some sun- or heat-sensitive plants like lettuce may do better with a 50% to 70% shade cloth. Make sure to give your plants ample water, even with the addition of a shade cloth, and remove the shade cloth once the spell of extreme heat has passed.

12. Try Self-Watering Planters

Although drip lines simplify watering immensely, installing them may be a little tricky at times. For a simpler solution, consider keeping water-hungry plants in self-watering planters or installing self-watering globes or stakes into the potting soil of plants that need frequent watering. You’ll still need to check on your container garden regularly, even with self-watering tools, but these supplies can be quite helpful if you need to travel for short periods of time and don’t want your plants to dry out.