I just had some thoughts about the catch tray underneath your pot. A couple of hours after watering your plant, it would be a good idea to check and see if the tray is still filled with water, or not. If the tray is still filled with water, it would be a good idea to empty it because if it’s filled with water, it’s equivalent to the plant’s roots sitting in water in a pot with no holes in it.
Also, it would be a good idea to put a pad, a placemat, or maybe even a towel underneath the catch tray. If the tray overflows, and there’s nothing beneath it to absorb the water, it’s going to stain your table. I’ve had that happen to a wood table, and also to a table made out of bronze that got so discolored from water stains that it was necessary to refinish the table top. In any case, it’s important to have something underneath the catch tray.
A plant should be put in a pot that is appropriate for its size. A plant in the container that is too small can become root bound meaning that there is no room left in the pot for the roots. On the other hand, if a plant is in a container that is too big, the soil may not hold water for very long, and can become dried out quickly. If when you check the plant, you see there are more roots than soil, that is a good indication that it’s time to repot the plant. You only want to move plants up one pot size at a time to ensure that it is not potted in a container that is too big. If the pot has ever tipped over because the leaves are too heavy, that is a good indication that it’s time to move it to a bigger pot.
Whenever you go out to buy a pot for your plant, always remember to also get a tray, or dish to go underneath it to catch the water that drains out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. You definitely want one of these so that the water does not spill onto the table, or onto the floor. You can buy plastic pans for this purpose, or you can improvise by using something that you can find at home. Once, I used a Frisbee as a catch pan for a pot.
This information was taken from the website below.
Unlike outdoor plants, indoor plants depend on you for everything. Caring for indoor plants requires that you know what each plant needs. Many people think it’s a good idea to water plants on a specific schedule, but really it’s much better to check each plant every day to see whether or not it needs to be watered on that day. This requires that you frequently check the soil to see whether or not the plant needs to be watered. It is very important that the pot that the plant is in has drainage holes in the bottom so that water can drain from the bottom, and the roots are not sitting in water all the time. If the roots are sitting in water, they will rot, and the plant will die. Not every type of house plant is the same watering needs, so it is necessary to do some research on your plant see what type of watering it needs. Some plants need to be fairly moist all the time, while others need to dry out between waterings. Morning is a good time to water plants so they have a chance to dry out before it starts to get cooler later in the evening.
Put your finger in the soil down to the first knuckle, if you can’t even get your finger into the soil that means the plant definitely needs to be watered. If some of the dirt sticks to your finger, and the soil feels fairly moist, it probably has enough water. Keep an eye on the leaves as they can provide a good indication of whether the plant is getting enough water, or too much water. If the leaves are drooping, this often means that the plant needs to be watered. If they are brown, dry, or some leaves have fallen off, this also means that the plant needs to be watered. On the other hand, these signs can also mean that the plant has been over watered, so it is always important to use these observations in conjunction with checking whether or not the soil is dry. If the plant has been watered recently, give the plant some time to absorb the water before watering again.
It can be useful to learn how heavy the plant is when it has been well watered. You can test see if your plant has been watered enough by picking it up, and feeling how heavy it is. Lift it from time to time, and if it doesn’t feel heavy enough, this means that it needs to be watered. Of course only do this if your plant is light enough to be lifted easily. Don’t injure yourself trying to lift your plant up!
Some plants are sensitive to the type of water that is used. The chlorine in tap water can kill some plants. If you suspect that the chlorine in the water is hurting your plant, let the water sit out overnight in a large container before watering. I always keep water in a large plastic jug that has been filled up the night before.
Try to distribute the water evenly across the surface of the soil. When you water, it’s better to start out by giving the plant too little water rather than too much. You can always water more if you give into little water, but overwatering is more difficult to correct. Be sure to water until water comes out of the holes on the bottom of the pot. You want to be sure that the roots at the bottom of the pot get water, and just watering the surface of the soil will not accomplish this. Some plants also benefit from misting with a spray bottle, but not all plants, so you need to know the requirements of your plant.
I got this information from the source below.