You humans are so fond of your calendars, but my need for water is not dictated by a day of the week. It is a constant conversation with my environment. The primary factors are temperature, light, and humidity. On a hot, windy, and sunny day in Arizona, I will lose moisture from my delicate, tuberous roots and photosynthetic stems (what you call "fronds") at a much higher rate than on a cool, overcast, and humid day in Florida. Therefore, the frequency must change with the seasons. I am most actively growing in the warm spring and summer months, so my thirst is greatest then. In the winter, I am nearly dormant; overwatering me during this time is a grave mistake that my roots cannot forgive.
The most reliable way to know if I need a drink is to check the soil about 2-3 inches down. This is where my fine, delicate roots are seeking moisture. I prefer a "soak and dry" method. Please, water me deeply and thoroughly until water runs freely from the drainage holes at the base of my pot or until the ground is saturated around my garden bed. This encourages my roots to grow deep and strong. Then, allow the top third of the soil to dry out completely before watering me again. I despise having my feet constantly wet. Soggy, waterlogged soil is my nemesis, as it will suffocate my roots and lead to a fatal case of root rot.
Where I am planted drastically changes my watering needs. If I am living in a container, I am entirely dependent on you. The soil in a pot heats up faster and dries out more quickly than the earth. In the peak of summer, you may need to check my soil moisture every 2-3 days. If I am planted directly in the ground, my roots can seek out moisture from a larger area of soil. I will be far more resilient and require less frequent watering, perhaps once a week or even less, depending on the weather and soil composition. Well-draining soil is non-negotiable in both cases.
I will communicate my discomfort. If I am thirsty, my normally vibrant green, upright stems may begin to droop slightly, and the tips may start to turn pale or brown and feel crispy to the touch. This is a plea for a deep, thorough drink. However, if you see my stems turning yellow, becoming mushy, or dropping significantly, this is a cry of despair from root rot caused by too much water. This is a far more dangerous situation. It is always better to err on the side of me being slightly too dry than constantly too wet. My tuberous roots store water, granting me some drought tolerance, but they have no defense against drowning.
