water potential §

Water potential indicates the water’s ability to do work. The less negative, the more work can be performed, thus water will always move to a more negative water potential.

$\psi ={\psi }_S+{\psi }_P$

Where ${\psi }_S$ is the solute potential and ${\psi }_P$ is the pressure potential.

Osmotic potential is directly proportional to solute concentration. The more solute, the more unlikely water will leave the cell (more negative $\psi$ will become).