For busy gardeners, remembering to water your indoor plants can often be left out of our daily routines. But when you get round to it, giving it the right amount can be hard.
Too little water and your plant withers. Too much water and you could kill it.
What if your plants could take care of themselves? Enter the mighty self-watering planters. In this article, we’ll explain how they work and whether they’re right for your gardening needs.
What is a Self-Watering Planter?
As the name implies, a self-watering planter (or pot) is a container that waters plants for you.
This is great for indoor plants, which tend to be tropical plants that crave consistent water supply and sunlight.
Depending on where you live, you can’t always control how much light your plants get. But with a self-watering pot, you can ensure it gets enough moisture.
How Do Self-Watering Pots Work?
Self-watering planters and pots have an internal reservoir system that holds water and slowly releases it into the soil, allowing for an even distribution of moisture throughout the pot. Unlike normal potted plants where you have to water from the top, you don’t have to worry about over or under-watering your plants. The container has drainage holes at the bottom so excess water can escape and not drown your plants.
The basic principle behind these self-watering containers is that plants absorb water from its roots via osmosis. Your plant will move the water by capillary action (the wicking system) from the reservoir at the bottom of the pot, up through the potting soil and into your plant’s roots.
A common issue with normal potted plants is it’s easy to over-water the plant. When there’s too much water and a lack of drainage, there aren’t enough air pockets in the lower soil levels. A self-watering planter solves that issue with its controlled output of water.
What Do You Need to Do for the Self-Watering Containers?
Self-watering planters are great for busy gardeners, but they require some maintenance to maintain healthy plants.
The most important thing to do is ensure that the water reservoir stays full of fresh water. Depending on the size and capacity of the planter, this could mean refilling it every day or every few days.
It’s important to check that there are no clogs in the drainage system as this can cause problems with drainage and root health. Perlite or another type of drainage material should be placed at the bottom of your pot before adding soil and planting seeds or seedlings.
If you’re using a wick system, make sure it’s clean and free from debris and plugged into the reservoir correctly so that it can draw up water properly.
Finally, it’s best to use a potting mix specifically designed for self-watering containers when filling up your container as this type of mix has better drainage capabilities than regular potting mixes allowing for proper aeration and moisture control in the soil.
Pros of Using a Self-Watering Planter
Self-watering planters are a great way to make gardening easier and more enjoyable. Not only do they save you time, but they also ensure that your plants are getting the water they need when they need it. Here are 5 pros of using a self-watering planter:
Very Convenient for Busy People
With a self-watering container, you don’t have to worry about when you last watered your plants. Instead, you can set up the container and let it do the work for you.
Because they’re so portable, you can place self-watering containers anywhere in your home or garden, and they come in a variety of sizes and styles. They also help conserve water by only providing your plants with the necessary amount of water, preventing overwatering and water wastage.
Eco-Friendly
Self-watering containers are not only convenient for plant owners, but they are also eco-friendly. These containers have a built-in reservoir that stores water, preventing excess water from draining out of the container and being wasted. Plants are only receiving the amount of water they need, reducing water waste and conserving resources. By using self-watering containers, plant owners can not only grow healthier plants, but they can also contribute to sustainability efforts by reducing water consumption and waste.
Great for plant roots
By design, self-watering containers keep the soil consistently moist, which helps to maintain a healthy and thriving root system. Plants thrive when their roots are consistently moist, but not waterlogged, and self-watering containers help to regulate the moisture levels in the soil.
With a self-watering container, water is delivered directly to the roots through a wicking system or reservoir, which ensures that the roots receive the water they need without the risk of overwatering or underwatering.
Cons of Using a Self-Watering Planter
Before you go out and buy a self-watering planter, it’s important to know about the pros and cons of using this type of system. Here are three cons of using a self-watering planter.
Cost
One of the main disadvantages of self-watering containers is the cost. They tend to be more expensive than traditional pots, especially if you opt for higher-end models. However, it’s important to consider the long-term benefits and potential cost savings of self-watering containers. By reducing water waste and allowing plants to thrive, you may end up saving money in the long run by avoiding plant replacements or excessive water bills.
If you’re on a budget, there are some creative DIY options you can use to transform your pots into a self-watering solution.
Maintenance
Because there are more parts to self-watering containers compared to traditional pots, you need to check in on your indoor plants more often than usual. The wicking material and reservoir needs to be cleaned periodically to prevent buildup of algae or bacteria.
Overwatering
Since the plant is consistently receiving water from the reservoir, it can be easy to forget to check the soil moisture level, which can lead to overwatering. This can result in root rot, fungus, and other plant diseases, ultimately leading to the death of the plant.
On one hand, some plants need well-draining soil, such as succulents and cacti, and will be more prone to root rot if the soil is consistently moist. On the other hand, plants that require frequent watering, such as ferns, may not be ideal for self-watering pots as they may not receive enough water to thrive.
It’s important to research the specific needs of your plants before choosing to use a self-watering container, and to monitor their growth and health over time to ensure they are receiving the appropriate amount of water.
How to set up a self-watering container
For indoor plants like spider lilies and snake plants, I recommend setting up a self-watering container that is small enough to fit on a windowsill or a tabletop. There are many types of self-watering containers available in the market, but one that works particularly well for indoor plants is a wicking container. A wicking container is made up of two parts: a water reservoir at the bottom and a potting soil container on top. The two parts are connected by a wick, which draws water from the reservoir to the soil as needed.
To set up a wicking container, you’ll need to:
- Choose a container that is the right size for your plant. The potting soil container should fit snugly on top of the water reservoir.
- Fill the water reservoir with water. For indoor plants that are watered once a week, a reservoir that holds 1-2 inches of water should be enough.
- Place the wick in the water reservoir. The wick should be long enough to reach the bottom of the reservoir and extend up into the potting soil container.
- Fill the potting soil container with potting soil and plant your indoor plants.
To know when to refill the water reservoir, you can simply check it once a week. If the water level has dropped significantly, you’ll need to add more water.
To clean the pot, you can look for signs of mold or algae growth, which can indicate that the pot needs to be cleaned. To clean the pot, you can remove the plant, discard the old soil, and wash the pot with soap and water. Rinse the pot thoroughly before adding fresh soil and replanting your indoor plants.
Say Goodbye to Watering Woes with Self-Watering Containers
With the right setup and regular maintenance, self-watering containers can keep your plants healthy and thriving. Remember to choose a container suitable for your plant’s size and location, set up the wicking system correctly, and monitor the water level regularly to avoid over or under watering. Regular cleaning and maintenance are also important to prevent mold and bacteria buildup, which can harm your plants. By following these guidelines, you can enjoy the benefits of self-watering containers and have beautiful, healthy plants with minimal effort.
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