A self-watering planter is a planter with a built-in water reservoir. The reservoir is connected to the plant’s root system via a wicking system, so the plant can take up water as needed. This type of planter is ideal for people who want to grow plants, but don’t have a lot of time to water them regularly or want to cut back on their water usage and prevent under or overwatering.
Benefits of using a self-watering planter
Self-watering planters are becoming increasingly popular as people become both busier and more conscious of the environment. There are two major benefits to using a self-watering planter:
- They help to conserve water. Traditional watering can use upwards of 10 gallons per week thanks to overwatering, while self-watering planters only use 2-3 gallons per week on average. By switching to a self-watering system, you’ll save money on your water bill (win!) while reducing your environmental impact (win!).
- They require less maintenance. With a traditional planter, you have to remember to water every day (or multiple times per day in hot weather). If you’ve got a lot going on, it’s easy to forget. There are a variety of apps that can send you personalized reminders about which plants need watering on which day. But with a self-watering planter, you only need to refill the reservoir every few days or weeks.
How do self-watering planters work?
Self-watering planters deliver moisture to plants as needed thanks to water reservoirs at the base of the pot. All you have to do is fill up the reservoir on occasion. This reservoir is connected to the potting soil through a corded wicking system that draws in more water as the plant uses it up.
This method of watering eliminates the need for frequent watering and can help to prevent problems such as overwatering and root rot.
The soil in the planter acts as a natural filter, keeping the roots healthy and free from harmful chemicals. Although the self-watering system ensures that the roots always have access to moisture, it can also prevent problems such as overwatering and root rot, resulting in healthier plants.
The disadvantages of using a self-watering planter
While self-watering planters may seem like the best solution for keeping your plants healthy and hydrated, there are a few disadvantages to using them.
- Although it’s counterintuitive, self-watering planters can actually lead to overwatering if they’re used incorrectly. If the reservoir is overfilled or isn’t monitored on occasion, the plant roots can be submerged in water for long periods of time, leading to root rot.
- These planters can be expensive, which can put quite a ding in your bank account if you need to buy more than a few of them. It costs more to buy a self-watering terracotta planter than it does to pick up a few inexpensive terracotta pots at the store. Additionally, self-watering planters might need replacement parts and filters, which can add up over time.
- They’re not always as effective as they claim to be. If the soil in the self-watering planter dries out too much without you noticing, it can be difficult for the plants to recover.
How to choose the right self-watering planter
The market has been flooded with various self-watering planter designs in recent years. So, how do you know which one to choose? Narrowing it down is a lot easier if you answer three questions:
- What size plants do you need to grow? Along with this, you might need to factor in repotting if you invest in plants that need more space as they grow.
- How often do you want to water your plants?
- What’s your budget?
It might seem like an oversimplification at first glance to talk about the size of the plants you want to grow, but it’s not meant to be. It’s something that does actually need consideration and research.
Certain plants are perfectly fine with snug quarters and thrive equally well whether they’re restricted or allowed to grow. There are also plants like succulents, which don’t tend to grow bigger. Buying a planter that is too large for these plants in the hope they’ll eventually fill out the extra soil is a recipe for disaster.
Likewise, some plants won’t thrive if their pots are too small. If you’re repotting a mature plant that won’t get any larger than it is now, choosing the right size is simple. But if your plant is an adolescent, you’ll need an appropriate container now as well as a larger one as it matures.
Make sure you know your plant’s watering requirements. If you are planning to grow succulents, which need infrequent watering, you can get away with a smaller reservoir. But if you’ve got a soft spot for tropical plants, you’ll need to account for more frequent top ups or invest in a larger reservoir to handle their love of moisture.
You’ll also need to be realistic about your budget. There really is no shortage of brands and styles available in the self-watering planter market. But a single pot can set you back as little as $10 or as much as $1,500.
Just looking at basic terracotta planters, a 3-pack of small self-waterers will run you around $30. But if you forgo the self-watering route, you can get a 6-pack of basic pots for $25.
The pricing difference can be huge if you need to invest in multiple pots, whether that’s for a variety of plants or for plants that need room to grow.
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed by your choices, check out our roundup of the best self-watering planters on the market right now.
Should you make the switch to self-watering?
American households use 80-100 gallons of water per person per month on average, translating to around $875 spent on water bills alone each year. Add to this rampant global inflation causing the cost of goods to skyrocket, and it’s understandable that many households are looking for ways to cut back on expenses.
Investing in self-watering planters isn’t going to save you hundreds of dollars each year. But looking at how much you can cut back by not overwatering (up to 25 gallons saved per month), making the switch will help carve a little out of your average water bill.
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