There are indoor plants that need water every few days, while others can go a week or two without a drop. Either way, you constantly have to water them. Watering your plants can take up time of your day that you often don’t have to spare.
How nice would it be if the planter itself could water your houseplants for you, wouldn’t it? Well, it is possible now. From different types of indoor decorative flowers to veggies, herbs and spices, now you can grow your favourite plants using self-watering containers. These ‘magical’ pots have proven to make a huge difference in how urbanites do gardening. In case you are not exactly familiar with all the modern plant pots with a self-watering mechanism available on the market, here’s what you should know.
What Is a Self-Watering Planter?
The main pot of this planter is a traditional pot for housing the soil and houseplant. What makes it different from the regular plant pots is the addition of a bottom reservoir, also called outer pot or water storage tank that keeps extra water. Another important part of this planter is the wick which connects the inner and outer pot so water can easily travel up to the plant’s roots and nourish it. Of course, you’ll still have to check on the water levels in the reservoir to ensure the plant can get the right amount of moisture.
And this brings on the question: How often do you fill self-watering pots? Well, that depends on the plants planted in these pots and how often those plants have to be watered. Typically, you should check the pot every week and add water accordingly. All in all, these plant pots will make your job much easier.
Self-watering pots are usually branded, and Glowpear is one of the most popular planter brands Australia wide.
How Are Self-Watering Planters Helpful?
Consistent Moisture
As this is a self-watering pot, it provides the convenience of simply making sure there is water in the reservoir (rather than having to monitor the soil of each potted plant you have) in order to supply water when it needs it. In other words, these containers provide consistent moisture for your plants. These pots also offer the convenience of being able to water to water your plants while you are away from home for a few days, or just so busy that you don’t have time to attend to them properly. Thus, they allow those who travel a lot or have busy lives to enjoy having houseplants without worrying about neglecting them.
More Efficient Use of Water
When you pour water into the top of the potting soil, some of it will evaporate from the surface, and in a way, it is wasted water. On the other hand, these modern plant pots are self-regulating, which means they deliver water only when the plant needs it. Plus, they draw water from below and there’s less moisture at the surface of the soil, meaning almost all of the water is used by the plant. Only a small amount of water is lost due to evaporation, but it’s significantly less than the amount of loss that occurs when you pour water into the potting soil from above.
Retain Soil Nutrients
When you water a plant planted in a traditional plant container, the excess water drains out of the hole at the bottom or through the sides of the container. By draining the excess water, the nutrients in the soil needed for proper plant growth and thriving, are also lost. This way, it becomes necessary to replenish the soil with new organic matter. With self-watering pots, however, this hassle is one less problem to worry about as they have a closed system that keeps the nutrients within the actual environment.
Lower the Risk of Plant Diseases
A very common plant care mistake that people do is over-watering the plants. This, in turn, can starve the plants of oxygen and lead to problems caused by fungus and disease. On the other hand, with self-watering pots as they give the plants only the amount of water they need, you lower this risk of fungal diseases. Hence, these planters encourage healthy root growth and healthy houseplants that live longer.
Space Is No Longer an Issue
Regardless of the space that you have available for gardening in your home, you can still find suitable planters that can fit in many tiny places. For instance, these modern planters can fit in a small space on the balcony, in the awkward corners inside your home, in tiny spaces in your kitchen, or just the windowsills, as you can choose the adequate size of planters, plus the needed features (such as rails or attachments with the fence and wall designs).
