![]() ![]() I like self-watering containers because they provide consistent moisture for your plants without having to constantly water by hand. How are they helpful? Consistent Moisture and Less Frequent Watering In my experience, this is the least effective of the self-watering container designs. It relies on evaporation from the reservoir to moisten soil at the bottom of the planter and, from there, spread it throughout the container. This is the most common design.Ī third design sometimes sold as being “self-watering” has a perforated separator between the reservoir and planting container (so potting mix is never in direct contact with the water below). Water from the wet mix in that section is pulled up into the rest of the planting container through capillary action. The planting container is designed with a section that sits inside the water reservoir, placing potting mix directly in contact with the water.The wick basically sucks water out of the reservoir and delivers it to the potting mix. This can be a strip of capillary mat, an absorbent tube-shaped plug or a thick string. A “wick” is placed inside the container, with one end in the water reservoir and the other end in the potting mix. ![]() In self-watering systems, you’ll the following designs: If you’ve ever dipped one end of a paper towel in water, you’ll have seen capillary action in action as water slowly creeps across the rest of the paper towel. There are two basic ways in which self-watering planters move water from the reservoir into the planting container above, both of which rely on capillary action. This prevents plants from sitting in water (which would rot them pretty quickly) if you overfill the reservoir by mistake and keeps water at the right level after a heavy rain.įinally, a drainage hole with a plug allows you to drain the container at the end of the season (don’t leave water in the reservoir during the winter if there’s any chance it could freeze) or bring it indoors. These are convenient, as you’ll have a better idea of when the reservoir needs to be refilled.Īll planters should have an overflow mechanism that allows water to drain out if the reservoir is filled to full. Some planters have an indicator that shows how much water is in the reservoir. ![]() (I like that option but unless the cap is attached to the container, I always end up losing it!) Some tubes have caps to keep pests and debris out of the reservoir. This can vary from a simple tube placed in the corner of the planter to a hole in the planter rim or an opening in the container wall that gives direct access to the reservoir. Look for a planter with a water reservoir that’s large enough to provide adequate moisture for the volume of potting mix in the container above and that you won’t have to fill every day.Ī fill tube or opening of some kind is used to pour water directly into the reservoir. In larger containers, it’s not unusual to have a 5-gallon reservoir, while smaller planters may have only a 1-gallon capacity (or even less). Reservoirs vary in size, often in proportion to the overall size of the container. The top section of a self-watering planter is usually for your potting mix and plants, while the bottom contains the water reservoir. Not all self-watering planters will have all of the items listed below, but they typically include a: Water is poured directly into a water reservoir and then “wicked” into the planting container above the reservoir. But it does provide a consistent source of moisture to the plants growing in it and allows you to water less frequently.Īlthough designs may differ somewhat across brands and planter styles, the basics are the same. What is a self-watering container or planter?Ĭontrary to what the name implies, a “self-watering planter” doesn’t actually water itself. Or just keep reading for all the details, including my top recommendations.
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