How Do Self Watering Pots Work? Learn NOW

Self watering pots provide necessary waters to plants when they need it. Here, a gardener does not need to water his or her plant every day. The plant receives water by itself.

If we give enough water to the pot at one time, plants will not need water for the next 15-20 days. Through this process, we can directly give water to the roots. Soil and roots will get the proper moisturizer.

How does a self watering pot work?

There are two parts to it. In the top part, we will keep the plant. Moreover, at the bottom, we will keep the water. It called a water storage space.

What does a self watering pot consists?

1. Plants pots or containers
2. Water overflow holes
3. Water reservoir
4. Water level indicator
5. Tube
6. Drainage hole

In the beginning, we have to fill enough water storage space. If we give excessive water, it will go away through water overflow holes. The soil will take the water from the bottom. Plants will get exact moisture if the water reservoir remains filled.

So, we must not keep it dry. Water reservoir also helps to save water from waste. In a self-watering pot, the water stays out of the sunlight and wind. That is why it takes a long time to evaporate water.

How to make self watering pots in the home?

We can buy various types of self watering pots from stores. We can also make our own self watering pot in the home according to our own shape and price range.

If you want to make a self watering pot then you have to follow the following steps:

In the below, two methods of making self watering pots in the home. These are –

1. Plastic bottle
2. Glass bottle

Plastic Bottle

Things we need-

1. Thick jute rope
2. Plastic bottle with cap
3. Knife/Plastic cutting machine

At first, take a plastic bottle, where the plant will grow. We will select a bottle according to our plant’s size. Then cut the bottle from middle and divide it into two pieces. Now take the cap of the bottle. Make a hole in the cap.

Now, take a thick jute rope. Tied the rope in the cap. Now keep the cap with the rope in the bottle like before. As we divided the bottle into two parts, so we will keep the cap in the upper part of the bottle. Rope’s length must be longer than the bottle.

Fill water, in the lower part of the bottle. Fill soil in the upper part and plant the selected tree. Keep the upper part of the bottle into its lower part. The rope must touch the water.

In this way, plant’s root will absorb water. But the upper part should not touch the water. We must maintain at least 3-4 inch distance between them.

Now gardener does not need to give water in the plant for 2 or 3 weeks. Sometimes watering depends on the plant’s characteristics also.

Glass Bottle

We can also use glass bottles.

Things we need-

1. A glass bottle with cap
2. Hammer
3. Pliers

Take a clean glass bottle. The bottle must have an aluminium cap. Remove the plastic from the cap if there exist any. Make 4-5 small holes in the cap. Fill the bottle with water. Keep the cap in its place. Now dig a hole in the soil.

Next, put in the top part of the bottle in the soil. Water will come slowly into the soil from the cap’s holes. We have to refill the bottle when it will be empty. Refill time depend on the size of the bottle. Most of the time its duration is one week.

This glass bottle method is better than a plastic bottle. It is long-lasting.

Anyone can follow the self watering method in his or her plants. It increases the attractiveness of home, office and schools.

The benefits it of self watering pot

We know that watering is an important issue for plants. However, excessive water is harmful. Most of the time we suffer from this problem. If we use a self watering pot, the plant will get the exact amount of water.

It is very helpful to grow many plants, especially vegetables. It improves the plant’s health and productivity. Because plants take everything to grow fast, as they need. There are many more advantages of it. These are –

• It saves water (70%) and essential elements of soil
• Provide proper moisture to the soil
• It provides a consistent supply of water in the plants.
• Fewer chances of diseases and fungal attack.

Why a gardener will choose self watering pots?

There are many reasons, why a gardener will choose self watering pot for providing water in their plants. Such as-

• Many people love to plant trees inside the home. However, this is very difficult for some people for watering them inside the home. Because of this problem, some people do not want to plant trees inside the home. For them, this method will give them relief. It will never dirt inside the home while watering.
• Nowadays many new people are interested in gardening. Therefore, they do not know everything about the plant’s care. Self watering is very helpful for them. Because it helps to increase the health and productivity of plants.
• Some gardeners do not know how to give water to the plant. Water is an essential thing but too much water is not. In fact, we cannot give water in the plants anytime. Therefore, for them, this process is perfect to apply.
• Because of working pressures and busy lifestyles, sometimes we forgot to give water to the plants. Some people thought, they could not take care of their plants properly. That is why they never plant trees. For those kinds of people, self watering is the best solution. They can easily plant trees without having any trouble.
• If we go out for a trip for some days this pot will provide water to plants.

What are the disadvantages of self watering pots?

This pot is not appropriate for every plant. Especially, for the desert plant, self watering is not a good option. Because those types of plants require dry soil. Cactus, Rosemary, Orchid, and Cacti are some of those plants; never grow well in a self watering pot.

They cannot take too much water and prefer dry soil.  In the rainy season, this pot does not work well because of the humidity in the air. If a gardener follows this method then he or she must avoid giving liquid manure in the soil.

FAQ

Do Self Watering Planters Really Work?

Yes, Self Watering Planters really do work, if they are done the right way.

Though the name might mean the planters watering itself, that is not the actual case here. It is a water management system that provides plants the water supply constantly. As we described before in detail, if the procedure is followed correctly, Self Watering Planters should work.

Are self watering pots good for indoor plants?

Self watering pots are a great way for your indoor plants to have a constant water supply. Vegetables and other indoor plants are suitable for self watering.

How do you fertilize self watering containers?

Fertilizing the self watering pots or containers is an important work.

1. Dig a hole into the soil.
2. Put 1-2 cups of fertilizer in the hole.
3. Cover that hole with the mixing pot.
4. Give some water onto it.

How long do self watering pots last?

Self watering the plants saves you from the labor of regularly watering the plants. However, nothing is forever. Sooner or later the water will become toxic as well. So you have to change the water after a certain period of time.

Self watering pots last around 3 weeks. You should change the water after that.

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Thanks to gardening channel