For Those Who Lack a Green Thumb: The Benefits of Self Watering Planters

The positive effect of greenery on our mood is so strong that even looking at pictures of plants can make us happy. But of course, nothing beats the real thing. Where there is an abundance of living plants, the atmosphere is fresher and more colourful. And because plants produce fresh oxygen and clean the air naturally, they are especially important for tight and confined spaces where there’s pollution and the air can’t circulate that much. Or in other words, urban areas.

But as the urban areas keep expanding and skyscrapers keep growing, green areas like parks and gardens shrink at their expense. As a result, the only way to compensate for that missing greenery in our lives is to bring potted plants into our homes. Unfortunately, living in cities has also left many of us without the skills and time needed to take care for a living plant. So, many of us are reluctant about adding this extra chore on our list.

But taking care of plants doesn’t have to be a chore. The fact that we live in an era of advanced innovations means that there’s a way to simplify almost every task – even growing houseplants. Self-watering planters are the one innovation that can allow those of us lacking a green thumb to enjoy the wonderful effects of greenery in our home. But before you explore the various self watering planters for sale, you’re probably wondering how do these innovative pots actually work and what their benefits are?

How Do Self-Watering Planters Work

Self watering planters differ from regular pots in that they include a water storage tank, usually at the bottom of the planter, which you fill with water. Above the reservoir is the potting soil, which comes into contact with the water through a special wicking system. As the roots absorb water, the soil wicks up more, thus allowing it to maintain a consistent level of moisture. This way, the plant draws just as much water as it needs.

And now to the benefits.

Super Convenient

Perhaps the biggest reason self watering planters for sale are so popular is that they make tending to houseplants more convenient, especially for people who lack the time or travel a lot. Between managing our packed work schedules and private lives, it’s easy to forget watering the greenery in our homes. But with self watering planters, you don’t have to worry about watering your mini garden for weeks. Just fill up the reservoir and the plant will take care of itself. You can even go on a trip and not have to worry about tasking a friend or relative to water your plants. So, if the only thing preventing you from having plants in your home is because you think you don’t have time to care for them, self watering pots are your solution.

Great for Plant Health

Obviously, if you don’t water plants as often as needed, they won’t be able to transport crucial nutrients properly and carry out photosynthesis. But over-watering can be another common cause of plant death. Excess water in the soil can starve the plant of oxygen and become home to fungus and disease-carrying bacteria. Considering this, self watering planters for sale are a great way to prevent both over-watering and under-watering your plants.

In addition, self watering planters also help the plant get more nutrients needed for growth. When you water a plant in a traditional pot, the water goes through the soil, and the excess water gets drained through a hole at the bottom. As a result, as the drain of water, some of the nutrients from the soil also get lost, which requires you to regularly supplement them by fertilizing or repotting the plant. But in a self-watering container, the water doesn’t pass through the soil from above, washing out the nutrients, but is located below, thus helping to retain the nutrients.

What’s more, the structure of these planters also helps to maintain a healthy and deep root development. The reservoir at the bottom encourages the plants roots to grow downward, towards the water source opposed to laterally which is the case with regular planters. And when the roots grow strong and deep and provide great support, the plant is also more likely to grow much faster and healthier.

Helps to Conserve Water

With the effects of global warming rapidly escalating, there are many reasons to conserve water. Even if you think that you yourself don’t make a difference by reducing your water usage, every little bit helps. Considering this, self-watering planters can help you in your efforts to reduce your water usage as much as possible. These containers use water efficiently, delivering only as much water as the plant needs as opposed to regular planters where excess water drains out and evaporates. Plus, the trapped water in the reservoir of a self watering planters cannot evaporate with the dense soil covering it. As such, watering amounts are considerably lower, even for thirsty plants.

And What Are The Downsides?

Of course, before you go browsing the range of self watering planters for sale, you probably want to know whether they have any downsides. Like everything else, self-watering planters aren’t perfect. However, in this case, the benefits outnumber the cons. One of the disadvantages of self-watering planters is that they can’t be used outside as the plants can drown if it rains for longer periods of time. But this can be solved by protecting the soil with a waterproof cover. In addition, these pots aren’t suitable for some plants such as succulents, orchids and similar species. These plants need to have their potting soil dry out between waterings, and the consistent moisture of self-watering pots can cause their roots to rot.