It was Mother’s Day, and I was given a gift of self-watering pots. I was encouraged that the gift also included various teas to grow possible indoors or even outdoors at least until the end of the Fall season. My first thought was this is great I can go on vacation, and this solves the problem of finding someone to take care of my plants while I am away. Then I discovered that not all plants are suitable for these pots. It brought me to my research to find what was the best solution for this beautiful gift I was now a recipient of.
Self-watering plants have become quite popular and how this works is the pots use a wick system which transports water from a reservoir usually at the bottom and waters the plant to create moisture. A good comparison would be an old fashion lamp in which the oil is added at the base of the lamp with the aid of a wick or some type of cloth which transports the oil from the container so that it can be lit to produce light.
Self-watering pots use a similar system transporting water to the root system of the plant by the wick and continues to create moisture. My job was to figure out which plants prefer environments that enjoy moisture and would be able to survive. After some research I made the following choices that would be suitable for the pots.
Self-Watering Plant Choices
Teas
- Peppermint I chose this plant because it is very easy to grow, and it is seldom that this plant will die. The container makes it the perfect choice being an invasive plant that spreads unless there is some control. It will do well in a moist soil.
- Lavender- Although it requires a well- drained soil and I think the self-watering pots will be suitable adding enough moisture for the growth of this plant without overwatering.
- Camomile will survive in many conditions, including a hot climate and because it is drought-resistant these pots will provide just about the right moisture of its survival.
- Lemon Balm is a part of the mint family and requires a moist soil which will be provided by the self-watering pots. Placing plants like these in pots is a better way to control it invasive characteristics.
- Catnip A favourite among most cats. It is also a part of the mint family that can be vigorous in its growth. Definitely a good way to control its growth.
Herbs
- Sage Choosing this plant was entirely based on the plant being able to take the amount of moisture needed. Adequate moisture is provided rather than it becoming totally saturated with water which this plant does not like.
- Basil Enjoys a moist soil and these pots will allow the root system to extract the water it needs easily for its health growth.
- Parsley Best kept in containers and requires some moisture to maintain a healthy plant. These pots are perfect to provide the moisture it needs and to avoid the leaves from wilting.
- Wheatgrass A superfood that grows well in most soil.
- Lemongrass Used in teas and stews and grows well in a most environment.
Vegetables
Leafy vegetables are recommended because the moisture in the soil aids to keep the leaves revived and looking healthy for consumption. Produce like lettuce, spinach, parsley, watercress and tomatoes are some choices that will do well in a moist soil. The self-watering pots are ideal for these vegetables which provides the necessary moisture they need without having to constantly check the soil.
Although there are other vegetables that can be grown in this type of soil not all plants are suitable for these pots. This will depend on the size of the vegetable one of which is cauliflower which I would not recommended although it enjoys a moist soil.
Indoor and Outdoor Plants
- Fern A beautiful green tropical plant that loves moisture and can survive in places with limited sunshine. This makes them the ideal plant for these pots.
- Pothos A popular green plant with beautiful green leaves with variations of colour. An easy plant to care for and grows well in a moist soil.
- Spider Plant An easy growing plant that is able to thrive very well in many conditions.
- Begonias This plant does not enjoy direct sunlight. The moist soil that these pots provide is adequate for their growth.
Maintenance
Although these pots are recommended for some plants. You are not left without doing some work. In order to keep them functioning proficiently. Maintenance is required to make sure they are kept clean to avoid overgrowth of bacteria. The soil and the wick have to be maintained as well so there is sufficient moisture. Humidity may be a factor that changes the atmosphere and can cause the soil to become dry which affects the growth of the plant especially in extreme cold and hot temperatures. The reservoir helps to keep the wick moist, in cold temperatures careful attention has to be continued.
Advantages of Self-Watering Pots
- Minimal care needed for specific plants.
- Efficient in water conservation and aids with helping the environment for water consumption.
- Allows the homeowner to leave for extended periods without concern about watering the plants.
- Permits individuals with small spaces to grow plants and vegetables on decks balconies and in the indoor space.
- It is a method to maintain consistent moisture in the soil especially for leafy green vegetables.
- A convenient way to garden especially if you are forgetful to water the plants.
- A preventative way to avoid overwatering and causing root rot to plants.
Disadvantages
- Limitation on the types of plants that can be grown.
- On going maintenance is needed to prevent overgrowth of algae and other bacteria.
- In extreme temperatures both hot and cold the reservoir needs to be checked frequently to prevent water loss causing the wick to become dry causing water loss to the plant.
- They can cost more to purchase than the traditional pots because there is more involved with the initial set up.
- The need to check for any stagnation of water which can sit for a period of time depending on the humidity.
How do Self-Watering Pots Work
These pots focus on the root system of the plant where water travels to various parts and supplies the nourishment it needs. Plants are placed in a pot along with an absorbent cloth which is strung through holes leading to the base of the pot with soil. At the bottom is a reservoir which holds the water along with an access attached to water the plant. Only a small amount of soil is in contact with the water directly.
The roots of the plant will take what is needed from the reservoir while the absorbent material helps to maintain the moisture the plant needs. There is very little chance of overwatering the plants and causing root rot if this is handled correctly. Adding water as required is necessary and be sure to check if the reservoir is empty before filling.
Recommendations
- I will recommend these planters if your lifestyle has a limited time to care for plants but still enjoy the beauty they add to the home.
- If you are forgetful about watering them and they could die of thirst.
- Use as a preventative means to keep the plants hydrated when away from home either for business or vacations.
- Small spaces which contribute to spills and messes.
- They are usually well made and can last longer than the traditional pots.
- They are great to be used in gardens that want to grow leafy green vegetables.
- Some plants like vegetables and herbs require a most soil which these pots are able to provide and will create a more resilient yield in the garden.
- If this is your preferred choice of pots, then make your own self-watering pots by using either large or small containers as a project.
The Right Choice for your Lifestyle
Making the right decision to use these pots is your decision and will include the choices of plants that you desire and the time you will allot to the care and maintenance of these pots. Although they are referred to as self-watering the name suggest that very little care is needed. Unfortunately, that is not a fact.
Much care is needed to ensure that they are functioning the way they were intended to. Being neglectful can cause a list of many problems like the soil becoming dry and deficient of water causing the plant to die. Or an overgrowth of algae causing similar results. The reservoir must be maintained to make sure the plant has sufficient water, and it needs the right amount of water to avoid issues like root rot.
Experimenting with both types of pots can help to make sure that you have made the correct decision. A good way is to plant the same type of plant in the traditional pot and in the self-watering to see which is better for you in your own circumstances.
I discovered that there is no actual way to prove that these pots work better than the traditional ones. What I liked about them was the convenience they offered when traveling away from home for extended periods of time. I also enjoyed them as having some ability to be self-sufficient and not requiring constant watering while away from home.
Even if I was forgetful at times, I appreciated that I was able to conserve on my water bill and at the same time I was making a positive contribution by using less water. Therefore, my consumption was reduced and also helped in conservation of the environment. From that prospective I will highly recommend them if it means that we are making the world a better place for the next generation.
Limitations
While these containers do have their limitations pertaining to capacity and the type of plants they can accommodate. If you wish to engage into a do-it yourself project, building your own self- watering containers can be a project to engage in. You will need the following : a container, material that separates the soil from the water, a reservoir, drill to makes holes in the container, PVC plastic pipe to act as a means to transport the water to the reservoir and some type of material preferably cotton acting as a wick to keep the soil moist and soil.
If you are up to this challenge, then engage your family and kids too. They will have an opportunity to engage in this concept to build your own self-watering pot and also planting your preferred herb or vegetables and watching it grow and develop into a mini garden. It also teaches them this method of conservation of water and the benefit it adds to the environment.
The need to remind ourselves that these pots are not the perfect solution must be eminent. It requires care and careful monitoring to make sure that nothing out of the ordinary is occurring with them. Be aware of molds that can form and the possibility of extreme weather like cold can cause them to crack. Attention must be administered to keep them functioning correctly to keep the plants healthy.
Choosing the correct soil makes a big difference to the health of your plants. A well -drained potting mix is suitable which is able to maintain the moisture it needs. Using soil that becomes too compact is not ideal. That would mean only a portion of the soil would be moisturized and the rest would be too hard to penetrate with water. The plants would be unable to survive and unfortunately would eventually die.
Even though these pots are not perfect and seem to have been developed from an idea using the irrigation system it has limitations. There are many advantages. If it helps to make someone’s life easier, then it’s worth paying a bit more for them. I would recommend using them to reduce the amount of water use, any device that helps with some conservation regarding the environment is worth investing in. Taking a small step at a time goes a long way as we invest into our future.