Urban gardening- some have been living the lifestyle for years, some just joined the craze in the last few months as a therapeutic retreat. Nevertheless, gardening enthusiasts have utilized the tiny spaces that big cities offer for urban gardening and transformed them into “green lungs” for fresh veggies and beautiful flowers. From small succulents on windowsills to edible plants on balconies, anything can thrive in your personal garden if you put in enough care.
Now, we all know that when living in a big city your days are pretty hectic so the thought of having to care for plants that have a long list of requirements might be daunting. But the popularisation of urban gardening has made life easier even for the busiest gardener. Providing your plants with basic necessities while balancing a busy schedule may become inconsistent, and this is where a self-water planter comes in handy.
Self-watering planters are the most significant technological advances in gardening because they reduce plant watering time and provide consistency for your greens. The planter is made up of a water reservoir beneath your plant’s main pot that is connected to the soil via capillary webs for direct watering. The reservoir has a water level indicator that shows how much water is left in the planter and whether or not it needs to be refilled.
This method of planting allows for your plants to get water directly to the roots, as needed, avoids overwatering or drying out and cuts down a lot of your responsibilities. Almost all types of these planters have an over-flow mechanism that saves your plants from drowning in case of rain. Gardening has made quite astounding improvements in making it easier to maintain this hobby anywhere you live and whichever lifestyle you may have.
Types of Self-Water Planters
Self-water planters have advanced in all aspects during the course of these few years, and now you can find an array of choices available on the market depending on your needs. From chic and modern self water planter models to utilitarian styles for herbs and veggies, the range of pots is truly wide.
Window Box Planters
These types of pots are ideal for apartments as they can be placed neatly on a windowsill. Due to their smaller size, window planters are best for flowers or herbs. They can hold enough water to last you weeks, making them perfect for the casual gardener.
Raised Garden Box Planters
Small in size but mighty in power, garden box planters give you the chance of home-grown organic veggies right on your balcony. This type of self water planter provides enough soil space for certain veggies to sprout roots and come with a cover to protect them from the elements. The water reservoirs are made to last a long time, and in the colder months, they can go even months without having to refill them.
Vertical Planters
Vertical or tall planters are of good use both for indoor and outdoor gardening. Some of these models of planter have to be manually watered for the first couple of weeks and they drain the excess water for further usage. This is until the roots of the plant reach the reservoir. Vertical planters have wheelies attached for easy relocation and are considered the more sophisticated planter options.
Attachable Planters
These are just basic, horizontal planters that can be placed on a balcony and work nicely for flowers and smaller fruits. The perk of this planter is that it has hooks for attaching a corner piece or just extending the length of the planter. Attachable planters give you the opportunity of connecting your whole balcony with planters and create a tiny, personal jungle.
Benefits of Self-Watering Planters
If you’re gradually leaning into urban gardening and want to know how to properly implement it into your life, the key steps are figuring out what will help your plants grow healthy and strong. Standard containers may give you a sufficient environment for plants, but sometimes they can also be detrimental for growth. Self water planters offer you a consistent watering schedule and optimal setting for healthy roots, but that’s not all to them.
Save Water
The thick soil of the plants doesn’t let the water evaporate even in warmer climates, therefore resulting in less water usage. It provides enough water to keep the plant healthy plus it prevents drowning of the roots.
Time-Efficient
The mechanism of these pots allows you to spend less time managing water supply for the plant and more time caring for steps in the gardening process. In addition, you don’t have to worry about monitoring when or how much water you’ve put in the plant.
Preserve Nutrients
When you water plants manually from above, the water breaks down essential nutrients in the soil and they get flushed out of the container while self-watering planters trap the nutrients within the pot and allow your plants to absorb them nicely.
Prevent Diseases
These planters keep the soil moist without affecting the stems and leaves of the plant, which prevents moulding and other diseases that attack the upper body of the plant. Additionally, self-water planters encourage the roots to seek the water supply which prevents them from rotting.
How to Plant in a Self-Watering Planter
Basically, self-watering planters “defy gravity” and allow the plants to absorb water up from their roots and distribute it through their whole body. This is achieved with “wicks” that transport the water to the soil. So, the assembling process follows that theory.
First, you insert the reservoir and wicking mechanism at the bottom of your container and adjust the filling tube at its designated spot. Usually, all planters come with instructions for instalment, but these are general guidelines for almost every type. After placing all of your parts, you’ll need to pour damp potting soil over them to prepare for the plant that’s getting transferred. Make sure the soil is well-absorbent and lightweight to ensure even distribution of water.
From there, you’ll want to get your plant, shake up the roots a little bit to expose them end gently place it in the pot. Once you’re positioned the plant, add more soil if needed and pat it down to secure the plant firmly. The last step is watering the plant from above to settle in the roots, and once it’s absorbed, fill up the reservoir to the top. With some planters, you might need to water overhead for the first couple of weeks to kick-start the process, but those are rare and only for specific plants.
It might seem intimidating at first, but using a self-watering pot will improve your gardening and help you grow healthy and happy plants. The best thing to do before jumping on the urban gardening trend is to educate yourself on the process of growing and taking care of plants.
The Best Types of Plants for Self-Watering Planters
In theory, almost all plants are suitable for this type of planter, but some require special care when placed in these pots and that’s why people refrain from planting them.
Decorative plants such as succulents and cacti grow better with dryer soil and the same goes for herbs like lavender or even eggplants and sweet potatoes. But even those can thrive in those settings if you adjust the water temperature, control how much water goes in the reservoir and provide special care for the plants.
If you’re more of a beginner gardener or just want low-effort plants, here’s a list of plants that do well in self-water plants and require little to no attention:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Peace lily
- Ferns
- Calathea
- Basil
- Iris
- Fitonnia
- Garlic
- Perennials
With even the smallest personal garden you will contribute to the environment and yourself. Plus, having your own plant baby to care of will reward you during blooming and harvest season. Pick out your favourite plant, grab your gardening gloves and start nurturing that green thumb of yours.
