Are you tired of the daily struggle to keep your plants hydrated in Summer? Have you wished for a way to make plant care easier, while ensuring vibrant growth? Welcome to the world of self-watering pots! These innovative pots aren't just a fad; they revolutionize plant care for both experts and beginners.
This guide will walk you through the essentials of self-watering pots, how they operate, their wide range of benefits, and practical tips for their use. Let’s jump in!
What Are Self-Watering Pots?
Self-watering pots are an interesting blend of functionality and user-friendly design. Moulded from sturdy, clear plastic, they let you monitor your plants’ roots without disturbing the substrate. Their built-in water reservoir guarantees that your plants get a steady supply of moisture, making them perfect for busy lifestyles.
For example, studies show that using self-watering pots can reduce the frequency of watering by up to 60%. This means you can enjoy lush greenery while spending less time worrying about your plants.
How Do They Work?
The design of our Wildvine self-watering transparent pots is clever and effective. Here’s a simplified breakdown of their operation:
Water Addition: Fill the bottom reservoir with water. The pot’s system uses capillary action to draw moisture into the substrate, so your plants can absorb their water when it is needed. The water tray is removeable for easy cleaning.
Moisture Control: Allows the plants to absorb water when required which helps to prevent root rot – a common issue for traditional soil pots. Not only that, these pots have vented sides to allow ample airflow through the substrate and root system. Oxygen is essential to healthy root system.
Root Visibility: Since these pots are transparent, you can quickly check the health of your roots. This gives you insights into your plant’s well-being that traditional black pots conceal. This also helps with knowing when it is time to up-pot your plants.
Soil-Free Substrates: When you use self watering pots, you run a semi-hydro system and generally use substrates such as Leca or Pon. Being soil-free means the aeration in the substrate is optimal and it reduces pests that thrive in organic matter, such as fungus gnats.
Check out our Semi-Hydro growing BLOG here.
Benefits of Using Self-Watering Transparent Pots
1. Reduced Maintenance
With self-watering pots, you dramatically reduce the time spent watering. Rather than checking moisture levels daily, you only need to refill the reservoir when it is low (this is easy to see with the transparent, removable saucer. This can be anywhere from a week to every two weeks, depending on the plants thirst & time of year. This feature also makes them perfect for busy individuals, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your plants and less time maintaining them.
2. Improved Hydration Control
Self-watering pots help eliminate the worry of over watering or under watering. A study found that plants in self-watering pots grow 20% faster due to optimal moisture levels. With their design, you can rest assured your plants are consistently hydrated without guesswork. The key really, is not forgetting to fill up the water reservoir when it runs out! (I have done this a few times, don't worry)
3. Pest Prevention
Organic matter in traditional soil pots often attracts pests like fungus gnats. Self-watering pots minimize this problem. By reducing soil exposure, you create a healthier environment for your plants. This leads to fewer pest issues and healthier growth.
4. Growth Monitoring
Watching your plants thrive is so rewarding. Transparent pots make it easy to check root health. This visibility allows you to catch any potential problems early, allowing you to make adjustments to care as necessary.
5. Versatility
These pots suit various plant types and sizes, from small to larger plants like pothos, Philodendron, Begonia and Monstera for example. By selecting the right size, you can ensure that every plant in your collection has the perfect home and when the time comes, up-sizing is a breeze with our range of sizes. Starting at 12cm and going up to 21cm.
Choosing the Right Size
Our Wildvine Self-watering transparent pots are available in sizes such as 12cm, 15cm, 18cm, and 21cm. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the best one for your plants:
Small Plants: Opt for 12cm or 15cm for small cuttings or small established plants.
Medium Plants: The 18cm pot works well for slightly larger plants, allowing for ample root expansion.
Large Plants: Use the 21cm pot for the likes of Monstera or bigger plants that require more space to flourish.
Setting Up Your Self-Watering Pot
Setting up is straightforward:
Choose the Right Pot: Pick the correct size based on your plants root system.
Add Growing Media: Lechuza pon, Biopon or leca are all fantastic choices. You can also use the likes of straight perlite or pumice as well.
Position Your Plant: Gently place your plant inside the pot and fill any gaps with your chosen substrate.
Flush: Once your plant is potted up, give it a thorough rinse through and flush the substrate. This removes any fine particles and dust from your substrate. Do not do this over a sink, preferably into a bucket or outside with the hose.
Fill the Reservoir: Add water to the reservoir and monitor levels regularly. On the second refil, you can add a few drops of a good quality fertilizer, I recommend GT Foliage Focus or GT Complete Focus. They are complete and balanced and are suitable for semi-hydro growing.
Observe Your Plant: Take note of how your plant adapts to its new environment and adjust care as necessary. Some plants when transitioning from soil to semi-hydro can take a bit of adjusting to their new environment. They may even loose a few roots in the process, that is completely normal.
Here is a link to our YouTube video on switching plants from soil to semi-hydro https://youtu.be/cYZBBk76wQE?si=G1aMliPxLQjgktQM
Care Tips for Your Self-Watering Pots
1. Check Water Levels Regularly
Even though self-watering pots maintain moisture well, checking water levels is still a good habit. This ensures that your plant is getting the hydration it needs. If left too long without being refilled, you can run the risk of dry rot. This is when plants roots dry out completely, then when watered again, they rot as they don't have the ability to absorb moisture any longer.
2. Clean and Maintain
Regularly clean removable trays as over-time fertiliser and fine particles from the substrate can build up. Keeping your pots clean promotes healthier plants over the long term & is more aesthetically pleasing.
3. Rotate Your Plants
Plants need light to thrive. Occasionally turning your pot helps ensure that all sides receive equal sunlight, which supports balanced growth. If this is not so much an issue for you or you can't, that is totally fine too, your plant will just grow to face the light.
4. Know Your Plant's Needs
Research your plants’ specific needs, including preferred light and humidity. While self-watering pots help simplify care, every plant variety has unique requirements that should be respected. Not all may be suitable for a self-watering pot.
Finding Your Ideal Gardening Solution
Self-watering transparent pots represent an excellent option for anyone looking to ease their plant care routine. They minimise maintenance, reduce pest issues, and allow you to monitor growth with ease. Whether you are a seasoned green thumb or a new plant parent, these pots can significantly improve your indoor growing journey.
Happy planting!
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