Self watering pots! Any advice pls??

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by learningardener, Apr 20, 2021.

  1. learningardener

    learningardener Gardener

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    I am bringing a new indoor big plant and i was thinking about a self watering pot! Whats your view about this? Are they realable? Or they will root rot your plants?? Any advice pls..
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Not something I have tried, so can't really say.
     
  3. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I use self watering containers outdoors for summer bedding flowers and strawberries, mine came from Lidl and work very well. I can leave them a few days without worry. Never tried an indoor system myself but I have worked in offices where they are used, seem ok
     
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    • luis_pr

      luis_pr Gardener

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      They are not exactly a fill them up and forget kind of a product. Some of the self-watering planters I have seen look like can deeply wet the soil. That could cause root rot or development of fungi.

      Probably not good for succulents and cacti, maybe even plumeria - they usually need to dry out in between waterings.

      To prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the planter, flush the water with some regularity.
       
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      • Selleri

        Selleri Koala

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        Self-watering pots have been around for decades for a reason- they work. Most plants you would typically buy for a house plant will do very well with regular access to moisture from below, and as a bonus, the pots are easy to place and move around as there are no scruffy or unstable saucers to manage.

        I believe the best part is that it's not possible to overwater the plants. Overwatering is the main killer of houseplants, and self-watering containers remove that risk.

        Depending on the plant, it may be a good idea to allow the reservoir to stay empty for some days between waterings over the winter.

        Personally I have moved from self-watering pots (a novelty in 80s :biggrin:) via pots in cache pots (decorative and neat but difficult to water properly) back to pots with hole and saucer. My fishbone cactus will now go into self- watering hanging basket simply because it's so difficult to water the plant when the soil has gone bone dry and the water just runs from the surface.
         
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        • learningardener

          learningardener Gardener

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          Yes but are they realable?? And can cause roor rot?? And if the system dont tell the truth and mecchanism mulfunction??
           
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          So is it possible to over water or not.:scratch:;):biggrin:
           
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          The system I have is really simple, just a reservoir at the bottom with a wick, the plants draw up water as they need so there isn't a mechanism to go wrong. It would only suit plants that like being kept on the wet side. So slower growing plants could well suffer with root problems.

          What plant is it you have ?
           
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