If you are a plant lover, you can relate to all the hassle that comes in when keeping your plants healthy. Apart from parasite and disease control, routine plant watering also sometimes becomes a challenge. Despite knowing how to water house plants, symptoms of excessive watering or water deficiency often get overlooked. We all know that plants are quite heterogeneous in terms of watering requirements. This pretty much depends on their native land of origin and optimum climatic conditions. While some types need 2 or 3 daily watering cycles, others can easily survive with watering on alternative days. Besides underwatering, over-watering is also a great threat to plant’s existence. It often leads to roots rotting and softening, in turn, weakening the plant’s anchor. Amid all this hassle, self watering planter or plant pot is a lifesaver as it takes a lot of your pressure away.
If you do not have a self watering planter as yet, we have a series of reasons to convince you. The top three on the list are water conservation, ease, and consistent plant health. All these containers come with a user manual and customized instructions regarding water filling and operation. These planters not only prevent your plants from drying out but also control excessive watering. For all those who are reconsidering their decision of keeping indoor or outdoor plants, these planters are an amazing option. Having to see healthy, green, and fresh plants with zero hassle is a win-win for all. The only work on your part is to fill the planter’s tank or reservoir twice every month. In this article, we have shortlisted some best self watering planters to assist you in finding the best fit for your house and plants.
How do self watering planters work?
The basic working principle that drives these smart planters is the capillary action. All self watering planters consist of a small tank for storing the water. The planter then draws up this stored water for watering the plants. When this water reaches the plant roots, they absorb it and the remaining water is absorbed by the soil. The soil moisture level should be maintained at a consistent level. When the plant transpires through its leaves, the inner water level of the plant drops. So, it keeps on drawing more water through its roots. Some people also consider setting up an automated self-water system but it requires a large amount of capital. Therefore, you can rank these compact self-watering planters as an economic alternative. Some of these planters have high-end features including a water level indicating dial and an overflow valve for preventing overwatering.
Now let’s shed some light on the composition of these smart planters. Plastic is the most widely used material for making self-watering planters. The major reason being its less cost and low fragility. However, plastic planters not often have a stylish and presentable outlook. Therefore, if you are prioritizing the aesthetic factors over durability, select a ceramic planter. However, due to the UV resistance feature, you can use plastic planter both indoors and outdoors. Most often, a self watering planter comes with a potting mix. But in most cases, you might require using your own potting material. This is important because plants are having constant access to water so there is a risk of waterlogging. These days, the most preferred potting material is the coconut coir. It has replaced conventional peat due to its renewable nature. As its light in weight and porous, it allows plant roots to breathe.
Best self-watering planters- top 5 picks
Following is the list of the top-rated 5 self watering planters.
1- Exoplanter– the best overall
The Exoplanter is a novel smart planter equipped with high-end features which not only take care of your plant but also your environment. It is not only a simple self-watering planter but a comprehensive intelligent caretaker of all your household plants. The Exoplnater is the first smart planter ever developed in the world that uses the moisture trapped in the air to provide water to the plants. To precisely check over the plant needs, this planter is equipped with highly accurately smart soil sensors. These sensors constantly monitor the soil water levels and immediately notifies and rectifies in case there is under or over-watering. Just run this planter for a couple of hours and be assured that your plant’s watering needs will be fulfilled for a week.
With the Exoplanter at home, you do not need to get a humidifier as it will do the job for you. If your surrounding air has high water saturation, the Exoplenter will start its dehumidification by capturing the excessive water in the air. So now you do need to worry about mold growth as well since the humidity levels in your house will remain under control. Enjoy thriving, healthy, and fresh plants in a comfortable air with the Exoplanter.
What makes Exoplanter unique?
Following are some unique features of the Exoplanter:
- The Exoplanter uses an energy-efficient technology so it only uses 36W per hour.
- It features highly precise and smart soil sensors which accurately measure the moisture level around the plant roots.
- It uses the water trapped in the surrounding air to cater to the plant’s moisture needs.
- This smart planter can function over a broad range of temperatures from 32°F to 114°F.
- With the Exoplanter, don’t worry about fulfilling the plant’s water requirements whenever you are on a trip. With the Exoplanter, your plants will thrive even in your absence.
- It not only takes care of the plant’s water needs but also makes your household environment comfortable by dehumidifying the air.
3- Cole & Mason Self-Watering Planter
This product is an ideal choice for watering herb gardens. Herbs require regular watering but they are very delicate when it comes to overwatering. It consists of a couple of hydro felt pads that allow water transfer from the reservoir to the roots of the plant. A tray for collecting extra water is placed under the planter. You can very easily drain the collected water by sliding the tray out. This planter has a reservoir with a pretty decent water holding capacity i.e., 10 ounces. The company provides four felt pads with the planter which according to the manufacturer’s claim are sufficient for 1 year.
The planter comes with small-sized pots which according to reviewers is perfect for kitchen herbs such as basil and cilantro. Also, there is no need for repotting. Instead, you just need to place the pot on the felt pad, if there is no clogging in the drainage vents.
2- Lechuza Cubico Cottage self-watering planter
This a rectangular planter made from plastic that is frost and UV-resistant. It will work both indoors and outdoors. You can place it on your balcony, along the driveway, or backyard. If you are keeping it outdoors it also has a drainage plug. This dual quality is helpful especially from those plants that need to be shifted inside during low winter temperatures. The planter comes in two different heights i.e., 22 and 30 inches.
To keep your plants healthy, the planter has a box-shaped liner with a water reservoir underneath. Also, it has an opening that makes it easier to fill when required and has a water level indicator. Moreover, there is a special filler that serves as a separating wall between the water reservoir and the soil. It also helps in aerating the roots of the plant introducing the amount of water and moisture required by the soil and roots.
4- 8” round planter (self-watering and self-aerating)
Most self-watering planters face the problem of rotting roots especially if they are not designed accurately. This self-watering and the self-aerating planter by HBServices is one such solution. This is compatible with even the most difficult plants. This planter provides ample space between the container that has water and the plant to allow air to move, unlike other planters. Moreover, there are air slits present on the underside allowing additional aeration. It comes in four different sizes, five various colors, and some models with extra aeration features. The planter is composed of BPA-free and UV-resistant plastic ensuring maximum durability and plant protection.
5- GardenBasix Elongated Self-Watering Planter
For all nature enthusiasts, a widow box with blossoming plants or a herb garden is always a delight to the eyes. However, watering these window boxes is not a piece of cake. This rectangular window box is one such solution that is able to hold water and makes it very convenient to water the plants occasionally. The planter is modern and sleek and is durable and accurately designed for the task.
It also features a water level indicator. You can add water to the planter using the injection port of the planter. Moreover, there are coconut coir disks in the planter that get transformed into a quart of plant fiber after water is added.
Conclusion
All self-watering planters have a different design, some may be better as compared to others. However, all these products possess the same primary function that is reducing the water requirement. If we compare, it can be clearly inferred that the Exoplanter leads the way with its intelligent high-end features. It is the world’s first smart planter that uses air moisture for watering the plants. Moreover, it helps in preventing the untimely death of plants due to over or underwatering. It is high time you get such a smart planter if you are a plant lover. There is the reason why they are known as self-watering because the plant can decide on its own that how much water it needs and will absorb accordingly.