Does Every Plant Do Better In A Self-Watering Planter?

terracast Blog

There are countless reasons to love a self-watering planter, which is why many of our customers are surprised to learn that not every plant needs one or will even benefit from one.   

Water is one of the most important elements in regards to keeping plants alive and healthy. Plants don’t want too much water but they also don’t want too little water, you have to find just the right balance. The world of greenery would certainly be simpler if all plants required the same exact amount of water at all times of the year. Instead, every plant requires a different amount of water, which tends to vary throughout the year.

The latest self-watering planters are made with added qualities that offer true value. Great candidates for self-watering planters include garden vegetables, perennials, annuals and many other popular garden favorites. If you are debating between a self-watering planter and a traditional planter we are here to help you make the best decision for your plants.

How Does A Self-Watering Planter Work?

Humans are always trying to invent ways to make life easier, and self-watering planters do just that. Since all plants need water, what could possibly be more efficient than a planter that waters the plants it holds? Hence why the self-watering planter is so popular.

Self-watering planters are equipped with a bottom chamber that holds excess water, keeping the plant from drowning or experiencing root rot, while also providing additional nutrients for 3-4 weeks.

Nearly all of TerraCast planters can be retrofitted for self-watering capabilities. That’s because we offer a specially made attachment piece that functions as a self-watering system. You can actually add a self-watering system to almost any of our planters, even ones you already have in your possession today. This secondary piece attaches to the bottom of the planter and acts as a water reservoir. It’s super simple to add the additional piece on. If you have any trouble you can always call us for assistance.

The water in this chamber is actually capable of continually feeding your plants. Each of our self-water attachments is equipped with a moisture-wicking system that sucks up moisture from the chamber, redistributing it back into the soil for the plant to absorb.

Plants will never drown because there is an overfill feature that keeps the water reservoir from filling up too much by releasing water out of the side as necessary.  Our customers have told us that a 40-60 inch self-watering planter is capable of self-sustaining for as long as a month without needing to be watered again.

When you water your plants, the water falls down through the soil and anything that isn’t soaked up along the way flows into the separated chamber. Thus, you greatly reduce your risk of overwatering your plants and ultimately killing them. If you overwater a traditional planter, the water pools at the bottom of the pot, soaking the roots 24/7. Anything soaked in water for an extended period of time is likely to rot from mold, including the roots of plants.

Does Every Plant Need A Self-Watering Planter?

Self-watering planters are an amazing invention that helps reduce plant maintenance and increase plant health, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs to purchase one. Here’s the thing, self-watering planters are going to cost more than traditional planters because they are more complex and provide added benefits. There’s no need to spend the extra money on self-watering planters if you are not going to receive the full benefits.

If you live in an area that gets a lot of consistent rainfall you don’t necessarily need self-watering planters. In wet climates Mother Nature takes care of the majority of watering, making self-watering planters a bit redundant. Unless, of course, you have issues with root rot because of an extremely moist environment, in which case the overflow system embedded in our self-watering planters will keep the plant from flooding and rotting from the roots up.

Regardless of what the weather is like in your part of the world, if you are going to be placing planters inside they can benefit from self-watering planters; although, weather conditions are not the only thing to take into consideration. The type of plant you are maintaining will also determine if self-watering is right. Plants that prefer an overly moist soil may not do that well with a self-watering planter because the soil will never stay as moist as it would in a traditional planter.

What About DIY Self-Watering Planter?

There are ways to create a DIY self-watering chamber using household items, such as water bottles or rocks. Using the wrong materials to fill a planter could impact the soil in negative ways, backfiring and creating additional issues. There’s no need to try and do it yourself when you can instead get a tried, tested and true self-watering planter that will last for many years, benefiting a vast assortment of plants.

Contact us today to discuss if self-watering planters are right for you!