Caring for plants in your home can be quite tricky, especially if you haven’t had any previous experience.
Some plants need to be grown in special conditions, like, for instance, in a lighter environment, or they need more water than other plants. For this purpose, you sometimes need to use artificial light for plants or to create a specific watering schedule.
This can be quite challenging, especially if you like to travel or if you need to go on work trips a lot. That would mean that most of the time, you wouldn’t be able to properly care for your plants.
Over the years, there have been inventions created to help you grow plants even when you can’t be there all the time.
Today, we’ll talk about one of those products. More specifically, you will learn what are the 6 best self-watering planters in 2023 and beyond.
Without any further ado, let’s get on with it!
Check out this video by Gardening Products Review on YouTube to see how self-watering planters work:
[youtube video=”o2m5fQ9l8Ec”]
What are the Benefits of Self-Watering Planters?
Before we cover some of the best self-watering planters on the market, let’s see what exactly the benefits of using these planters are:
- Healthy Nutrients Last Longer
When you use normal pots for your plants, every time you water the soil, it will lose some of the useful nutrients over time.
Whenever this happens, you will need to add some supplements in the form of fertilizer to make up for the lost nutrients.
This process is slower or, in some cases, completely eliminated if you use self-watering planters. They have an enclosed area that is capable of removing any excess water. But, it also allows the soil to retain the healthy nutrients your plant needs.
- Reduced Water Consumption
One of the most useful benefits of self-watering planters is that they allow you to forget to water your plants from time to time.
You won’t need to think about watering every day or so. Instead, these planters are capable of distributing water equally and in the quantities your plant needs.
This is extremely important, especially in areas where the climate is quite hot, so every drop of water is important.
Also, water is not evaporated from the planter itself. Instead, it is kept in a separate area, allowing you to pour it into the soil whenever you want.
- Time Savers
Apart from just saving some water, and retaining healthy nutrients, self-watering planters can also save you some time.
There are several other products, such as watering bulbs, that can save you time when watering the plant. However, watering planters are definitely amongst the most useful ones.
They allow you to go away on vacation or a business trip because you can set a fixed watering schedule, and the planter will slowly release the water, drop by drop.
This way, the soil will constantly be moderately wet, which is what most indoor plants prefer. However, before doing this, make sure to check exactly how much water your plant needs, depending on the species.
- Keep Roots Healthy
One of the most important things about plant growth is to have strong and healthy roots. This leads to productive blooming and fruit output.
A major problem a lot of gardeners face is the rotting of the roots. This usually happens because of overwatering.
Therefore, if you want to prevent that, and to make your watering schedule a lot easier, getting self-watering planters is a good idea.
This way, roots will get the right amount of water to grow healthy, which will further help other parts of the plant grow as well.
The 6 Best Self-Watering Planters
Now that we covered have covered some of the benefits of self-watering planters, let’s showcase some of the best self-watering planters on the market.
Best Overall – Lechuza Classico 28 LS
The Lechuza Classico 28 LS self-watering planter is one of the best overall choices if you are looking for a reliable planter.
It has a liner you can completely remove and setup up the way you want. Apart from that, there is an indicator that allows you to check how much water is left in your planter.
This planter also has a set of holes for removing any excess water, which protects your plant from getting developing root rot.
It’s made of top-quality metallic materials, and its diameter is around 11 inches, allowing you to place medium-sized plants in it.
However, this measurement is the total amount of space. When you remove the space needed for the water holder itself, then there is a bit less space to use for planting.
Best for Balconies – Lechuza Balconera
Now, if you’re thinking of growing some herbs on your balcony, this self-watering planter is probably the best choice to consider.
Lechuza Balconera is specifically designed to hang on balconies, which allows you to plant some beautiful flowers and beautify your balcony.
Furthermore, its brackets are located on the back, so they are completely invisible, which only improves their ability to beautify your place.
To ease the watering process, there is an indicator that allows you to know when it’s time to add more water.
Best Decorative Planter – Lechuza Cube Cottage
This 12-inch self-watering planter comes with a water reservoir that has a personal indicator, allowing you to set a precise watering schedule.
That means that you can separate the plant’s soil from the water. With that, you can avoid having trouble with rotting roots.
Also, there is a specially designed drainage system, which will remove any excess water, like, for instance, from the rain.
However, the main characteristic of this self-watering planter is its design. It looks very stylish and modern, which would fit many offices, restaurants, and homes.
Best for Small Plants and Flowers – Vanavazon 6-Inch Self-Watering Planter
This self-watering planter from Vanavazon is made of top-notch plastic material. It’s quite small, only 6 inches, which means that it’s best for smaller to medium-sized plants or flowers.
For example, I find it most useful for growing small African violets because it is both practical and decorative.
With the separate water storage, you won’t need to worry about watering your plant for at least a week, depending on the season.
All excess water is kept in the separate area of the planter, combined with wick rope, which is used to provide additional water to your plants.
Best Budget Self-watering Planter – Lechuza Yula
If you are in need of a small and cheap, yet highly effective self-watering planter, then look no further than the Lechuza Yula model.
It’s relatively cheap compared to similar products. Apart from that, its modern design will fit any home and office.
Its premade system for efficient self-watering comes with granulate compounds made of non-organic materials, allowing it to feed enough water to the plant. This is extremely useful because it lets the roots develop properly.
Apart from that, the plastic it was made of has a complete UV resistance, meaning that it will also protect the plant from harmful sun rays.
Best for Outdoor Gardens – Lechuza Trio Cottage
Lechuza Trio Cottage is a slightly more expensive choice for enthusiastic gardeners who need a lot of space for their plants.
It features three separate chambers, allowing you to mix different plants together, or to propagate your existing plant into multiple specimens.
Just like all other planters from Lechuza, the Trio Cottage is also made of top-quality, sun-resistant materials. This offers additional protection and makes them a long lasting option.
Also, there is a pre-built self-watering system, alongside the indicator for the water level, allowing you to customize your watering schedule.
Conclusion
There you go, folks! Today you’ve learned about the best self-watering planters, and the benefits of using them to grow your plants.
All of this should help you to give the best possible care to your plants, without having to sacrifice your personal life for strict watering schedules.
References
SFGate Home Guides: What Are the Benefits of Self-Watering Planters?
TerraCast Products: Benefits of Self-Watering Planters for City Squares and Other Public Locations
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Essential Nutrients for Plants
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do you have to refill self-watering planters?
The best thing about self-watering planters is that you won’t need to refill them every day or so. Depending on the plant and size of the pot, self-watering plants must be refilled about every 3-5 weeks, which is perfect for people who need to travel or work a lot.
How does a self-watering planter work?
Every self-watering planter has the same simple system. There are two separate parts. One is for potting mix, while the other holds excess water. Some self-watering planters allow you to specifically time how much water you want to give to your plant. Hence the name self-watering planters.
Can self-watering planters cause root rot?
A very low number of self-watering pots don’t have drainage holes. When this is the case, it’s hard to drain all the excess water from the pot, which can cause overwatering problems. This eventually leads to roots getting rot if not treated.