Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendation . If you press link we render , we may take in compensation .
Our top picks are a perfect works - care resolution if you ’re busy or a frequent traveler .
In This Article
Better Homes & Gardens
If you jaunt frequently or just do n’t have a green pollex , ego - watering planters might be the root tokeeping your plant healthy . To get the best options , we tested a 12 planters over the course of action of four calendar month , noting how prosperous they were to employ and how well our plant fared .
But how on the button do they work ? “ Self - watering pots put to work by hairlike action , ” saysLisa Eldred Steinkopf , plant life expert of The Houseplant Guru . “ The water reservoir at the bottom of the plantation owner is fill and the plant soak it up from the bottom . If a wicking material is used , the taper draw the weewee up into the flora . The plant life parent only has to keep the reservoir filled with piss so that the plant life can draw up the water . ”
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Whether you ’re looking for a hanging self - watering hoop for your parched genus Petunia or a big , striking plantation owner with a huge piss reservoir for a gay deck , the leaning below has something for every gardener .
What We Recommend
We tested a dozen democratic self - water planters on the grocery in our homes , evaluating each based on its effectiveness , design , ease of use , feature , and price . To acquire more about how we tested ego - watering planters , check outour testing processbelow .
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Tierra Verde Self-Watering Planter
This stylish plantation owner keep plants well - watered and comes in multiple sizing and designs .
There is no water - degree indicator .
Though the Tierra Verde Sonata planter is made from recycled tires , it has the high - end appearance of fibreglass . It comes in seven dissimilar sizes and conformation , so you’re able to find the perfect one for your space . We chose a classic rectangular design , which look stylish and flux well into our blank space .
Credit: Home Depot
This trough - stylus plantation owner is virtually indestructible — they’re designed to fend cracking and crumbling , even in freezing temperature . The manufacturer even provides a 365 - daytime no - cracking guarantee . There were no signs of weathering or damage at the last of the testing flow .
We breezed through the apparatus ; all that is required is to slue two divider panels into station , which help oneself endure the social structure of the plantation owner . If using outdoors , you ’ll likely need to remove the drainage male plug to secure the planters do n’t get water - access heavy rain .
To replenish the reservoir , we simply watered the soil and excess water collected in the artificial lake below . We were very impressed at how these planter keptoutdoor plantsvibrant and sizeable , even in blistering 90 degree weather condition . We refilled the water reservoir of these planters every week or so , though it can be difficult to know when to refill because of the deficiency of a piss gauge .
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Product point : Sizes:4 , 10.3 , 12 , 14 , 18 , 24 , and 28 in |Material : Recycled rubber |Indoor / Outdoor : Indoor and outdoor
Key Terms to Know
Best Budget
Gardenix Decor Self Watering Planters
These affordable planters look like ceramic and are well-off to get together .
These pots may have weathering if used outside .
These corporation from Gardenix are the honorable ego - watering planters for the budget witting . The nested peck Seth has an internal industrial plant holder with ramification to see your plants are lifted above the water , which helps prevent root rot . These planters also have a weewee - level indicator to help you know when it ’s time to piss .
This pot comes with coco coir soil as part of the self - tearing organisation . Coco coir is made of coconut shell fibers and is bed for its first-class piddle retentivity and drain . This planting culture medium help ensure your flora ’s root get atomic number 8 as well as urine . The manufacturer recommends you useregular potting mixin addition to the coco coir .
We were impressed by how comfortable this was to put together — it only took three minutes to assemble by placing the interior pot into the exterior pot and slew the water indicator into place . To refill the reservoir , you simply pour water into the expansion slot between the interior and exterior pots .
This raft is available in multiple colors : ashen , white-haired , majestic , and blue-green . We loved that the stool did n’t look like charge plate , but note that the material looked like it may know weathering if used outside .
Product inside information : Sizes:7 inches |Material : Plastic , polypropylene |Indoor / Outdoor : Indoor
Best Splurge
Crescent Garden Rim TruDrop Planter
This plantation owner can go up to six weeks without watering and comes in multiple sizes and colors .
Matching saucers are betray one by one .
If you ’re look to splurge , we think the Crescent Garden pot is worth it . The planter is designed with recycled , high - ground level polythene to avoid fading in the hot summertime sun and cracking in cold winters . Even though it ’s made of a heavy - duty material , we found the planter astonishingly lightweight and easy to move . The double - walled design helps protect flora solution from extreme temperature change and also offers extra reservoir place for weewee . These planters are built to last and the manufacturer offer a 10 - year circumscribed guarantee .
you’re able to go up to six weeks without water with this planter , and it has a helpful water system level index number for easy monitoring . It comes in four sizes and 11 different colour in refined inert shades . We liked that this plantation owner resemble a clay pot and that it came quick to use out of the box — it even includes an instruction booklet with planting tips and a plant styling templet .
The reservoir was easy to fill up from the rim of the plantation owner ; there is a drain muddle and it is urge to remove the red waterproof plug to preclude overwatering when using outdoors . When the reservoir is full , a secret overfill metro will drain out the excess water , helping to foreclose ancestor rot . The only downside we noticed was the price , but thought the high quality and longevity made it a worthwhile investiture .
Product item : Sizes:18 , 22 , 26 , and 30 inches |Material : gamey - density polyethylene |Indoor / Outdoor : Outdoor
Best Indoor
HBServices USA Self Watering Pot
This working plantation owner is low-cost and has thoughtful design touches for indoor usance .
The plastic is n’t the most long-wearing we test .
For a fashionable indoor option , we recommend the HBServices planter . It features a top pot with slotted cutout on the bottom and hollow legs that are inserted into a reservoir . This excogitation keeps the roots above the water , assist to prevent overwatering . The open spline on the bottom of the pot also aid keep the roots oxygenise by encourage atmosphere circulation , foreclose root putrefaction . To jibe the water horizontal surface , but lift the top up to check the water reservoir underneath .
The bottom reservoir discus is functionally designed , with risers that nobble it off the background to prevent water stains on the trading floor . We also liked using the convenient tearing time to meet the reservoir .
Though this planter is made of plastic , it has color - firm properties and a glossy feel that makes it appear standardized to ceramic . However , it is n’t the most perdurable plastic , and it may check or chip if dropped .
mathematical product Details : Sizes:8 inches |Material : Plastic , polypropylene |Indoor / Outdoor : Indoor
Best Hanging
Gardenised Self Watering Hanging Planter
This hanging planter has a refined wicker design and comes with a hanging chain .
Due to its peak and the minuscule reservoir spout , it can be a scrap unmanageable to water system and need frequent tearing due to the small man-made lake .
hang industrial plant , specially those kept on porches , can be hard to keep water . They ’re often under overhang so they do n’t receive rain , and to progress to them , you may ask to draw out out a heavystep stool . A self - lachrymation hanging plantation owner is the utter solution to keep your hanging outdoor plants hydrated .
This option has a Graeco-Roman caning conception that lends itself to virtually any space and admit a chain for hang . The plantation owner has a gauge with maximum and minimum lines , so it ’s easy to say if you need to add water system . There ’s also a water supply port for comfortable filling and a drain plug . However , the porthole to sum up water is small , so it ’s easy to drop when lacrimation .
It only took a few minutes to set up ; just enclose the water - level indicator into its slot , put the ocean liner into the outer shell , and hang . We liked that it had a removable inner lining that made it easy to plant and unplant . The plantation owner and its Chain hold up well over the testing period without any subject .
The weather was very hot over the examination period , so we had to refill every other day or so since the water man-made lake is small , which was a downside of this planter . The pot does have an overflow system that will run out out water when the man-made lake is too full , which helps prevent waterlogged soil .
Product Details : Sizes:10.75 inches |Material : Polyester |Indoor / Outdoor : Outdoor
Best Set
Uouz Large Self Watering Pots
There is a cartridge clip - on funnel that realise it promiscuous to rain cats and dogs pee into the artificial lake .
It was difficult to lock the water reservoir into place , and there ’s no water - level indicant .
This modern planter come as a set of three . They are made of long-wearing charge card and sets add up in nine unlike solid and speckled color so you’re able to select one that will easily blend into your decor .
The planter ego - water through a wicking cord , which must be installed at the bottom of the pot by feeding it through the drain holes in the bottom of the planter . A wicking cord draw water supply up from the reservoir to the roots .
There is n’t a caliber or index , so to check out the water level we had to physically attend into the hole between the planter and the man-made lake or stick our fingerbreadth in to palpate for water , which was inconvenient . However , we loved the cartridge holder - on funnel used to stream body of water into the reservoir .
drain fix at the bottom of the pot increase airflow to the roots for industrial plant health . However , we line up it unmanageable to mesh the bottom weewee reservoir into lieu and even drop the artificial lake a few time . Because of this , we advise check into that it ’s locked in place before filling with water .
Credit: Amazon
merchandise Details : Sizes:9,10 , and 12 inches |Material : Plastic |Indoor / Outdoor : Indoor
Best for Herbs
Amazing Creation Window Herb Planter Boxes
These small , lightweight plantation owner descend in a readiness of three and are double-dyed for a window sill herb garden .
Planters overfill easily in heavy rainfall and there ’s not an light way to drain excess water .
This stage set of three orthogonal planter are project to be used on window Belle Miriam Silverman and are great forgrowing herbs . Herbs , such as basil and thyme , typicallyrequire a good deal of sunlightand will do best if placed in a sunny window . The planter are lightweight so they are n’t too heavy for a windowsill , even with a full weewee man-made lake .
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
There ’s a ready to hand corner water - fill up embrasure , which you’re able to use while the top quite a little is still in place to apace fill the reservoir . There ’s also a viewing window so you could easy check the water supply level inside the planter . These planter can last up to two hebdomad without lacrimation and have two wicking cartoon strip per mass . Because the weather condition was red-hot during the testing period and we were using the pots outdoors , the water reservoir needed to be fill again about every three days .
However , the planters overfill easily when it rained , which could lead to steady down decomposition and flora terms . We also did n’t like that there was no easy way to enfeeble excess water out of the planter . These factors lead us to reason out that these planters are well used indoors .
Product contingent : Sizes:5.5 inches |Material : Plastic |Indoor / Outdoor : Indoor
Best Colors
Winston Porter Carmeron Self-Watering Planter
This planter come in a rainbow of 14 different colour and is durable even when left outside for wintertime .
A saucer is not include and drain holes are not pre - drilled .
The Winston Porter Cameron plantation owner advertises all - weather lastingness with UV protection , and lives up to its promise . We thought this plantation owner performed exceptionally well , lasting an entire winter outdoors without any cracks or attenuation . The plastic is coat with a moldable resin that gives it a nice matte finish and help protect it from the elements . This planter come in 14 dissimilar colors and eight sizes so you could customize it to outfit your needs .
The ego - watering disc in this planter help preventroot rotand allows roots to receive O . However , this planter does not come with pre - drilled drain holes , so if you want drainage you will ask todrill the hole yourself . We opted not to practise holes and did not experience any origin rot or cloggy overflow .
When continue outside , this planter seldom needed to be watered and the plant thrived . The planter is incredibly low - maintenance and durable .
Product Details : Sizes:5.25 , 7 , 8.5 , 10.25 , 13.75 , 15 , and 17 inches |Material : Plastic , resin |Indoor / Outdoor : Both
The Bottom Line
The ground - friendlyTierra Verde Sonataplanter provides both form and function and is the best overall self - watering plantation owner . This stylish planter keep works well - water and is most durable , design to stand cracking and crumbling even in freezing temperature .
Our Testing Process
Our examination team come a step - by - step examination process to assess each plantation owner , testing all the plantation owner for a collective totality of 5,184 hour . First , we unbox the planters and lay them up , note if instructions were supply and how well-to-do they were to follow as well as the time it took to lay out up . We observed the spirit and finger of the planters and whether they were made of high or low quality fabric .
Then , we plant the pots and placed them in our homes , using them over a time period of weeks to months . We used the water indicator if the plantation owner had one and recorded how leisurely it was to see the water level and replenish the reservoir .
We rated the planter on the elan and if it enhance their space . They also noted if the blueprint included drainage and ventilation to forbid root putrefaction . We on a regular basis checked the soil moisture to see if the planter was self - tearing effectively and observed if their plant showed any sign of hurt or wellness .
At the end of the examination period , we recorded any legal injury or weathering the planters experienced . We also noted our overall experience with the plantation owner , and whether we recall it was deserving the price .
What to Know About Self-Watering Planters Before Shopping
Wicking Method
Self - watering planter make in two dissimilar ways .
Some ego - irrigate planters utilize a taper to keep the soil inside moist . “ A wicking material can be used to wick - water a industrial plant , ” Eldred Steinkopf say . “ Acrylic string or yarn is the best wick to use . Cotton can be used , but it rot , so is not the best choice . ”
She add that wick can be placed in the pot , either inside the bottom or up the side , as long as none of the string pay heed from the top of the grime , as that will wick pee out of the plant . The wick then hangs out a drain hole into a water container , wicking up piss into the potting commixture .
Other self - lachrymation pots have no wick , and instead the source drink in directly from a water supply reservoir at the bottom of the dope .
In this case , “ the plant roots get the water up into the dirt from the reservoir , " Eldred Steinkopf says . " Usually , there is a subway system in the smoke that you stream the water into to keep the man-made lake full . There may also be an indicator that reminds you the reservoir is empty , ” she enunciate .
Refill Frequency
The frequency with which you ’ll need to refill your self - lachrymation planter depend primarily on the size of the source . A turgid reservoir that can hold a flock of water supply may not need to be refilled for up to six hebdomad , while little reservoirs may require to be fill again every few day .
Eldred Steinkopf cautions , “ Just because they are ‘ self - watering , ’ remember you still have to fill the reservoirs ; this may be a longer or shorter stop calculate on the light levels , the type of flora , and the temperature . ”
Oxygen Circulation
atomic number 8 circulation around the roots is crucial to prevent etymon rot and to have a happy , tidy works . ego - watering planter encourage air circulation in a few different agency , including drainage hole and slot bottoms .
Material
Most self - watering plantation owner are made of synthetical materials , such as plastic or rubber . These materials are often engineered to avoid sun - bleaching in the summer and break up in the cold wintertime month . However , some plastics are estimable than others , and lower - quality plastic pots will do best indoors .
Other Self-Watering Planters We Tested
Lechuza 15392 Cube Cottage Self-Watering Planter
While we make love the fashionable design and the durability of thisLechuza planter , it did fall short , as the instructions for assembly were primarily in German .
Keter Urban Bloomer 12.7 Gallon Raised Garden Bed with Self Watering Planter Box and Drainage Plug
ThisKeter planterdisappointed us , as it felt flimsy and low quality — it even fell over on a windy daylight and damaged the plants . It was also indecipherable how to advantageously practice the planter , and the easy meeting place did not make up for these shortcomings .
City Pickers 24,5 in. x 20.5 in. Patio Raised Garden Bed Grow Box Kit
This planterfrom City Pickershad a somewhat complex readiness - up , and to make it more complicated , the instructions arrived damaged and unmanageable to stick to . In add-on , the ego - watering feature of speech did not work and the plants in the pot promptly depict polarity of distress . We did apprise that the plantation owner include wheel for easier movement .
Your Questions, Answered
Can you overwater with self-watering pots?
While outdoor planter that have drain holes or flood systems are unlikely to be over - water , ego - watering planters used indoors with their drainage holes stop up are at risk for over - watering .
“ If the potting admixture is too heavy , have in mind it is a mixture that hold a lot of water , the plant could have too much piss around its root , ” Eldred Steinkopf say . “ This is peculiarly genuine for inner plant — it may not be a large care alfresco . ”
In gain , she say you’re able to over - weewee if the wick is too slurred and it shoot up too much water into the ascendent expanse .
What plants are not suitable for self-watering pots?
While most plants are suitable for self - watering planters , Eldred - Steinkopf advises , “ I would not utilise ego - watering pots forcacti or other succulents … they have shallow antecedent system and choose not to be moist all of the meter . ”
Do self-watering planters cause root rot?
Root rotting can happen under many circumstances , not just with ego - watering planters . “ The soil mix used in the plantation owner would be the reason for the rot , ” Eldred Steinkopf tell . “ Also , choosing the wrong plant or the unseasonable thickness of wicking could result in root word buncombe . ”
Who We Are
This article was write byBetter Homes & GardenscontributorRachel Ahrnsen . She is a certified Master Gardener who is always looking for tools that will make it easier to take care of her plants . To put together this lean , Rachel spent hours researching self - irrigate planters and analyzed insights from our testing squad . The squad spent over 5,100 hours testing self - irrigate planters at home , scoring them on attributes like effectivity and plan .
She also consultedLisa Eldred Steinkopf , a houseplant expert who runs the The Houseplant Guru web log , where she ’s been writing about take in care of houseplants since 2011 .
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this lean , you may have acknowledge ourBHG Recommends seal of approval . Products that bring in the Navy SEAL have been put through stringent testing to check that they ’re deserving a bit in your home . We buy most of the products we test ourselves , but at times we are provided samples by companionship if purchasing is n’t an choice . In these cases , we expend the same testing touchstone we use to test the purchased products .
Credit: Amazon
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Amazon
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: The Home Depot
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Amazon
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Amazon
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Wayfair
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
