Root rot is one of those conditions that you do not want a plant to suffer from. Essentially, a plant’s roots will rot out when they are subject to overwatering, improper soil preparation, or a combination of both.
The roots lay soaking in stagnant water at the base of the growing container and shriveled up in the wet gunky soil. Once the rot establishes itself, the disease can easily spread up through the plant and kill it.
But, do self watering planters cause root rot?
No they don’t. In fact the self watering planters were designed to help mitigate this issue (root rot). However, they cannot be used to completely avoid it. They work by making use of an attached drip tray at the base.
This ‘reservoir’ holds a serviceable amount of water, allowing the plant to absorb it slowly. They also indicate to the user when the water needs to be refilled.
In this article, we’ll go through exactly how self-watering planters work, their pros and cons,, and any usage tips worth understanding.
Table of Contents
Do self watering planters cause root rot?
A small handful of imbalanced growing conditions causes root rot. Therefore, a disease like this cannot be blamed solely on self-watering planters. The most common causes of root rot are soil composition and overwatering.
Every plant species requires a certain type of soil for its unique root system to grow and establish itself. For example, Caster Beans, Iris and Aster thrive best in clay type soil which retains more moisture.
Wisteria, Tomatoes, and Carrots love a loamy soil composition that allows much better aeration and drainage. Preparing the right soil is the most important action when growing a successful crop.
Following close by in a second, overwatering amplifies the effect of poor soil choice. If the soil already retains water, applying excess amounts may not allow it to drain away and dry out, leaving the roots to drown. Self watering planters won’t prevent root rot from occurring.
However, they will help by allowing the water somewhere to exit.
How self-watering planters work?
Self-watering planters are a little deceptive to those who have never used or heard of them. The term ‘self watering’ suggests that a grower doesn’t have to apply any water to the plants.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. However, the beauty of these growing containers is that they contain a discrete window that indicating when water should be added.
They also include a handy built in wick and drip tray reservoir. The wick absorbs the water from the reservoir and guides it directly to the root system.
The plant can then use the water as required. Another perk of self watering planters is their ability to severely minimize the chances of a plant producing root rot.
When a plant is either prepared with the wrong soil composition or receives too much water, its roots become smothered, and essentially drown in the clogging blend. Once root rot sets in, it can easily spread up through the plant if untreated. As a result, the plant will unfortunately die.
So, when the self watering planters allow some water to drain, the chance of the plant’s roots succumbing to root rot is minimized. This equipment is extremely convenient and helps balance water application frequency.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Self-Watering Planters
Self watering planters have some pretty impressive uses. Namely, their ability to minimize nutrient and water wastage. However, there are a few downsides that need to be considered when planning to implement these growing aids.
Their overall look and setup costs top the list of disadvantages. The maintenance can also be a bit of a task if a proper schedule isn’t planned out and followed.
Let’s look at a range of other benefits and drawbacks of self watering planters in a lot more detail.
Pros
Best For Indoor Plants
One of the biggest problems with indoor plants is guessing which plants need a certain amount of water and at what frequency. Self watering planters can assist in making this task easier. You can go around and water each plant every 1-2 weeks, and the absorbing wick will allow the plant to soak up moisture when required.
The water sits in the separated reservoir instead of at the base of the container so the growing medium can stay dry while the still plant receives its required moisture.
Convenient watering solution
The convenience of this system revolves around removing the guesswork of a watering schedule. Simply water (without overwatering) at an even interval, such as every 1-2 weeks, and let the planter do the rest of the work.
Of course, the growing conditions need to be optimized for this system to be foolproof. The right soil must be prepared, the plants should be exposed to an adequate amount of sunshine, and the amount of water should be controlled, etc.
Prevent over or underwatering
Self watering planters cannot completely prevent the effects of over or underwatering. However, they can help to distribute the water in much more of a slow and safe manner.
Overwatering is not recommended for many species of plants, so it’s always recommended to research the type of plant you’re growing before using equipment such as this.
Furthermore, regardless of the plant type, it’s always worth checking the soil condition before administering any amount water. It’s not uncommon for growing containers to become blocked without notice, and may not be able to assist in preventing the mentioned conditions.
All in all, self watering planters can help control the plants’ water consumption when used in the way they are designed.
Saves Water, Time and Energy
Providing these growing aids are used correctly; they can save a ton of water by only using the amount necessary. Depending on the plant species, you could plan your schedule to be something like 200ml per plant every Monday.
This way, you would know the exact amount of consumption, and you could adjust accordingly as opposed to just watering freely and wasting the precious commodity unaware. Time and energy are saved by doing fewer trips to the tap and at random frequencies.
This is also quite beneficial for someone like a frequent traveler who may require a neighbor, friend, or family member to go around and give their plants water. They could give them a simple guideline, and the process could run like clockwork.
Beneficial for plants in hot or dry climates
Self-watering planters are great additions for growers who must navigate hot and dry climate types. Quite often, it’s easy to just drown your plants with the thought of giving them enough water, so they don’t dry out. However, this method of watering usually does more harm than good.
Plants can’t just soak up everything they have lying in their growing container. They take what they need when needed, and the rest just sits at the base of a stagnant pot.
The roots eventually rot out and die. Therefore, using self watering planters is a perfect way to apply a certain, calculated amount of water each time without allowing guesswork to ruin your green friends.
Reduce Nutrients wastage
Nutrients rely on moisture to become activated. Overwatering will dilute them much faster, and underwatering won’t allow them to activate as effectively as they should.
Using self watering planters helps to evenly distribute the amount of water the plant receives and therefore reduces nutrient wastage by allowing them to be utilized in the exact manner they need to be.
Encourage Deep Root Growth
With the added reservoir and wick, plant roots rarely lay in stagnant water at their container base. As a result, they can focus their energy on producing a strong and healthy root system.
When the roots of any plant are allowed to become optimized, they will be able to reap major benefits as a result. The roots ultimately determine the overall health and longevity of a plant.
Cons
Costly Initial Set Up
Like all good quality gardening setups, one of the biggest drawbacks is the cost of getting them up and running. For self-watering planters, it’s difficult to find anything of decent size and quality for under $35 per container.
This is mainly due to the extra parts that make them function uniquely. Instead of a simple pot, you get the wick, reservoir, and inner layer. These parts warrant a slightly higher price, though.
Require more maintenance
Every plant and its container require some kind of maintenance, especially when it comes time to clean them out for a report. However, all of the intricate parts of the self planters require a little extra elbow grease to free up any tricky soil spots.
They may even need a smaller brush to get inside some of the fine edges to ensure a clean finish. You never know if any kind of diseased residue is left behind, which could damage the next plant.
Furthermore, all parts need to be cleaned out separately, whereas a traditional pot only needs a basic rise out.
Not suitable for plants that require specific watering regimes
Self watering planters are an amazing piece of equipment but only when used with the right types of plants. Plants such as ferns, Indian grass, cattails, and Iris absorb considerable water. Some of them grow alongside riverbanks where they can take in as much as they please.
Using self watering planters for these species won’t allow them to stay moist. Therefore, they are generally not a good choice if they are high on your wishlist and other growing methods and equipment are required.
Not Ideal for Areas with High Humidit
When plants growing in self watering planters are subject to high humidity levels, they can easily become clogged, leaving them completely dysfunctional. The same issue can occur when it rains also.
These pots just can’t handle a lot of moisture as they turn the growing medium into a mud mix, and are useless. Furthermore, when the soil turns into a clogged mess, the required maintenance is counterproductive.
Not aesthetically pleasing
This factor all depends on personal preference. Some people think that these types of planters are a real eyesore. They do look slightly bulkier when compared to traditional growing containers.
They also have some added parts that can be seen if not correctly put together. We think some of the newer designs look amazing but each to their own.
Can Backfire If Not Done Right
Setting up these planters according to the manufacturer’s instructions is an important step to ensuring they function correctly. Some simple tasks, such as soaking the inner sections in hot water to open the pores, can be easily missed and not allow adequate drainage.
Furthermore, making sure the wick and reservoir aren’t damaged upon purchase is worth checking on, as the planter is useless without these. We always recommend removing each piece from its packaging and inspecting them before setting it up. Then, connect them all step by step.
If all steps are followed, there shouldn’t be any reason the planter should work any other way than it was designed to.
How to prevent root rot in self-watering planters?
Self watering planters don’t necessarily cause a plant to suffer from root rot. However,, if the soil isn’t prepared properly and there is too much water, root rot can easily form regardless of the growing container.
Therefore, the best way to mitigate any potential root rot issues is by maintaining adequate water levels via managed frequencies and ensuring the soil can drain away without restrictions.
Let’s look at applying these actions and choosing the right plant types for self watering planters.
Keep it indoors
One of the easiest ways to prevent root rot is by growing your plants in a controlled environment. What better way to do that than indoors. This way, the plants are removed from any unforeseen weather conditions or climates such as winds, rains, heat, chills, humidities, etc.
Most of these conditions contribute to soil degradation and lead to rotting roots. Keeping them indoors allows you to focus strictly on what they need without the headache of trying to counteract any changes in their environment.
Ensure Proper drainage
Adequate drainage for self watering planters should be of the highest priority. It is one of, if not the most important factor in using these planters. If the moisture has nowhere to drain, it will clog up the soil and suffocate the root system.
The water won’t allow the roots to receive any oxygen to allow them to grow. As these moments occur, the roots will rot out, turn mushy, and the plant will slowly die.
Check water levels regularly
The beauty of most self watering planter models is their built in indicator window. They are designed to allow you to see what the water level looks like. They indicate how much remains, and you can gauge how much is adequate to add per application.
These windows are usually quite discrete, meaning they don’t ruin the aesthetics of the planters. It’s good practice to check the water levels at least once weekly to ensure that the amount applied is balanced. Overwatering and underwatering can cause some real problems if left unnoticed.
Use a well-draining soil mix only
We already touched on the importance of drainage, and it’s usually the soil that needs to be regulated to allow these planters to do a good job. The best types of soils are potting mixes with fine particles. These allow the water to move up the wick freely. Blends that include sand and coir work best. Try to avoid chunky materials such as pine bark or any other thicker mulches.
Only select the right type of plants
The best types of plants to use within a self watering planter thrive best with slightly moist soil. This includes cherry tomatoes, carrots, spinach, cilantro, basil, iris, hostas, coleus, etc. At the same time, plants that thrive best in soil that dries out aren’t suited to these systems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you overwater with self watering pots?
Self watering pots will not stop the damage caused by overwatering. Some moisture may run off out the base, but not larger volumes. Therefore, it’s always best to follow a strict watering routine regardless of the pot type. We recommend not overwatering in any case.
How long does a self watering planter last?
As long as all of the parts are well maintained, self-watering planters can easily last as long as any traditional growing container. As far as the amount of water is concerned, the size of the pot determines when the water needs to be reapplied. It could be every 1-2 weeks for smaller pots or even up to 4 weeks for larger pots.
Do self-watering pots drown plants?
Self watering pots are not designed to drown plants. They are merely a piece of equipment to assist in slowly watering a plant via a slow absorbing reservoir and wick system. Poorly draining soil and overwatering are the main culprits of drowning out a plant.
Conclusion:
The risk of root rot occurring within a self watering planter is much like that of a traditional growing container. It’s not so much the pot that causes plant roots to rot out. Instead, when a plant is prepared with soils that don’t allow adequate drainage, its roots suffocate in the excess moisture surrounding them.
Furthermore, overwatering a plant with poorly draining soil only further compounds the matter. Proper care and consistent maintenance will ensure that your plant thrives regardless of the container used to grow it.
The benefits of self watering planters outweigh the drawbacks by quite a bit.
They’re convenient, save time, and are pretty easy to set up and use. We hope that this guide has been helpful. You can read about similar topics here on our website. Check back again soon for more.
