How Self Watering Planters Work? - Ask Extension
Article on Self Watering Planters I read the article, but have some questions. How is the water added to the reservoir? Does the water in the reservoi...
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How Self Watering Planters Work? #794324
Asked June 05, 2022, 1:56 PM EDT
Article on Self Watering Planters
I read the article, but have some questions.
How is the water added to the reservoir?
Does the water in the reservoir wick up into the soil?
Does the plant get all its water from the reservoir using the roots that grow into the water?
Is the plant top watered until the roots grow down and reach the water in the reservoir?
Is there a video?
Peter
Dorchester County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi Peter,
How is the water added to the reservoir?
Either through a fill tube or by watering the growing media (excess water not held by the growing media will fill the reservoir).
Does the water in the reservoir wick up into the soil?
Yes, if the media is in contact with the water. I personally like to apply water to the media to ensure that it is sufficiently moist to support root growth.
Does the plant get all its water from the reservoir using the roots that grow into the water?
The plant gets water from the roots growing in the media and the roots that grow into the water reservoir.
Is the plant top watered until the roots grow down and reach the water in the reservoir?
Yes, and as you are watering the plant(s) in the early growth stages excess water will drain down into the reservoir.
Is there a video?
No
I've attached some photos showing two different bucket-in-bucket systems.
White buckets: uses a plastic container (deli cup) filled with growing media to wick water up into the rest of the media above the reservoir.
Green buckets: a much simpler design- inserting one bucket with holes drilled in the bottom that sits inside a second bucket with a drainage hole drilled in the side. A piece of fiberglass window screen material is fitted into the bottom of the inside bucket to prevent excess media from moving into the reservoir. Roots will grow through the mesh.
Good luck!
Jon
How is the water added to the reservoir?
Either through a fill tube or by watering the growing media (excess water not held by the growing media will fill the reservoir).
Does the water in the reservoir wick up into the soil?
Yes, if the media is in contact with the water. I personally like to apply water to the media to ensure that it is sufficiently moist to support root growth.
Does the plant get all its water from the reservoir using the roots that grow into the water?
The plant gets water from the roots growing in the media and the roots that grow into the water reservoir.
Is the plant top watered until the roots grow down and reach the water in the reservoir?
Yes, and as you are watering the plant(s) in the early growth stages excess water will drain down into the reservoir.
Is there a video?
No
I've attached some photos showing two different bucket-in-bucket systems.
White buckets: uses a plastic container (deli cup) filled with growing media to wick water up into the rest of the media above the reservoir.
Green buckets: a much simpler design- inserting one bucket with holes drilled in the bottom that sits inside a second bucket with a drainage hole drilled in the side. A piece of fiberglass window screen material is fitted into the bottom of the inside bucket to prevent excess media from moving into the reservoir. Roots will grow through the mesh.
Good luck!
Jon
