How do self watering planters work?

At Urbanscape Planters, the most common question we receive is: how do self watering planters work? This article will explain the process of how they work and a bit about the science behind their effectiveness. 

How do self watering planters work?

As you know, plants pull in their water from their roots. Adequately hydrated soil is the key to healthy plants. Watering a plant with a garden hose from above is somewhat effective, but often, much of that water ends up splashing off the leaves and running away from the plant. Self watering planters have a large water reservoir at the bottom of the planter that feeds the plant from the bottom up. This keeps the water away from the Sun’s rays and dramatically reduces evaporation.

Over time, the water from the reservoirs is then pulled up into the soil using wicking and capillary action. The wicking chambers in our planters allow water from the reservoir to deliver a consistent level of moisture directly to the root system, ensuring optimal plant growth. Your job is to simply fill the planters with a garden hose once every couple of weeks and your plants will stay adequately watered, even in the hottest months of the year. To learn more about this process, see our video here. 

Save Water and Time!

Self watering planters provide moisture directly to the plant’s roots, greatly reducing the risk of fungus and disease to the leaves of the plant. The overflow drain expels excess water from the planter eliminating flooding and root rot. These self watering planters give business and home owners an easy way to maintain the plants on their store-fronts or homes.