Have you ever heard of bottom-watering?
If you're new to owning and caring for houseplants, it might be a term unfamiliar to you.
Typically, we're accustomed to pouring water directly onto the soil around the plant's base. It's what we've seen our mothers and grandmothers do since childhood - pouring water into the plant pot and letting it slowly seep in.
It's how we've always done it, without questioning if there's a better way.
But is there?
Let's explore the concept of watering your plants from bottom up - what it is, how it differs from the traditional watering method, and whether it's worth considering a switch.
In this article we will cover:
Comparing Top Watering And Bottom Watering
Comparing Top Watering And Bottom Watering
Benefits of bottom watering
You can bid farewell to the worries of your plants thirsting for water.
Over-watering becomes highly unlikely when you ensure that the saucer is fully dried between waterings.
Maintaining a dry top layer of soil makes it simpler to manage pests and fungi, ensuring better control over them.
Say goodbye to soil splashing onto your precious foliage.
Promoting healthier root systems, as the roots will need to extend further downward in search of water, leading to enhanced growth and vitality.
Watering small seedlings will not displace them..
Drawbacks of bottom watering
Mineral and salt build-up in the soil
It can take longer, depending on your setup
Benefits Of Of Top Watering
Convenience - This simply required no special setup or or extra steps in the watering process.
Washes away excess mineral deposits - too much salts and minerals left in the soil can be harmful to your plant. So it’s good to wash these away once in a while by top watering. Brown leaf tips can be an indicator of too many excess salts and minerals in the soil.
Drawbacks Of Top Watering
Can encourage pests and fungus development
Can damage the leaves and foliage of your plants
Soil can become compacted, this leads to two problems:
It will be difficult to hydrate properly, as the water will be channelled out of the soil, leading to thirsty plants.
Restricted airflow, leading to root damage
How Bottom Watering Works
Bottom-up watering is a technique that differs from the traditional method of pouring water onto the soil.
Instead, you submerge the bottom of your planter pot (which should have a hole) in water. (Can be any temporary container, or a permanent plant tray)
This allows the soil in the plant's pot to gradually absorb the water from the bottom up, resulting in a thorough and even watering.
The beauty of this approach lies in its ability to encourage downward root growth, which promotes a stronger and healthier root system.
After approximately 10-30 minutes, or when the topsoil (finger deep) feels adequately moist, carefully remove the plant from the water-filled container.
Allow any excess water to drain away before returning your plant to its usual position.
If the top soil still feels dry after 30 minutes, allow the plant to sit for a bit longer.
However, it's important to avoid leaving the plant in water for an extended period to prevent root rot.
As we've discovered, top watering often leaves plants thirsty, as the compacted soil may prevent water from reaching the roots and instead cause it to run down the sides of the pot. Bottom watering, as described earlier, eliminates this issue entirely.
It has the potential to revolutionise the care of your houseplants, and with a little patience, you'll soon witness the benefits of this method.
So why not provide your plants with the hydration they truly crave and make the switch to bottom-up watering?
Your green friends will undoubtedly express their gratitude!
Setting Up For Bottom-up Watering
To implement bottom watering, you have the option of purchasing specialised bottom watering pots, or trays that can be placed beneath your plant containers that hold enough water.
Simply fill these with water once a week or every two weeks, depending on the specific plants and climate.
Some individuals prefer to transfer their plants to the sink or a large watering tray, but I personally find it more convenient to have my plants permanently situated in suitable trays.
This allows for a quick watering process that doesn't take more effort than top watering.
It also eliminates any mess or physical strain involved in moving the plants between the sink and their designated spots.
Remember to periodically check if the plants have absorbed all the water from the trays within an hour or so. If there is any remaining water, simply dispose of it. With time, you will develop a sense of how much water each plant requires.🙂
Best types of Bottom Watering Pots
As mentioned earlier, I prefer using simple trays under my plant pots as a permanent solution.
You can easily find inexpensive transparent plastic trays at affordable stores, which blend in without drawing too much attention.
Alternatively, a basic terracotta tray can also be used, or you can hide the planter pot inside a more aesthetically pleasing ceramic pot without drainage holes, effectively turning it into a watering tray. This is for sure the most aesthetically pleasing solution.
However, when using this setup, it's important to consider a few factors.
By placing your planter pot inside a tightly fitting ceramic pot, airflow will be significantly reduced, resulting in longer evaporation and soil drying times.
This reintroduces the risk of overwatering. (If you don't adjust your schedule)
Therefore, with this arrangement, it is crucial to allow longer intervals between watering sessions and always ensure that the soil has completely dried before replenishing the base of your pot with water.
How Not To Overwater Your Plants
Overwatering is one of the most complicated aspects of taking care of your plants. Many people have killed their plant babies by actually caring for them a bit too much.
Overwatering can lead to root rot, which in turn has very similar symptoms than under watering (Confusing ha?) The reason behind this phenomenon is that when the roots start decaying, their ability to absorb water diminishes. As a result, the plant displays signs of dehydration and longing for hydration.
When using the bottom-up watering method, it becomes more unlikely to overwater your plants.
This is because you can easily observe the rate at which water is being absorbed from the tray.
I have noticed that when my plants are dry, the water in the tray disappears within 15-20 minutes!
However, if you notice that the water is not disappearing after a few hours, I recommend pouring it out and giving it some more time before watering again.
This may indicate that the soil is still sufficiently moist from the previous watering, and it's important to prevent the roots from sitting in water like this to avoid root rot.
Best of Both Worlds - Combining the Two Methods
Upon examining the advantages and disadvantages of both watering methods, it becomes apparent that neither is flawless.
However, bottom watering does offer more benefits and fewer drawbacks.
I suggest incorporating both techniques into your routine to get the benefits of both methods.
My recommended approach involves primarily using bottom watering for my plants. However, once every three months, I conduct a thorough top watering session to flush out salts and minerals.
It is also advisable to fertilize from the top, as bottom feeding plants can promote mineral build-up.
To streamline the process, I merge the fertilising task with my quarterly top watering session, ensuring it's easier to recall and manage.
Don't forget to schedule a quarterly reminder in your calendar to ensure consistent care for your plants.
Fungus Gnats - One of the main reasons to switch to bottom watering.
The more plant babies you have, the higher the chances of tiny little flies buzzing around your plants.
Meet fungus gnats, seemingly harmless but increasingly annoying as their numbers grow.
Fungus gnats, a vast topic in itself, often cannot be completely eliminated by bottom watering alone. However, it undeniably plays a significant role in improving the situation.
These pests thrive in moist soil, laying their eggs in the top layers and reproducing there.
When you water from the top, you unintentionally create the ideal environment for fungus gnats to flourish, constantly moistening the surface.
On the other hand, bottom watering keeps the top layers dry while effectively reaching the plant roots.
By doing so, you inconvenience the fungus gnats and keep their population in check.
To learn more about dealing with fungus gnats, check out this post about Dealing with Fungus Gnats.
I explain various methods, including how to effectively combine bottom watering with other approaches for a permanent solution.
Conclusion
While top watering is a common and familiar method, bottom watering offers a unique solution with considerable benefits for houseplants.
However, a combination of both techniques promises the ideal hydration strategy.
Top watering can cleanse the soil of salt build-up from fertilisers and allow you to check the soil's dryness. But excessive top watering might result in shallow rooting and foliage-damaging moisture.
On the other hand, bottom watering encourages deep root growth, providing a comprehensive hydration without wetting the foliage.
Therefore, alternating between these two methods not only ensures that your plants receive ample hydration but also keeps the soil conditions optimal, promoting healthier and happier plants.
The key lies in understanding the unique needs of your plant and balancing these watering techniques accordingly.