We picked up a new plant last week - a little clover pot in a self-watering planter. Ground-cover plants can be difficult to water from above, since the tightly woven stems blanket the soil while water runs off the leaves. A self-watering pot waters the roots from underneath, allowing the plant to drink as much or as little water as it needs...
The planter is made of two parts: an unglazed inner pot and a larger outer pot that holds water.
The unglazed inner pot absorbs water from the large pot as the plant needs it. Because of the recent heat, our clover has been drinking a lot of water, and we've been refilling the pot every few days.
A shot from above, showing the large pot filled with water.
Our planter came from Grand Street Gardens, but self-watering pots are available at most garden stores. Gardeners' Supply sells transparent self-watering pots that allow you to see water levels without having to check the planter.
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Comments (3)
That doesn't look like clover to me. I'd guess Soleirolia soleirolii (baby's/angel's tears).
I grow an entire vegetable garden on my 11th floor balcony in self watering planters. They are easy to make and pretty much idiot proof. Not all plants work well in them, but those that do LOVE them.
A self-watering pot waters the roots from underneath, allowing the plant to drink as much or as little water as it needs...</I>
This is a widespread mis-statement. Unlike animals, plants have no intelligence to turn the water 'on' and 'off'. Capillary action is a physical action. As long as there is water in the "reservoir" or "supply chamber" it will move into the soil mass. Constant "topping off" of the water supply will kill the plant by oxygen starvation or "drowning".
"Self-watering" is an inaccurate marketing term. There is no such thing. This misleading term has led to widespread misuse of these planters. You are the "self" in self-watering planters. You need to measure/monitor the soil moisture. The correct technical term for "S-W" planters is sub-irrigation.
Used correctly, sub-irrigation planters are far superior to drench and drain top watering which is an "un-green" practice that wastes water, plants and your time.