Viewing post #2968917 by bloominholes2fill

I don't know why I haven't shared this on this thread, but in addition to mulch, I use self-watering pots for my Summer annuals. If I buy a pre-grown hanging (or not hanging) pot of annuals, for outdoors, I never keep them in their commercial pots because they drain like a sieve, leaving no water from which the roots can draw and little time for the soil to evenly soak in moisture before draining. Plus it's a waste of water. So, I always transplant them in to self-watering pots. My neighbor keeps hers in the commercial pots and she's out there watering them every day like clockwork. If she misses a day (which she never does ) she better get to watering them the next day and every day thereafter, because that light commercial soil will start the process of drying out and things can go South very quickly. I personally don't like the idea of being tied down to watering potted plants on the daily, so I always use self-watering pots, especially for hanging pots.

I use the kind of self watering pots with a built-in saucer and a raised platform in the bottom. There are plenty designs out there, but the basic kind will do. I don't care for the *idea* of the fancy ones with tubes or a large lip on the saucer through which to water because the *idea* is to not water the soil. What the heck is that all about? I mean, rain soaks the soil from the surface, so why should watering our potted annuals be any different? So just a word to the wise, ☝️ don't allow commercial ideas to convince you in to thinking that "their" idea is the best idea. Let your common sense prevail. The soil of potted annuals needs even moisture from top to bottom, on the regular. Period. Now, one can use such pots successfully by defying the *idea* or their design through watering from the soil surface. (Of course succulents have different drainage requirements, but I am referring to typical potted annual plants in the outdoors only.) I *always* water from the top. Self-watering pots keep water in the saucer from which the roots can draw and helps keep the soil evenly moist. I've never had a problem with over soaked soil in them, and I can water every two to three days! It's pretty much old school with new technology. Speaking of old school, the only reason to put small rocks in the bottom of a pot is to raise the soil out of a reservoir keeping it from remaining over-soaked.

If I find a plastic pot that I really like, but there's no drainage hole, I will turn it in to a self-watering pot by drilling about a 1/2" to 5/8" drain hole in the side about 1" or so up from the bottom, depending on the size of the pot. (Let the drill bit do the work with light pressure, otherwise the pot will crack and you're back to a sieve. Don't
ask. ) I then tape a piece of window screen over the inside of the hole in order to hold the soil in, deterring it from draining along with the water. Then I place small rocks in one of those netted bags that citrus fruit comes in from the store, lay it in the bottom of the pot making sure it lays flat over the entire bottom of the pot and then tie it securely once the layer is the desired even thickness. (I use those bags to contain the rocks so I can reuse them next year in a new pot. They don't get thrown out with the plant at the end of the season. Sometimes doubling up the bag is necessary for strength.) The thickness of the layer of rocks should reach the *bottom edge* of the hole you just drilled. In other words, if you drilled a hole one inch up from the bottom, the rocks should be an even layer, one inch thick. I then lay down another piece of window screen over the rocks to hold the soil in. Now the pot is ready for planting! Then water it from the top and stop when water starts draining from the hole. Now you have an evenly watered pot with a water reserve and happy plants and a happy you with extra time to enjoy life!


When looking for ceramic and glazed pots, I *only* buy those with a drainage hole and use a saucer. I have actually skipped over some really nice ones without drain holes. Not that they can't be drilled, but I wouldn't want to risk cracking an expensive pot.