Through May 9th, visit Target.com to save 40% on the popular Room Essentials Self-Watering Planter!
What are self-watering planters and how do they work?
I wasn’t exactly sure how the Target planters worked, so I did a little research before purchasing them. I learned that they aim to deliver water directly to the roots of the plants using a sub-irrigation system.
The bottom of the pot comes with a shallow water trough or reservoir. From here you can refill the water or drain it if necessary. This means gardeners no longer have to guess how much or when to water their plants.
Instead, the plant’s roots drink water from a reservoir, either directly or through the soil, whenever they need nutrients. This process is called “capillary action” or “wick action.” It’s like a sponge absorbing water. Isn’t this really cool?! 🤓
So how do you use these self-watering planters?
This may be common sense to some, but it wasn’t to beginners like me. I wish growers had come with some basic guidelines or tips for success. It wasn’t, so I searched the Target Q&A section for some helpful hints.
To get started, John advises:
“Self-watering pots are a great help if you don’t have any green knowledge. Set up the pot the same way you would a regular pot. Initially, water the soil thoroughly from the top and fill the reservoir with water through the pot at the bottom. The roots will absorb water from the soil as needed.”
My plants, golden pothos and snake plants, have adapted well to their new pots and the soil has been wet for almost a week and a half. At that point I used a watering can to pour additional water into the hole leading to the basin.
Other than making sure they get plenty of sunlight, that’s all I had to do to get these plants to thrive!
What’s so special about Target’s self-watering planters?
When I first handled the Target planter, I was surprised at how light it was, weighing just 0.12 pounds. To be honest, I was worried that the quality might be cheap. Luckily, it didn’t take me long to understand why being lightweight was to my advantage.
Even after planting, this self-watering planter was still easy to move. I was able to carry them outside and inside without using any effort. 💪
Plus, these polypropylene pots look just as chic as the heavier, more expensive ceramic garden pots I recently bought for my husband. I love the soft curved style that looks clean and modern. This planter will add beauty to your home, patio or window sill.
Nonetheless, I have some suggestions for improvement…
As mentioned earlier, some basic instructions or tips on how to use a self-watering planter would have been helpful. I also felt that the reservoir portion of the planter was difficult to screw in and out. If you need to remove it, you will need a second hand to help.
Luckily, you can refill the water without having to remove the bottom plate. We loved the unique color options, but some of the choices were only available in certain size pots.
Nonetheless, they are definitely not deal breakers!
All in all, these popular Target self-watering planters are an absolute winner in my book! 🙌
Say goodbye to black thumbs! I’ve only watered them again once since potting them up, and three weeks later the soil is still so wet you can’t touch them. Meanwhile, my husband was watering the outdoor plants every day.
Not to toot my own horn or anything 🎺🎵, but the plants I water myself look just as healthy and vibrant as the plants I water by hand. For this reason alone, I am fascinated by this flower pot!
My Hip teammate Chelsey is a fan too!
I have a few of these Target planters and they are fantastic! I have it in white, and even if the plastic gets dirty, it’s easy to clean. There is an automatic watering dish on the bottom so you don’t have to worry about placing the dish. I think it would be so cute along with a plant as a gift for your child’s teacher!
Even better, it’s an excellent value. It costs less than most value meals and makes caring for your plants much easier. Head to Target soon to take advantage of some affordable garden accessories. Let’s talk gardening on a budget! If you pick a few, let me know what you think!
Happy planting! 🌱
Shop more Target deals going now!
