Alternative Methods of Watering Houseplants: Bottom Watering

Most of us water our houseplants by just pouring water on top of the soil and allowing it to drain through the dirt. Pretty standard. There are other methods of watering your houseplants, however. One such method is known as bottom watering. This method is good for plants that need to be kept evenly-moist by allowing the plants to pull the water up through their roots as needed. You can also adapt this method to water your houseplants while you are away.

To begin to set up your bottom watering system, you will need some type of tray that will hold water. (You can use anything from a simple plastic tray to something more decorative.) You will also need a capillary mat. These mats are made of an absorbent material and can be found at most garden centers. (You can use a piece of felt instead, if you are unable to find a capillary mat.) Cut the mat to fit your tray and lay it in the tray flat.

When light hits the capillary mat, algae will eventually form. To prevent this, cut a piece of black plastic the same size as your capillary mat. Next, determine how many pots you are going to place on the mat and how they will be arranged. Use the pots to draw circles the sizes of the bottom of the pots. Cuts these circles out and place the pots in these, directly on the capillary mat. The black plastic left around the pots will block out any light and not allow any algae to grow.

After you have placed your mat, black plastic and pots, it is time to water. Lift up one of the pots and water just enough to evenly moisten the entire mat. Periodically check the mat -- about once a week -- to make sure that it is still moist. If not, just add more water. About once a month, remove all of the houseplants from the tray and give them a thorough watering under a faucet or with a watering can. Allow the water to run through the bottom of the pots to allow any minerals and salts that may have accumulated and which can harm your plants to flow out of the pots.

If you are going to be out of town, you can employ a modified version of this bottom watering system to keep your houseplants watered while you are gone. Simply cut a piece of capillary mat large enough to hold the houseplants you want to water with extra that will hang over the side and into the bottom of your kitchen sink. (You can use any sink in your house, of course, as long as you have enough counter space to accommodate all of your houseplants.) Place your houseplants on one end of the mat and submerge the other end in water in your sink. (Use a piece of plastic under the end of the mat on which you have placed your houseplants to protect your counter.) This method will keep your houseplants watered for at least a week.

If you have a habit of allowing your plants to become quite thirsty, read my article on Reviving Dried-Out Houseplants and then perhaps consider employing this bottom watering method to keep them revived.

Reference:

Horan, Anne, and Robert G. Mason, eds. Flowering Houseplants. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1990.