When watering potted plants, overwatering can be just as detrimental as underwatering. The amount of water the plant gets depends on both how often you water it and how you water it. Potted plants can be watered either from the top or from the bottom. Although watering from the top is the most common method, it is not always the best.
What is bottom watering? This article tells you what it is and helps you decide if it’s good for your plants.
Deciding how to water your plants is an important part of caring for them. The two main methods are watering from the top by pouring water over the soil and watering from the bottom by placing the pot in water to soak it up. But when it comes to plant health is one method truly better than the other? Let’s explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of bottom watering to help you make the best choice for your plants.
What is Bottom Watering?
Bottom watering, also called sub-irrigation, involves placing the plant’s container in a bowl, sink, or bucket of water and allowing the soil to absorb the moisture from the bottom up The water is taken in through the drainage holes at the base of the pot This technique allows the soil to get evenly moistened and ensures water reaches the deepest roots. It’s a more passive, controlled way of watering compared to pouring water on the top.
Potential Benefits of Bottom Watering Plants
Switching to bottom watering your plants comes with some compelling potential perks. Here are some of the main advantages of this method:
Promotes Deep Root Growth
As the water is absorbed from underneath, bottom watering encourages plants to grow longer roots down into the soil seeking water. This expanded root system makes plants sturdier and more drought-resistant.
Avoids Leaf Damage
Watering from below prevents moisture from getting on the plant’s leaves. Some plants, like African violets, are prone to fungal leaf diseases if their foliage stays wet. Bottom watering minimizes this risk.
Prevents Overwatering
It’s easy to overdo it when top watering, resulting in soggy soil. With bottom watering, the plant takes up just the amount of water it needs through absorption. There’s less risk of oversaturating the soil.
Allows Soil to Rehydrate
If the soil becomes extremely dry, it can sometimes repel water poured from the top. Bottom watering lets very parched soil rehydrate by absorbing moisture from underneath.
Minimizes Evaporation Loss
Water poured on the surface is more prone to evaporation before reaching plant roots. Submerging the pot prevents evaporation loss, allowing the plant to take up more of the water you provide.
Good for Fussy Plants
Many finicky plants that dislike moisture on their leaves, like orchids and succulents, do well with bottom watering. It keeps their foliage dry while still providing sufficient hydration.
Potential Drawbacks of Bottom Watering
While it has benefits, bottom watering also comes with some possible disadvantages to consider:
Time Consuming
It takes time for plants to soak up water from below, sometimes up to a few hours. This method usually requires more patience than quickly top watering multiple plants.
Risk of Overwatering
If plants are left sitting in water too long, the soil can become completely saturated. Make sure to remove plants once the top of the soil feels moist.
Dry Spots Can Occur
If water can’t properly wick to the surface, dry spots may form on the top layer of soil. Occasionally top watering helps resolve this issue.
Requires Moving Plants
You must move each pot into a water source and back out once finished. This can be challenging for large, heavy pots. Top watering lets you water plants right where they sit.
Can Promote Fungal Growth
Continual submersion of pots can lead to excess moisture on the exterior, causing fungal growth. Be sure to wipe pots down after bottom watering.
Drainage Issues Arise
Sitting in water may cause debris to clog drainage holes at the pot’s base. Letting plants drip-dry upside down periodically can help prevent clogs.
Bottom Line: It Depends on the Plant
When weighing the pros and cons, the effectiveness of bottom watering really depends on the individual plant’s needs and preferences. Here are some factors to consider:
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Plant Type: Does this species like to dry out between waterings or prefer constant moisture? That determines if bottom watering’s absorption rate is ideal.
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Root Depth: Plants with deep roots benefit from moisture percolating upwards from below. Those with shallow roots may do fine with top watering.
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Environmental Conditions: Bottom watering reduces evaporation loss, which is helpful in hot, dry climates but risks overwatering in cool, humid environments.
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Pot Size & Weight: Larger, heavier pots are difficult to maneuver into sinks or tubs for bottom watering. Top watering is more convenient for big containers.
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Your Schedule: Bottom watering is more time intensive. Top watering works better if you need to water plants quickly.
Best Practices for Watering Plants from the Bottom
Follow these tips to successfully implement bottom watering for your plants:
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Choose an appropriately sized container for submerging the pot, ensuring water reaches halfway up the sides.
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Remove any saucers attached under pots before bottom watering.
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Check the soil moisture before submerging to prevent overwatering plants that don’t need it yet.
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Allow at least 20-30 minutes for soil to become fully hydrated, then lift the pot out.
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Pour out excess water so the pot isn’t left standing in water after absorbing moisture.
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Occasionally flush salts and debris by top watering plants until it drains from the bottom.
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Check undersides of pots routinely for signs of fungal growth and wipe down as needed.
The Takeaway
There’s no definitive answer to whether top watering or bottom watering is best across the board. Assess each plant independently, taking into account factors like the species, pot size, and environment. Combining both techniques as needed can give you the most flexibility in caring for your plants. Pay close attention to how your plants respond using bottom watering method. The key is finding the right balance of top and bottom hydration to keep those plants happy and healthy!
Benefits of Bottom Watering
If it’s done properly, bottom watering has several benefits. First, water is better absorbed with this method, especially when the potting medium is dry. This stops water from running through the soil like when you top-water or, even worse, from running off the top of the soil and into the pot when the soil is very dry.
Second, bottom watering ensures all of the potting medium gets saturated, not just the top layer. This lets plants develop stronger, deeper root systems as the roots are growing toward the water source.
Third, you can better control how much water you give the plant because you don’t give it more than the potting medium can handle. It also avoids getting the plant leaves wet, which some plants don’t like.
And fourth, bottom watering discourages fungus gnats from laying their eggs. Fungus gnat females lay up to 200 eggs on the surface of moist potting medium.
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What Is Bottom Watering for Plants?
Bottom watering, also known as reverse watering, means putting the pot in a bucket, sink, or other large container of water or adding water to the saucer under the pot. The water is slowly absorbed and drawn into the potting medium through the drainage holes of the pot.
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FAQ
Should you water plants from top or bottom?
Can you overwater plants by bottom watering?
How long should I let my plants bottom water?
What is the best way to water plants?
Do all plants need bottom watering?
The short answer is yes; all types of plants can do well with bottom watering as long as they are potted in the proper soil that will readily absorb and release water. However, from our anecdotal evidence, some individual plants seem to prefer top watering for no reason at all.
Is bottom watering better than top watering a plant?
It depends on the plant; some plants are better watered from the bottom. It is generally viewed as the better method because it is less likely to overwater your plants that way, but the drawback is that it takes longer than top watering. Can you overwater a plant by bottom watering?
Should I top water or Bottom Water my plants?
Keep in mind, though, that bottom watering takes longer than top watering, so if time is an issue, choose top watering. Also, very large containers should be top watered if they’re too heavy to move to a tub, because they’ll be even heavier once they’re watered. These plants are prime candidates for bottom watering:
Should you water plants from above or below?
There is nothing wrong with watering plants from above in this case as top watering mimics natural rainfall and makes it effective for most outdoor plants. You can also water plants in pots from above, it is a quicker method than watering from below.
Should potted plants be watered from the top or bottom?
Potted plants can be watered either from the top or from the bottom. Although watering from the top is the most common method, it is not always the best. This article gives you the gist on bottom watering and helps you decide whether it’s right for your plants. What Is Bottom Watering for Plants?
Can You overwater plants by bottom watering?
It is definitely possible to overwater plants by bottom watering. This comes from sitting the plant in water for extended periods of time. Overwatering can lead to waterlogged soil and root rot, which can cause harm to plants and even kill them.