Self-watering pots, spikes or a drip kit: which should you use?
Watering spikes suit a few pots for a weekend. Self-watering pots suit plants you are repotting anyway and hold water for several days. A drip kit waters many pots on a schedule: the tap-fed kit where there is a tap, and the WiFi kit anywhere in the home with a tank.
How do the four methods compare?
| Method | Pots | On a schedule | Check from away | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watering spikes | One each | No | No | A bottle per pot |
| Self-watering pots | One each | No | No | Repotting |
| Tap-fed drip kit | 10 per kit | Yes | No | A tap |
| WiFi drip kit | 10 per kit | Yes | Yes, in the app | A tank and WiFi |
When are self-watering pots the better choice?
When you have a handful of plants, are repotting them anyway, and travel for a few days at a time.
When is a drip kit the better choice?
When you have more than a few pots, travel for a week or more, or want to change the watering without being home.
Questions
- Can I use self-watering pots and a drip kit together?
- Yes. A dripper can feed a self-watering pot's reservoir, which spreads the water over more days.