5 Hacks for Watering Container and Potted Plants

Container plants make a beautiful addition to any garden, deck, patio, balcony, or front porch. However, keeping them alive, healthy, and gorgeous is your most important task after potting them. Plants in pots, containers, and raised beds require proper watering and some care to showcase their beauty and remain healthy. Underwatering, overwatering, or using improper watering methods can cause serious damage to your potted plants. If you're looking for creative ways to properly water your beloved container plants, ensuring they thrive even when you're away, these hacks are for you.

Try these five watering hacks to simplify the watering process of your container garden and keep your potted plants consistently well-hydrated all the time. These watering methods will keep your potted plants from drying out and maintain the optimal moisture levels to preserve their healthy state.

5 Smart Ways to Water Your Container Plants Efficiently

Having the right products and a good irrigation system for watering your container gardens will make the job easier, enjoyable, and more successful.

Here are the five best options to consider for watering your plants in pots, containers, planter boxes, and raised beds.

1. Use Smart Pots and Containers

The size, material, and style of your pot or container will have a significant impact on the watering needs of plants. Your flowers and vegetables will thrive when planted in a Smart Pot fabric container. They are considerably superior and more efficient than other growing containers as they allow for even moisture absorption in the soil. The porous fabric of these containers aerates the plant's root zone, which boosts its growth.

Benefits of Growing in Smart Pot Containers

• Best for growing vegetables, herbs, fruits, annuals, and perennials
• Keeps the soil and roots cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter
• Eco-friendly choice compared to plastic containers
• Recommended for hydroponic gardening
• Durable and breathable fabric
• Offer better drainage, which prevents waterlogging and root rot

2. Drip Irrigation System

A drip irrigation system is the most efficient solution for watering raised beds, window boxes, containers, and potted plants. If you already have a drip system on your property, you can simply add drip lines to your planters. These are small tubes with mini sprinklers or emitters.

This is an automatic irrigation system that can water your container plants at a set time and frequency eliminating the need for manual intervention.

If you're a gardener who often travels, this smart system allows you to enjoy your trips while your leafy friends are consistently getting all the hydration they need to thrive, so you can come back to see happy, healthy plants.

Deck Garden Drip Systems

Deck garden drip irrigation systems are designed to water planters and containers of all sizes. These systems include versatile soaker dripline to use in medium to large containers and pot drippers for small containers. You can use this system to water your potted plants on the deck, patio, or anywhere while you relax.

Buy high-quality Deck Garden Drip Irrigation Kits for watering containers of all sizes!

Raised Bed Drip Systems

If your garden has raised beds of various shapes and sizes, consider installing raised garden bed drip irrigation for watering these plantings. These water-saving systems come with ¼ soaker dripline, mainline tubing, and an optional timer to water your garden automatically when you're away. The soaker dripline will precisely deliver water to your plants, saving water while helping your flowers, vegetables, herbs, and shrubs thrive.

Buy high-quality Raised Bed drip irrigation Kits to irrigate raised beds of all sizes!

3. Sprayers

Sprayers are another direct and easy way to irrigate your container plants. C-frame Downsprays are recommended for watering potted and container-grown plants because they provide a 360-degree spray with a 45-degree downward slope, allowing water to spray directly onto the soil surface.

These smart C-style sprayers efficiently water root zones with minimal surface disturbance. The targeted watering of this sprayer reduces runoff and prevents overspray. This means more efficient irrigation.

4. PotStream

The PotStream sprayer is an innovative solution for watering your planters, containers, and potted plants. This is a side-mounted watering solution because it is positioned on the side of the container. This smart watering device has four mini outlets that release four streams of water. They distribute water evenly and are ideal for watering plants in medium to large containers.

The PotStream sprayer features an adjustable, gentle stream pattern that reduces soil erosion. Additionally, the variable flow rate and spray pattern radius provide you with the flexibility to use it in a range of pot sizes.

This sprayer is designed to be mounted on the edge of pots to prevent overspray from reaching the paving. The slimline shape allows the stake to go down the side of the pot easily. The side-mounted installation will help keep your container watering system installation neat and tidy.

5. Shrubblers

PC-Shrubblers are pressure-compensating emitters used with dripline to deliver consistent, gentle streams of water. These systems are ideal for watering potted plants, shrubs, garden beds, and containers. The PC Shrubbler provides a gentle water flow with uniform coverage for all other emitters on the same tubing line. These emitters deliver a precise amount of water regardless of pressure variations.

PC Shrubblers come with a colored locking cap that can be removed for easy cleaning. They will simplify the drip system design and reduce system maintenance because they rarely get clogged. It also has the advantage of having a spike with a built-in poly tube inlet, which allows for flexibility in positioning it around the pots. All these features make them perfect for container gardens that need low-maintenance watering.

Essential Tips for Watering and Growing Container Plants

Choose the Right Soil

We recommend avoiding the use of garden soil in pots and containers, as it may not drain properly and could contain weed seeds or harmful pests. Use good potting soil that contains peat moss, vermiculite, pine bark, or perlite. A healthy balance of organic matter will also give the nutrients your plants need.

Water the Roots instead of Leaves

Leaves don't need watering, roots do. When watering containers and raised beds, water your plants at the root zone, closer to the soil, using a drip system, and avoid watering the leaves.

Check for Soil Moisture Before Watering

Feeling dry soil on the top of containers does not mean that plants are thirsty. As we mentioned above, you're watering the roots, not the topsoil. Take your finger and put it into the soil as far as it can go. If the tip of your finger is moist, no watering is required at this time. Overwatering can be just as harmful as underwatering. Also, water plants based on changing weather conditions, as hot, humid days can overheat your container plants even if the soil is moist.

Mulch to Prevent Water Loss

Mulch the top of containers to retain moisture and reduce watering frequency. Use generous layer of organic mulch in your container gardens to help keep the soil moist for an extended period after watering.

Water in the Morning

Water your container-grown and raised bed plants in the early morning, especially on hot days. Morning watering will provide your plants with sufficient moisture for the entire day, and they'll be less likely to dry out in the heat. When potted plants are irrigated in the evening, their leaves remain wet overnight, which causes fungal diseases.

Choose the Right Container Size

Pick the container based on the plants you want to grow. Many containers and raised beds are suitable for growing vegetables and herbs, but the size is crucial. Some crops, like tomatoes, require deep soil to accommodate their extensive root systems. Moreover, if you're using any containers from last year, disinfect them before new plantings. Always use a smart pot or container with drainage holes at the bottom to prevent your plants from becoming waterlogged.

The Bottom Line

These watering hacks will keep your container-grown plants happy and hydrated. If you're a gardener, now you don't need to worry about your leafy friends while you're away for a long weekend or vacation. These automatic irrigation systems will ensure your plants in containers, pots, and raised beds receive the right amount of water at the right time without any manual help.

So, try out these watering methods, keep your plants alive, even when you're on a long, relaxing trip, and return home to find your plants happy and gorgeous.