Automatic plant watering: how to keep your plants healthy

Plants need regular watering, but not every plant needs the same amount. Too much water is just as harmful as too little. A watering system for houseplants takes the guesswork away: your plants receive exactly the right amount of moisture, precisely when they need it.

Automatic watering is particularly useful in these situations:

• Holidays. Whether you are away for a long weekend or three weeks, your plants will survive without help.
• Busy schedule. Als je ’s ochtends de deur uitrent en ’s avonds moe thuiskomt, is water geven het eerste dat je vergeet.
• Many plants. The more plants, the more work. A drip system for plants saves you a considerable amount of time.
• Plants that need consistent moisture. Think of herbs, tropical plants or seedlings that dry out quickly.

Plant waterer (the simplest solution)

A plant waterer is the most accessible way to water automatically. You fill a bottle with water, screw the waterer on top and push it into the soil. The water slowly seeps into the ground through a small hole. Simple, affordable and effective.

Plant waterers come in various materials. The classic version is made of terracotta: a porous cone that releases water gradually. There are also plastic waterers that fit onto a PET bottle. The advantage of plastic is that you can sometimes adjust the drip rate.

Our plant waterer set of 6 is ideal for watering several plants at once. Want something more playful? Then check out the bird-shaped plant waterer, which works just as well but looks much more fun.

Drip system with hose

Voor wie meer planten heeft of de tuin automatisch wil bewateren, is een druppelsysteem met slangen een goede stap omhoog. Zo’n systeem bestaat uit een hoofdslang die je aansluit op de kraan, met dunne aftakkingen naar elke plant. Bij elke aftakking zit een druppelaar die het water gecontroleerd afgeeft.

A drip system for garden plants can be combined with a timer on the tap. This allows you to set how often and how long the system waters. This is the ideal solution if you have a vegetable garden, border or many pots on the terrace.

Watering system with reservoir

Compact watering systems with a water reservoir are available specifically for houseplants. You fill the reservoir, connect thin tubes leading to your plants and a small pump does the rest. Some models run on batteries, others on USB. The advantage: you do not need a tap nearby.

This type of watering system for houseplants is perfect if you have many plants grouped together, for example on a windowsill or plant rack.

Which method suits you? Here is a brief overview:

• Plant waterer: Ideal for 1–10 houseplants. Affordable, no installation required. Lasts 3–7 days depending on the bottle.
• Drip system with hose: Suitable for garden and terrace. Requires an outdoor tap. Can run for weeks on end with a timer.
• Reservoir system: Best choice for many houseplants without a tap nearby. The reservoir does need to be refilled.

The amount of water varies greatly per plant species, but as a rule of thumb:

• Succulents and cacti: Very little. A splash every 2–3 weeks is enough.
• Tropical plants (monstera, calathea): They like moist soil but not wet feet. A little water 2–3 times a week.
• Herbs (basil, parsley): Thirsty plants that dry out quickly. A little water daily or a continuously dripping waterer.
• Flowering plants: More water than usual during flowering. A plant waterer works well here.

Whether you choose a simple plant waterer or a complete drip system: automatic watering makes life with plants much easier. Your plants stay healthy, you have less stress and you can go on holiday without worry.

View our plant waterer set of 6 or the fun bird-shaped plant waterer.