This video shows you how to water houseplants from the bottom and why you want to. When you water houseplants from the bottom, you avoid wetting the leaves. Wet foliage is more prone to disease. Watering from the bottom also allows you to thoroughly moisten the soil, which means you need to water less often. This video shows how to water from the bottom. When you bottom water, the plant sucks up the water through capillary action. The size of container you use to bottom water is also important.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you’ll see in the description section below. Also in the description section, you will see links to any other videos that I mentioned during this video.
Today, I’m going to talk to you about bottom watering for house plants. There are certain house plants that you don’t necessarily want to water from above. African violets are one of those because they have fuzzy leaves that can collect moisture, which can lead to diseases on the foliage. So, it’s a really good way to keep the foliage dry when you water.
At the same time, bottom watering is very easy, allowing the plant to absorb a lot of water and stay hydrated. This means you won’t need to water as often. When watering from the top, water rushes through, but when watering from the bottom, as I’m going to show you in a minute, all the soil soaks up plenty of water, keeping your plants well hydrated in between waterings.
What happens when you put the plant in water, as I’ll demonstrate shortly, is that capillary action occurs. This is the movement of water from the wettest part of the soil to the driest part. The wet part draws the water up to the drier surface, which is typically the top of the soil where it dries out first.
I’m going to show you with Humphrey, who we revived in another video. I’ve checked him to make sure because we don’t want to overdo things. He is in the dry zone—pretty dry, actually—so he’s definitely ready for watering.
When I put him in the water, you’ll see that he sinks a little bit. This means he’s doing a good job soaking up water. If the plant continues to float, you can speed things up by watering a little bit from the top, which will create more suction action.
As I mentioned, African violets are excellent candidates for this type of watering. They are about three and a half on the moisture meter. When I checked a minute ago, it was pretty dry, so it definitely needs water.
I’m using a container that’s smaller than the plant’s pot because it’s important not to have a container that’s too deep. If the container is too big, the plants can float around, fall over, or even come out of their pots, which is not what we want.
You can add a little more water if needed. The plant will be surprised at how much it soaks up. Humphrey still has some water at the bottom, and he’s nice and heavy with it.
There are recommendations to leave plants in water for a long time, especially if you’re on vacation, but this can lead to fungal growth and root rot. So, it’s better to use the capillary action method we discussed here. If you’re going to be away and you’re concerned about your plants, this method is great for keeping them soaked.
When you finish this method, be sure to place the plant in another container to let any excess water drain off. You don’t want the plants sitting in water. When checking moisture, if the top isn’t wet, it likely needs more water.
Keep an eye out for bubbles when watering; this indicates dry air pockets in the soil. Wait until the bubbling stops before removing the plant from the water, as this shows that the soil is fully saturated.
Additionally, if you have dry air pockets, you can squeeze the pot a little to break them up and then place the plant back in the water to re-soak those areas.
This gives you an idea of how to effectively bottom water. African violets love humidity, so after watering, the excess will drain into the catch pot, creating humidity for them. Just ensure that none of the water rises above the marbles in the catch pot, so the plants aren’t sitting in water.
That’s it for today on bottom watering! It’s a technique you should try, especially for plants that dry out quickly. Thank you for stopping by today! Please leave comments about any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see, and remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video.
Bottom Watering for House Plants FAQ
What is bottom watering?
Bottom watering is a method of watering plants from the bottom of their pots instead of the top. This technique allows the soil to absorb water through capillary action, ensuring the plant is properly hydrated without wetting the foliage.
Why should I bottom water my African violets?
African violets have fuzzy leaves that can collect moisture, leading to diseases. Bottom watering keeps the foliage dry and allows the plant to absorb water more effectively.
How do I bottom water my plants?
To bottom water, place the pot in a container of water, ensuring the water level is below the top of the pot. Leave it for a while until the soil absorbs enough water through capillary action.
What should I do if my plant floats in the water?
If the plant floats, you can water a little from the top to create suction and help it absorb water more quickly.
How can I tell if my plant needs more water?
Check the moisture meter or feel the top of the soil. If it’s dry and the top isn’t wet, the plant likely needs more water.
Can I leave my plants in water for an extended period?
It’s not recommended to leave plants in water for long periods, as this can lead to root rot and fungal issues. Instead, use the capillary action method for better results.
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