Overwatering and over watering are the cause of many houseplant problems: yellow spots, curled leaves, and a drooping appearance can all be water related. It can be difficult to know exactly how much water your plants need at any given time, and this is where subsoil or “self-watering” comes in handy. Essentially, they allow the plants to rehydrate themselves so you can relax and skip the weekly watering window.
        Most people water their plants from the top, when plants actually absorb water from the bottom up. On the other hand, self-watering plant pots usually have a water reservoir at the bottom of the pot from which water is drawn as needed through a process called capillary action. Essentially, the roots of a plant draw water from a reservoir and transport it upward through water adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension (thanks physics!). Once the water reaches the leaves of the plant, the water becomes available for photosynthesis and other essential plant processes.
        When houseplants get too much water, water stays in the bottom of the pot, over-saturating the roots and preventing capillary action, so over-watering is a major cause of root rot and plant death. But because self-watering pots separate your water supply from your real plants, they won’t drown out the roots.
        When a houseplant doesn’t get enough water, the water it gets tends to stay on top of the soil, drying out the roots below. You also don’t need to worry about this if your automatic watering pots fill up with water regularly.
        Because self-watering pots allow plants to absorb water as needed, they don’t require as much from you as they do from their parents. “Plants decide how much water to pump,” explains Rebecca Bullen, founder of Brooklyn-based plant store Greenery Unlimited. “You really don’t have to worry about increments.” For this reason, automatic watering pots are also great for outdoor plants, as they ensure that you don’t accidentally water your plants twice after a rainstorm.
       In addition to protecting the bottom of the plant from waterlogging and root rot, automatic watering planters prevent the topsoil from waterlogging and attracting pests such as fungal gnats.
        While an inconsistent watering schedule may seem normal, it can actually be stressful for plants: “Plants really crave consistency: they need a constant level of humidity. They need constant lighting. They need a constant temperature,” Brun said. “As humans, we are a very fickle species.” With self-watering plant pots, you won’t have to worry about your plants drying out the next time you go on vacation or have a crazy work week.
       Automatic watering planters are especially handy for hanging plants or those that live in hard-to-reach places because they cut down on the number of times you have to extend or pump the ladder.
        There are two main types of self-watering pots: those that have a removable water tray at the bottom of the pot, and those that have a tube that runs alongside it. You can also find auto-watering add-ons that can turn regular pots into auto-watering planters. They all function the same, the difference is mostly aesthetic.
        All you have to do to keep them running smoothly is to top up the water chamber when the water level is low. How often you need to do this depends on the type of plant, sun level, and time of year, but usually every three weeks or so.
        During the rehydration period, you can lightly water the top of the plant from time to time to increase the moisture around the leaves, Bullen says. Spraying the leaves of your plants and then regularly wiping them down with a microfiber towel also ensures they don’t get clogged with dust that can affect their ability to photosynthesize. Other than that, your automatic watering planter should be able to handle everything else in the water department.
        Some plants with shallow root systems (such as succulents such as snake plants and cacti) will not benefit from self-watering pots because their roots do not go deep enough into the soil to take advantage of the capillary effect. However, these plants also tend to be very hardy and require less water. Most other plants (Bullen estimates 89 percent of them) have deep enough roots to grow in these containers.
        Self-watering containers tend to cost about the same as standard planters, but if you’re looking to save money, you can easily make your own. Simply fill a large bowl with water and place the bowl high up next to the plant. Then place one end of the rope in the water so that it is completely submerged (you may need a paperclip for this) and place the other end in the plant soil to a depth of about 1-2 inches. Make sure the rope slopes down so that water can run from the bowl to the plant when it is thirsty.
        Automatic watering planters are a convenient option for parents who find it difficult to keep a consistent watering schedule or who travel a lot. They are easy to use, eliminate the need for watering and are suitable for most types of plants.
        Emma Lowe is director of sustainability and wellness at mindbodygreen and author of Back to Nature: The New Science of How Natural Landscapes Can Restore Us. She is also co-author of The Spiritual Almanac: A Modern Guide to Ancient Self-Care, which she co-wrote with Lindsey Kellner.
        Emma received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from Duke University with a concentration in Environmental Communications. In addition to writing over 1,000 mbg on topics ranging from California’s water crisis to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared in Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle and Forbes. She joins environmental thought leaders including Marcy Zaroff, Gay Brown and Summer Rain Oaks in podcasts and live events at the intersection of self-care and sustainability.