I’m so surprise didn’t even talk about the decrease in fungus gnats when you bottom water. That was one of the number one reasons I converted to the bottom watering method!!
When I first got my peperomia I decided to bottom water it and it’s doing great! Definitely needs a new pot though , repotting is so stressful feels like I’m performing surgery
Girl im a newbie n im nervous watering my plants lmaooo i havent watered them yet i just got them. So i am waiting a few more days. I dnt want to over water them im nervous.. im not at repottering yet but im sure ill be super nervous n stressedout.
@@saraglebocka when you bottom water, your plant will suck up as much water as it needs through the roots. Once the plant is no longer thirsty, the remaining water will sit in the saucer. Then you can dump out the excess water :)
I transitioned to bottom watering also. Another benefit is it keeps the top dressing from discoloring and My BIGGEST hint is it helps with gnats...(especially in congress with a top dressing). P.S. Good vibes to U ,Hubs and Baby. 🌿💚 🍃👼
Derek Quinn So...I replanted all my houseplants this weekend-Mosquito Bits on top of the soil then cinnamon and sand layer then little grey rocks. If gnats get through all that and survive, then I will be shocked.
@@Etuffly Never used mosquito bits But Maybe invest in a moisture meter so U don't over water..(cause Too much top soil keeps moisture in... I AM NO MEANS AN EXPERT... We are All learning together..🌿💚
Derek Quinn I have let soil dry out, but the gnats are on a 30-day cycle. The larvae come back. I have used the yellow sticky paper to catch the adults. Had watered some plants on bottom-will switch to this as much as possible. Yes, my part of Texas is humid. San Diego is dry! :)
I love bottom watering certain plants. I know the plant store by my house does this for certain plants and one reason is because once peat moss totally dries out it's super difficult to wet again. Sometimes the only way is either soaking it or bottom watering. Also I read that bottom watering encourages roots reaching for the bottom of the pot thus creating stronger roots, and the article did mention that it prevents soil compaction like you said. The best comparison that i heard is once a sponge is bone dry, if you pour water over it, it runs right over it.
This video was a gamechanger for me! I've been watering top down exclusively but I thought I'd give this method a try and BOY it's amazing!! The two things that got me sold were 1) no more bringing the plant to the sink and waiting for the water to stop coming through the bottom and 2) no more fungus gnats! Thank you so much!!
This is so helpful! I've been wanting to do more research on bottom watering, and now I'm convinced I need to give it a try for some of my plants. Side note - you are GLOWING! Feeling baby move for the first time is so exciting, I'm so happy for you!
Thank you! It seems like more & more people are becoming more comfortable with bottom watering & I genuinely think it makes such a huuuuuge difference!
I had never really heard of bottom watering before I started watching you. Now I’m a firm believer! In my opinion, it’s SO much easier to bottom water than top watering. You can just fill up a bucket, put your plants in there, and continue on with your day. With top watering, you have to actually water your plants and takes your full attention. Less time/effort and better for my plants? Count me in!
I tried bottom watering because I heard my string of pearl likes it. Since then I've been hooked! I agree it's waaaaay cleaner than top watering, and much more satisfying.
I lost a peperomia obtusifolia to stem rot this past winter, and barely managed to save the second stem in the pot. I’ve been bottom watering it and it has produced 3 new leaves so far this summer! I’m glad you’ve had success bottom watering your calathea! I want to try a calathea next, but have been nervous, and this gives me a little more confidence.
I use my poly dump cart. Put all the plants that fit, add water (and fertilizer if using) place plants and let sit for about an hour. The cart rolls all around my porches and patios and other areas of the yard. Another benefit is when it's hurricane season I can place all my smaller plants in the cart for wind protection. It's been one of the best Christmas presents Hubs has every given me.
I've been having a problem with my peace lily still drooping even though I was top watering every 2 days. Bottom watered today, and it perked right back up! Thanks for the tips Harli! ❤❤❤
@@hopessdopess You should leave the pot in the water container until the top layer of soil begins to feel moist. That's how you'll know it's been watered through.
I use nursery pots and cache pots for all my plants. I always add a little rocks or lava beads to the bottom of the cache pots so the nursery pot does not sit direct at the bottom. As for watering, my kitchen sink is my my preferred vessel. Fill with rain water, weak fertiliser if needed, dunk the plant in, let the air bubble out then set on the drain board to drain whilst the next batch of plants is soaking in the sink. Then back in the cache pot. If there's still some excess water in the pot then it drains to the bottom of the cache pot and doesn't/barely touch the bottom of the nursery pot. I have a few plants that are too easy to move, in which case I just leave them in the cache pot and bottom water there. Because of the rocks, the little water left in doesn't matter. I like using the sink because I can give my plants a good look whilst they soak and can clean leaves or deal with bugs regularly. As long as your growing medium is appropriate for your plant, you won't over water this way. I even do my cactus and succulents that way!
This video just changed my LIFE. Omg, I had no idea I was doing it all wrong and why the plants I have are all over the internet as the EASIEST houseplant and I was struggling. Last night before bed I watered our dumb cane from the bottom like this, and this morning I awoke to was WHOLE NEW PLANT. I've spent the day watering all our plants like this and they seem jubilant. Like, actual *happy* plants. LOVE it!
I have miniature roses & after losing 3 pots of them to fungus/stem rot, I started bottom watering for the last 2 stems I had left and they’re growing beautifully now. I now prefer bottom watering all of my plants 👍🏻
Congrats on feeling your baby Harli! I can’t wait to see the nursery and if you put any plants in there. Also I love the idea of upcycling some goodwill bowls for bottom watering, that’s such a great idea!!!
Thank you! I am so excited to get the nursery going. I have everything for the nursery picked out, just have to slowly start buying things as time goes on :P
OKAY THANK YOU FOR THIS. I have had struggles with my larger indoor plants! Smaller plants all doing great. I have been bottom watering and feeding my diffenbachia and I’ve noticed a huge difference with that
Ok you have successfully convinced me to try bottom watering! I'm also thinking it's less wasteful when it comes to using store bought distilled water for my calatheas. Whenever I dump the water that drains out, it's like literal $$ down the drain. I mean, I know it's like $1.50 for a gallon but I think it will add up over time??
I never even THOUGHT about bottom watering peperomia. What an amazing idea! Excellent points about soil compaction, too. I was noticing that the plants that I water frequently (looking at you, alocasia zebrina reticulata) the soil was compacting SUPER quickly. Totally going to try this.
I'm so glad I watched this and read the comments. I have a new angel wings cactus and I couldn't get it to absorb water in it's nursery pot. Trying this now!
I really appreciate this video. Especially the little tutorial and how to you include. It has helped me not kill my plants! I was going down hill with so many but once I switched the watering method, it helped a lot! Some do better with bottom watering for me and some do better with top watering. Just depends I guess on the soil, the plant, the person and the atmosphere!
I bottom water too & feel much more confident about having throughly watered the roots of my plant than I used to. I will even try to not let it sit until the top of the soil is wet because I’m also fighting an epic battle with fungus gnats this summer. Also, congratulations on baby movement!!! I hope you took a nap this afternoon.
Appreciate all the first hand experiences and how you are like super honest about murdering plants and the mistakes you felt may have caused that. Thats super helpful info and I feel like lots of other people don't really talk about that kind of stuff. Im going to binge watch the videos I've missed while repotting my plants this morning and catch up. :)
I bottom water too. Especially with clay pots I can see the water going up so I love it. I heard that it’s good to top water at least once a month to let the salt residues pass through the soil down. Dunno. But I’ve been mostly doing bottom water because I watered from the top one time and just out of curiosity I pull out the plant. Only the top soil was wet. None of the water actually went down. Def good to let the plant decide how much water it needs. Thanks for your vid!
There are definitely pros and cons to both methods. One thing you probably won’t consider until it happens is that if you use the same tub of water over and over is that you run the risk of spreading fungal issues or pests to all of your plants. If you suspect there may be an issue with one of your plants don’t reuse the water.
Thanks for converting me to bottom watering, I'm a notorious over waterer so has really helped with my 50+ plant family. But I've been looking up info, what about the concerns with salt and other nutrient build up. Top watering helps flush it out. What do you suggest @harlig and plant community 😊
I experimented with bottom watering a MQ pothos last week. I was amazed to see the water get absorbed. But I did not know how much to give it. So now I know to go until the top of the soil is moist. Thanks. And congrats on the baby.
Hi Harli, I do both, bottom water some of my plants and top water some of my plants. So awesome you felt your little guy, that is probably one of the most amazing parts of being pregnant. Thank you for all of your tips, I will probably use them when I bottom water the ones I do. Have a great week, see you in your next video.
Thanks! So exciting when you first feel your baby! I remember mine too! And I just started using two pet litter trays to bottom water. They work great.
I’m now one of your official followers 🤗 I’ve enjoyed all the information you’ve given about bottom watering. I’m a dieffenbachia lover but I have other plants but I love dieffenbachia the most. Thanks again 🥳
Omg I just started bottom watering my plants and I 100% agree with you!!! They take what they want!! Also congrats on the little guy!!! Its only the beginning of love!!
Hi Harli! First of all, thank you for this super-informative video! I’ve been struggling with my calatheas, and I think bottom watering will help! Secondly, Dang guuuurl that pregnancy glow- your skin looks fantastic! So happy for you about your little one- congratulations! 🎉
So many great points. Bottom watering does have many benefits. There is one important thing to consider though. Fertilizing. Fertilizer in bottom watering isn't very effective, the potting material sucks up the water by capillary action which basically filters the water and leaves most of the dissolved stuff near the bottom of the potting material. So a person might want to do a light watering from the top for fertilizing once a month or whenever they fertilize. Will help for more even root development too throughout the pot. A lot of the issues you bring up about top watering has to do with potting material. Peat moss when dried out repels water and isn't quick to rehydrate. Coco coir doesn't have that issue. Many advocate using it instead of peat for potting soil but I really am not a fan, but a person can however amend the soil with some coco coir to help the peat rehydrate much easier. It's also super cheap, but make sure to get washed coco coir because they have salts. Another issue in this regard is the potting soil mix itself, it holds too much moisture with too little airflow creating fungus that causes root rot. Around 25-35% of a mix is supposed to be the highest a person should add with fine organic matter for best results, so coco coir/peat moss/worm castings stuff like that. Then the rest there are tons of options and combinations, orchid barks, tree fern fiber, perlite, coco chips(very cheap alternative to orchid barks and very cost effective), horticultural charcoal, shredded sphagnum moss(kept 20% or lower of mix), and many other options. Great for the vast majority of tropicals and houseplants and potted plants. Some succulents and cactus are the exception where one would focus on the additional material having less moisture retention if any at all since the 25-30% peat/coco coir fine organic material already will give that. Hope that helps some people like me. Makes it a million times easier with just a tiny bit of extra effort at the start when potting to avoid lots of issues and doesn't have to be expensive.
The timing of this video is crazy🙃 I just started bottom watering my plants on Sunday. I've been over watering my Sansevierias so I tried bottom watering and so far, so good. QUESTION: Is it possible to over water your plant by bottom watering? Or will they stop soaking up water when they are fully watered?
I don’t think you want the snake plant sitting in a saucer of water for days on end. When the plant is done drinking up the water, you can empty the saucer
I have a large dieffenbachia that is the fussiest thing ever and I cannot figure out what it wants in life. Maybe switching it up to a good butt chug will help 🤷🏻♀️
After killing a peperomia from overwatering, I started bottom watering a lot more of my plants, and I have to say it’s great! The only issue is that I’m a little impatient, but I’m getting used to waiting. Thanks for the tips as well!
I bottom water as well but instead of moving my plants to water them, I have them all sitting in those cheap clear plastic containers that I just fill up and go. The roots are more at the bottom so it makes since to water from the bottom.
Yes! I have a few in those plastic things too, but I totally spaced on mentioning them! Thanks for leaving a comment about it for others to see as well! (:
Great video! how long do you leave your pot in the water? Does it depend on the size of the pot? I do about half an hour but i'm not sure if this is long enough :).
I am going to start bottom watering for sure but how long do you leave the plant in the water? Congrats on feeling the baby move for the first time. That is so exciting. Love your channel.
@@HarliG hi! new to bottom watering as of this morning haha. a couple of my plants were sitting in water for over an hour and still didn't absorb water to the top....this is ok since i'm battling fungus gnats but i'm wondering if that's normal? they were pretty dry but i tried to loosen the soil first with a chopstick.....
Hi Harli! I have started to bottom water with my 10 little babies!! I think I might have been top watering to much,,now I leave them alone,,lol Thanks the video was informative!
Hi Harli G My girl used to get hiccups in utero, so it was funny to feel these little tiny hiccups that weren’t mine! As she got bigger, I could tap on my belly, and she would roll to where I was tapping. Enjoy every minute!
That's definitely a me issue too. I only in the past year and a half have started to understand plants more. And now I have thriving ones! I had never heard of bottom watering until recently from binge watching your videos. (As I was typing out ("binge watching your videos"--i typed out "binge watering your plants". Felt the need to share that as I laugh about it) I'm always worried about killing my green children by root rot. So I'll definitely try this!
Totally agree!! Great video! I have been bottom watering for a year now and my plants are huge! I also use neem oil for pests. Rarely do I have any issues, my only question, have you had any issues with salt build-up or pH levels being on the more alkaline side?
Hey Harli, do you have any tips or experience with molding on your terra cotta pots, and molding on top of the soil? I have a Calathea medallion and a nerve plant both in a terra cotta and because they get watered so frequently the outside of the pot gets so moldy! Thanks!! 💕
The "mold" you see on the outside of your terra cotta is actually just mineral deposits from water. This is called patina. If you don't like the way it looks, you can wipe it off. I don't wipe my terra cotta because I like the aged look.
Thank you for this info. I’m struggling with my Stromanthe Triostar. I’m pretty sure it’s the top watering I’m doing. I’m going to see if this helps. You made perfect sense to me.
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I've been thinking about bottom watering my new peace lily. It seems I've brought home some fungus gnats. I'd like to try the mosquito bits. Are they truly non toxic? I looked into the other sprays you use and added to the natural oils are unlisted pesticides. I hope if you need to use them you can get someone else with gloves to spray it to keep you and your baby safe and away from it until it dries. Thank you for all you do!
Can I like this more than once? I've been debating on if and how to switch to bottom watering. Especially for my succulents because I can over water. You made this sound so simple and I never thought to put them in a different vessel to do it. Thank you!
Thank you so much. I pretty much killed my first pepperomia ruby cascade. I bought another one about a week or two ago I was confused on how to best water it. I will try the bottom watering for sure.
My curly spider and monstera baby were repotted recently and their roots aren't showing in the holes yet so i didn't think i could bottom water, but after watching this, will totally try it next time, thanks! Xx
How exciting ... since I am fairly new I have not sent you a huge congrats on your growing family. I have always preferred bottom watering...it is easier. I was wondering about self watering pots. I just bought a few and not Sure I like the wick system. I am so afraid of over watering and some of the plants like my African Violets are always wet. I guess since replenishing the amount of plants I have I am still trying to figure out which ones need to dry out between waterings. You have retaught and reminded me of a lot I had forgotten and introduced me to new plants I have never had. Hate to lose them because I over loved them.
I know this is an old video but I’m just getting into plants and love the suggestion because I’m often concerned with how much water to give not so much how often so this definitely helps. BUT I like tons of pots that don’t have holes and I didn’t quite catch the term you used, was it cast watering??
Nicole Matthews I don’t know the exact term that she used, but she uses the pots without drainage holes as cache pots. You just keep the plant in it’s nursery pot, and then you use the pot without drainage holes as a cover, and you can essentially fill that with water like you would a saucer in any other bottom watering situation.
I love that you have crystals and things! I’m obsessed with crystals, herbs and plants. #witch I rent a single bedroom, so I have zero room and it’s very cluttered but it’s okay 😅
Im converting to bottom watering to prevent gnats from coming back, had an bad issue with gnats, had to repot atleast ten plants to get rid of them, tried peroxide and neem oil, helped a bit.
bottom watering all the way! totally agree. thanks for the wealth of knowledge on this topic (and even on four hours of sleep!) on another note -- where did you get the cute watering can?? do you have a link? TIA!
Will try this out. Thank you this is kinda more convenient. I just got sad of all the plant I have killed super slowly. My problem was somehow I over watered my plants. This way I know for sure that the plant get enough.
Omg this is the best idea!! It makes so much sense ! I just tried it on some of my plants and I swear i watered some yesterday and they absorbed sooooo much water today!
Love LOVE your videos. And btw. I think you are having. Girl. You are so glowing. Congrats with the feeling baby .. I have 3 children and I remember beening so excited when I felt something for the first time. So exciting! Miss those days 😪 my youngest just graduated this year. 😪❤
Hello there. Thank you for introducing this method to ppl like me. Im struggling to keep my Calatheas alive and it really breaks my hard to see them shutting down on me
My peace lily really likes bottom watering. I experimented with top watering for a couple weeks, and it didn’t like it at all and drooped. My maranta on the other hand loves top watering in a plastic container. It’s thriving and constantly rolling out new leaves.
I bottom water my plants now. To me it's more effective. I had a peace lily that I watered but it would still droop afterwards. When I bottom watered it, it sprung back so quickly! Also a couple of times I have forgotten I had plants that I was bottom watering, in a huge tub of water (8hrs+) and they have been totally fine the following morning.
Hi Harli! I started to bottom watering my plants mainly because of fungus gnats. But when I stick my finger on some of the pots, they still seem dry to the touch, even if I leave them soaking for more than an hour... Is it normal? I just wanna thank you for your great channel. I’m kind of new in the plant world and I learned a lot from you!! :)
So exciting that you felt baby☺. Great information and reasoning for bottom watering. Thanks for sharing☺👍❤. Edited to add you look beautiful with that baby glow❤.
Great video as always! It’s so funny how out of breath you are now that you’re preggo! Lol! Have you noticed that you have more of a fungus gnat issues now? The most helpful thing for me to combat gnats is to let my plants dry out, so I get worried that if I’m constantly bottom watering (like you do with your peace lily) that the constantly moist soil will attract more gnats! Hope that makes sense!
Hi Harli, I am Janson from Singapore. I recently followed ur UA-cam and love your content on plants. Can I check for your bottom watering method, is it ok to buy a pot with no drainage and just let your plant sit on it overnight? And once the water dries up, just refill again. I got more than 10 plants of plants and intend to convert all of them to bottom watering and I seen the benefits on it. Looking for the best way to do it with minimal fuss. Look forward to hear your advice on this. Thanks in advance 🙂🌱
I’m so surprise didn’t even talk about the decrease in fungus gnats when you bottom water. That was one of the number one reasons I converted to the bottom watering method!!
Angelica Acosta ok wait. I got plants about a year ago and we have all these little gnats now. If I start bottom watering that will help?!
reckless mermaid yes! It’s kept my gnats under control! I just do neem oil every once in awhile but bottom watering helps so much!
Noel Noel yes any plant
Angelica Acosta I will do this because I have two avocado plants that have gnats and they’re so annoying. 😡🤦♂️.
@@Millennial_Gardener Fungus gnats like moist soil. But letting soil dry out between waterings helps. But yeah, so would bottom watering.
When I first got my peperomia I decided to bottom water it and it’s doing great! Definitely needs a new pot though , repotting is so stressful feels like I’m performing surgery
I totally know what you mean haha ESPECIALLY repotting Peperomia & Hoya stresses me out so badly :P
How the roots are not rotting?! I have peace lily and hemionitis that constantly need to be wet but when I put it in water how the roots won’t rot?
Girl im a newbie n im nervous watering my plants lmaooo i havent watered them yet i just got them. So i am waiting a few more days. I dnt want to over water them im nervous.. im not at repottering yet but im sure ill be super nervous n stressedout.
hi, may i ask how long does it usually take to bottom water? the peperomia
@@saraglebocka when you bottom water, your plant will suck up as much water as it needs through the roots. Once the plant is no longer thirsty, the remaining water will sit in the saucer. Then you can dump out the excess water :)
🌿I Love how positive the plant community comments section are...not one negative comment in sight 🌱🌿🙂
@@leorickt.9604 Lol nooo
Ahh I wish it were true now 😢
@@leorickt.9604 :D
Shit I ain't bringing no damn moldy bug infected plants in my house. Save that shit for nature outdoors.
How do you feel about leca? I have converted most of my indoor collection.
I transitioned to bottom watering also.
Another benefit is it keeps the top dressing from discoloring and My BIGGEST hint is it helps with gnats...(especially in congress with a top dressing).
P.S.
Good vibes to U ,Hubs and Baby.
🌿💚 🍃👼
OH yes! A wonderful added benefit for sure (: Thank you!
Derek Quinn
So...I replanted all my houseplants this weekend-Mosquito Bits on top of the soil then cinnamon and sand layer then little grey rocks. If gnats get through all that and survive, then I will be shocked.
@@Etuffly
Never used mosquito bits
But Maybe invest in a moisture meter so U don't over water..(cause Too much top soil keeps moisture in...
I AM NO MEANS AN EXPERT...
We are All learning together..🌿💚
P.S.
I'm assuming..Texas?
If so ..Texas and San Diego, California are different too...🌿💚
Derek Quinn
I have let soil dry out, but the gnats are on a 30-day cycle. The larvae come back.
I have used the yellow sticky paper to catch the adults.
Had watered some plants on bottom-will switch to this as much as possible.
Yes, my part of Texas is humid. San Diego is dry! :)
I love bottom watering certain plants. I know the plant store by my house does this for certain plants and one reason is because once peat moss totally dries out it's super difficult to wet again. Sometimes the only way is either soaking it or bottom watering. Also I read that bottom watering encourages roots reaching for the bottom of the pot thus creating stronger roots, and the article did mention that it prevents soil compaction like you said. The best comparison that i heard is once a sponge is bone dry, if you pour water over it, it runs right over it.
This video was a gamechanger for me! I've been watering top down exclusively but I thought I'd give this method a try and BOY it's amazing!! The two things that got me sold were 1) no more bringing the plant to the sink and waiting for the water to stop coming through the bottom and 2) no more fungus gnats! Thank you so much!!
Definitely saves a log of water ! Plant absorbs what it needs :)
This is so helpful! I've been wanting to do more research on bottom watering, and now I'm convinced I need to give it a try for some of my plants. Side note - you are GLOWING! Feeling baby move for the first time is so exciting, I'm so happy for you!
Thank you! It seems like more & more people are becoming more comfortable with bottom watering & I genuinely think it makes such a huuuuuge difference!
I had never really heard of bottom watering before I started watching you. Now I’m a firm believer! In my opinion, it’s SO much easier to bottom water than top watering. You can just fill up a bucket, put your plants in there, and continue on with your day. With top watering, you have to actually water your plants and takes your full attention. Less time/effort and better for my plants? Count me in!
I work at a flower shop/ plant nursery and we primarily bottom water our plants!!
Look at that glow!!!😍 Enjoy all these firsts and share it however you want to. Your real supporters will love to see your journey. I know I do!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you.
The only video that has ever convinced me that I should start bottom watering my Calathea/Peperomia..... LOVE!!!!! And CONGRATS!!!
Let me know what you think if you try it! :P Thank you
I tried bottom watering because I heard my string of pearl likes it. Since then I've been hooked! I agree it's waaaaay cleaner than top watering, and much more satisfying.
I lost a peperomia obtusifolia to stem rot this past winter, and barely managed to save the second stem in the pot. I’ve been bottom watering it and it has produced 3 new leaves so far this summer!
I’m glad you’ve had success bottom watering your calathea! I want to try a calathea next, but have been nervous, and this gives me a little more confidence.
Botto watering works great for them I'm telling ya! You totally got this (:
I will try bottom watering in my new plants indoor godbless..
That’s it i am switching to bottom watering
You want a deep terracotta saucer??? IKEA, MY FRIEND.
Thank you!
Dollar tree!
Just wanted to say that I’ve been using this method since you posted this video and my plants are already LOVING IT. Thank you! 😃🎉🥳
I use my poly dump cart. Put all the plants that fit, add water (and fertilizer if using) place plants and let sit for about an hour. The cart rolls all around my porches and patios and other areas of the yard. Another benefit is when it's hurricane season I can place all my smaller plants in the cart for wind protection. It's been one of the best Christmas presents Hubs has every given me.
Your baby's eyes will be green from all those lovely plants you have!
I've been having a problem with my peace lily still drooping even though I was top watering every 2 days. Bottom watered today, and it perked right back up! Thanks for the tips Harli! ❤❤❤
Hi I am having the same problem. How long do you leave your peace lily in the water container? Do I have to leave them for a specifc amount of time?
@@hopessdopess You should leave the pot in the water container until the top layer of soil begins to feel moist. That's how you'll know it's been watered through.
@@kRiStiNeBuDDiE294 I’m confused. I thought we don’t want the top two inches to be damp so the gnats don’t lay their eggs?
I use nursery pots and cache pots for all my plants. I always add a little rocks or lava beads to the bottom of the cache pots so the nursery pot does not sit direct at the bottom. As for watering, my kitchen sink is my my preferred vessel. Fill with rain water, weak fertiliser if needed, dunk the plant in, let the air bubble out then set on the drain board to drain whilst the next batch of plants is soaking in the sink. Then back in the cache pot. If there's still some excess water in the pot then it drains to the bottom of the cache pot and doesn't/barely touch the bottom of the nursery pot.
I have a few plants that are too easy to move, in which case I just leave them in the cache pot and bottom water there. Because of the rocks, the little water left in doesn't matter.
I like using the sink because I can give my plants a good look whilst they soak and can clean leaves or deal with bugs regularly.
As long as your growing medium is appropriate for your plant, you won't over water this way. I even do my cactus and succulents that way!
This video just changed my LIFE. Omg, I had no idea I was doing it all wrong and why the plants I have are all over the internet as the EASIEST houseplant and I was struggling. Last night before bed I watered our dumb cane from the bottom like this, and this morning I awoke to was WHOLE NEW PLANT. I've spent the day watering all our plants like this and they seem jubilant. Like, actual *happy* plants. LOVE it!
Girl when you talked about the cleanliness watering issue you got my attention! I’m in my second year as a plant mom and I still make a mess!
I have miniature roses & after losing 3 pots of them to fungus/stem rot, I started bottom watering for the last 2 stems I had left and they’re growing beautifully now. I now prefer bottom watering all of my plants 👍🏻
Congrats on feeling your baby Harli! I can’t wait to see the nursery and if you put any plants in there.
Also I love the idea of upcycling some goodwill bowls for bottom watering, that’s such a great idea!!!
Thank you! I am so excited to get the nursery going. I have everything for the nursery picked out, just have to slowly start buying things as time goes on :P
OKAY THANK YOU FOR THIS. I have had struggles with my larger indoor plants! Smaller plants all doing great. I have been bottom watering and feeding my diffenbachia and I’ve noticed a huge difference with that
1000 percent with you on every single point. Ever since ive bottom watered only, i have lost so little of my collection now
It’s so cool seeing your plant perk up in a lapse!
Ok you have successfully convinced me to try bottom watering! I'm also thinking it's less wasteful when it comes to using store bought distilled water for my calatheas. Whenever I dump the water that drains out, it's like literal $$ down the drain. I mean, I know it's like $1.50 for a gallon but I think it will add up over time??
I never even thought about the waste aspect of it! That's a great thing too!
I never even THOUGHT about bottom watering peperomia. What an amazing idea! Excellent points about soil compaction, too. I was noticing that the plants that I water frequently (looking at you, alocasia zebrina reticulata) the soil was compacting SUPER quickly. Totally going to try this.
Let me know what you end up thinking about it!
I'm so glad I watched this and read the comments. I have a new angel wings cactus and I couldn't get it to absorb water in it's nursery pot. Trying this now!
I really appreciate this video. Especially the little tutorial and how to you include. It has helped me not kill my plants! I was going down hill with so many but once I switched the watering method, it helped a lot! Some do better with bottom watering for me and some do better with top watering. Just depends I guess on the soil, the plant, the person and the atmosphere!
I’m definitely going to use this method next time I water my plants. Thanks for this! Also super exciting to feel the baby move 💫 💜
I bottom water too & feel much more confident about having throughly watered the roots of my plant than I used to. I will even try to not let it sit until the top of the soil is wet because I’m also fighting an epic battle with fungus gnats this summer.
Also, congratulations on baby movement!!! I hope you took a nap this afternoon.
Appreciate all the first hand experiences and how you are like super honest about murdering plants and the mistakes you felt may have caused that. Thats super helpful info and I feel like lots of other people don't really talk about that kind of stuff. Im going to binge watch the videos I've missed while repotting my plants this morning and catch up. :)
I bottom water too. Especially with clay pots I can see the water going up so I love it. I heard that it’s good to top water at least once a month to let the salt residues pass through the soil down. Dunno. But I’ve been mostly doing bottom water because I watered from the top one time and just out of curiosity I pull out the plant. Only the top soil was wet. None of the water actually went down. Def good to let the plant decide how much water it needs. Thanks for your vid!
There are definitely pros and cons to both methods. One thing you probably won’t consider until it happens is that if you use the same tub of water over and over is that you run the risk of spreading fungal issues or pests to all of your plants. If you suspect there may be an issue with one of your plants don’t reuse the water.
Thanks for converting me to bottom watering, I'm a notorious over waterer so has really helped with my 50+ plant family. But I've been looking up info, what about the concerns with salt and other nutrient build up. Top watering helps flush it out. What do you suggest @harlig and plant community 😊
If you bottom water most of the time it's a good idea to top water to flush the soil every once in a while :)
Once a month is what I do, give my plants 🪴 a shower, bonus is it helps clean the dust off 🙂
I experimented with bottom watering a MQ pothos last week. I was amazed to see the water get absorbed. But I did not know how much to give it. So now I know to go until the top of the soil is moist. Thanks. And congrats on the baby.
Hi Harli, I do both, bottom water some of my plants and top water some of my plants. So awesome you felt your little guy, that is probably one of the most amazing parts of being pregnant. Thank you for all of your tips, I will probably use them when I bottom water the ones I do. Have a great week, see you in your next video.
Thanks for this video, I’m going to give bottom watering a try especially for my more thirsty plants
Thanks! So exciting when you first feel your baby! I remember mine too! And I just started using two pet litter trays to bottom water. They work great.
I’m now one of your official followers 🤗 I’ve enjoyed all the information you’ve given about bottom watering. I’m a dieffenbachia lover but I have other plants but I love dieffenbachia the most. Thanks again 🥳
Omg I just started bottom watering my plants and I 100% agree with you!!! They take what they want!! Also congrats on the little guy!!! Its only the beginning of love!!
Hi Harli! First of all, thank you for this super-informative video! I’ve been struggling with my calatheas, and I think bottom watering will help! Secondly, Dang guuuurl that pregnancy glow- your skin looks fantastic! So happy for you about your little one- congratulations! 🎉
So many great points. Bottom watering does have many benefits. There is one important thing to consider though. Fertilizing. Fertilizer in bottom watering isn't very effective, the potting material sucks up the water by capillary action which basically filters the water and leaves most of the dissolved stuff near the bottom of the potting material. So a person might want to do a light watering from the top for fertilizing once a month or whenever they fertilize. Will help for more even root development too throughout the pot.
A lot of the issues you bring up about top watering has to do with potting material. Peat moss when dried out repels water and isn't quick to rehydrate. Coco coir doesn't have that issue. Many advocate using it instead of peat for potting soil but I really am not a fan, but a person can however amend the soil with some coco coir to help the peat rehydrate much easier. It's also super cheap, but make sure to get washed coco coir because they have salts. Another issue in this regard is the potting soil mix itself, it holds too much moisture with too little airflow creating fungus that causes root rot. Around 25-35% of a mix is supposed to be the highest a person should add with fine organic matter for best results, so coco coir/peat moss/worm castings stuff like that. Then the rest there are tons of options and combinations, orchid barks, tree fern fiber, perlite, coco chips(very cheap alternative to orchid barks and very cost effective), horticultural charcoal, shredded sphagnum moss(kept 20% or lower of mix), and many other options. Great for the vast majority of tropicals and houseplants and potted plants. Some succulents and cactus are the exception where one would focus on the additional material having less moisture retention if any at all since the 25-30% peat/coco coir fine organic material already will give that. Hope that helps some people like me. Makes it a million times easier with just a tiny bit of extra effort at the start when potting to avoid lots of issues and doesn't have to be expensive.
The timing of this video is crazy🙃
I just started bottom watering my plants on Sunday. I've been over watering my Sansevierias so I tried bottom watering and so far, so good.
QUESTION: Is it possible to over water your plant by bottom watering? Or will they stop soaking up water when they are fully watered?
Elaine Daly that’s what I’m wondering too
I don’t think you want the snake plant sitting in a saucer of water for days on end. When the plant is done drinking up the water, you can empty the saucer
I recently started buying self watering pots for my more thirsty or finicky plants. My peace lily has looked much happier and healthier since!
I have a large dieffenbachia that is the fussiest thing ever and I cannot figure out what it wants in life. Maybe switching it up to a good butt chug will help 🤷🏻♀️
Angela Kewin the “butt chug “ threw me through a loop 😂😂
I actually giggled out loud, "butt chug", what a visual!
Sometimes a good butt chug is all we need 💖🌈🧚🏼♀️
After killing a peperomia from overwatering, I started bottom watering a lot more of my plants, and I have to say it’s great! The only issue is that I’m a little impatient, but I’m getting used to waiting. Thanks for the tips as well!
Why didn't I think of the swap out method before.. geniussss its so clever, thanks so muchhhh
I bottom water as well but instead of moving my plants to water them, I have them all sitting in those cheap clear plastic containers that I just fill up and go. The roots are more at the bottom so it makes since to water from the bottom.
Yes! I have a few in those plastic things too, but I totally spaced on mentioning them! Thanks for leaving a comment about it for others to see as well! (:
Great video! how long do you leave your pot in the water? Does it depend on the size of the pot? I do about half an hour but i'm not sure if this is long enough :).
I am going to start bottom watering for sure but how long do you leave the plant in the water? Congrats on feeling the baby move for the first time. That is so exciting. Love your channel.
I leave the plant in until the top of the soil is moist!
@@HarliG Thank You for the great information.
@@HarliG hi! new to bottom watering as of this morning haha. a couple of my plants were sitting in water for over an hour and still didn't absorb water to the top....this is ok since i'm battling fungus gnats but i'm wondering if that's normal? they were pretty dry but i tried to loosen the soil first with a chopstick.....
Hi Harli! I have started to bottom water with my 10 little babies!! I think I might have been top watering to much,,now I leave them alone,,lol Thanks the video was informative!
Fiiiiirst.
CONGRATULATIONS ON FEELING YOUR LITTLE ONE! 💙
Thank you! It has been such a highlight of the pregnancy so far!
Hi Harli G
My girl used to get hiccups in utero, so it was funny to feel these little tiny hiccups that weren’t mine!
As she got bigger, I could tap on my belly, and she would roll to where I was tapping.
Enjoy every minute!
Harli G hi , do you sell plants?
so happy that you made this video i have been needing to bottom water all my plants
I am really glad the video came out at a good time for you! I really love bottom watering plants now (:
@@HarliG I am so happy bout the baby aswell
That's definitely a me issue too.
I only in the past year and a half have started to understand plants more. And now I have thriving ones!
I had never heard of bottom watering until recently from binge watching your videos. (As I was typing out ("binge watching your videos"--i typed out "binge watering your plants". Felt the need to share that as I laugh about it)
I'm always worried about killing my green children by root rot. So I'll definitely try this!
Totally agree!! Great video! I have been bottom watering for a year now and my plants are huge! I also use neem oil for pests. Rarely do I have any issues, my only question, have you had any issues with salt build-up or pH levels being on the more alkaline side?
Thank you, this was so helpful - it gives me the confidence to try calatheas again 🙂
Just got a baby pepperomia ripple and I’m definitely going to use this method from now on !! thanks harli your the og
Genius!!! This has answered so many questions I've been trying to figure out for weeks. Thanks for sharing! 💕🌿🌱🌵
Hey Harli, do you have any tips or experience with molding on your terra cotta pots, and molding on top of the soil? I have a Calathea medallion and a nerve plant both in a terra cotta and because they get watered so frequently the outside of the pot gets so moldy! Thanks!! 💕
The "mold" you see on the outside of your terra cotta is actually just mineral deposits from water. This is called patina. If you don't like the way it looks, you can wipe it off. I don't wipe my terra cotta because I like the aged look.
Loved your style "In my opinion"... :) ..and the best part is you are saving lots of water.
Definitely need to try!! Lately I’ve notice gnats! So frustrating!! You look amazing!!
Thanks for the suggestion on using non drainage pots for bottom watering
I've heard a lot about bottom watering, but nobody had convinced me, until I watched your video.
Thank you for this info. I’m struggling with my Stromanthe Triostar. I’m pretty sure it’s the top watering I’m doing. I’m going to see if this helps. You made perfect sense to me.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
I've been thinking about bottom watering my new peace lily. It seems I've brought home some fungus gnats. I'd like to try the mosquito bits. Are they truly non toxic? I looked into the other sprays you use and added to the natural oils are unlisted pesticides. I hope if you need to use them you can get someone else with gloves to spray it to keep you and your baby safe and away from it until it dries.
Thank you for all you do!
GIRL. I did this on my plant and she drank up all that water so well. Thank you so much. 💜🌱
Can I like this more than once? I've been debating on if and how to switch to bottom watering. Especially for my succulents because I can over water. You made this sound so simple and I never thought to put them in a different vessel to do it. Thank you!
Thank you so much. I pretty much killed my first pepperomia ruby cascade. I bought another one about a week or two ago I was confused on how to best water it. I will try the bottom watering for sure.
My curly spider and monstera baby were repotted recently and their roots aren't showing in the holes yet so i didn't think i could bottom water, but after watching this, will totally try it next time, thanks! Xx
How exciting ... since I am fairly new I have not sent you a huge congrats on your growing family.
I have always preferred bottom watering...it is easier. I was wondering about self watering pots. I just bought a few and not Sure I like the wick system. I am so afraid of over watering and some of the plants like my African Violets are always wet. I guess since replenishing the amount of plants I have I am still trying to figure out which ones need to dry out between waterings. You have retaught and reminded me of a lot I had forgotten and introduced me to new plants I have never had. Hate to lose them because I over loved them.
Soo very happy you felt the baby. I had twins and it felt wonderful.
I know this is an old video but I’m just getting into plants and love the suggestion because I’m often concerned with how much water to give not so much how often so this definitely helps. BUT I like tons of pots that don’t have holes and I didn’t quite catch the term you used, was it cast watering??
Nicole Matthews
I don’t know the exact term that she used, but she uses the pots without drainage holes as cache pots. You just keep the plant in it’s nursery pot, and then you use the pot without drainage holes as a cover, and you can essentially fill that with water like you would a saucer in any other bottom watering situation.
I love how you always change the setting!!! 😁🌵💙👍🙌💯
I would have NEVER thought to use a bathtub. 🛁 Now I need to try it!
I love that you have crystals and things! I’m obsessed with crystals, herbs and plants. #witch I rent a single bedroom, so I have zero room and it’s very cluttered but it’s okay 😅
I feel you! I have a thing for cluttery looking things! Idk why, but I love when it feels full 😋
Im converting to bottom watering to prevent gnats from coming back, had an bad issue with gnats, had to repot atleast ten plants to get rid of them, tried peroxide and neem oil, helped a bit.
bottom watering all the way! totally agree. thanks for the wealth of knowledge on this topic (and even on four hours of sleep!) on another note -- where did you get the cute watering can?? do you have a link? TIA!
I like bottom watering :) I agree with the issues with top watering! Feels like a mess. One and done ✅
Will try this out. Thank you this is kinda more convenient. I just got sad of all the plant I have killed super slowly. My problem was somehow I over watered my plants. This way I know for sure that the plant get enough.
Yes! This method is excellent for those of us that tend to overwater 🙌🏽
Very informative video THANKS!! I would be curious as to which plants you still top water and why 💜💜
I also started bottom watering a few months back. Prefer this method.
Omg this is the best idea!! It makes so much sense ! I just tried it on some of my plants and I swear i watered some yesterday and they absorbed sooooo much water today!
Love LOVE your videos. And btw. I think you are having. Girl. You are so glowing. Congrats with the feeling baby .. I have 3 children and I remember beening so excited when I felt something for the first time. So exciting! Miss those days 😪 my youngest just graduated this year. 😪❤
Hello there. Thank you for introducing this method to ppl like me. Im struggling to keep my Calatheas alive and it really breaks my hard to see them shutting down on me
I'm gonna have to switch to bottom watering! This was a very helpful guide
My peace lily really likes bottom watering. I experimented with top watering for a couple weeks, and it didn’t like it at all and drooped. My maranta on the other hand loves top watering in a plastic container. It’s thriving and constantly rolling out new leaves.
Love it. I will try the bottom watering. Can't wait to try this. Thank you
I bottom water my plants now. To me it's more effective. I had a peace lily that I watered but it would still droop afterwards. When I bottom watered it, it sprung back so quickly! Also a couple of times I have forgotten I had plants that I was bottom watering, in a huge tub of water (8hrs+) and they have been totally fine the following morning.
Hi Harli! I started to bottom watering my plants mainly because of fungus gnats. But when I stick my finger on some of the pots, they still seem dry to the touch, even if I leave them soaking for more than an hour... Is it normal? I just wanna thank you for your great channel. I’m kind of new in the plant world and I learned a lot from you!! :)
So exciting that you felt baby☺. Great information and reasoning for bottom watering. Thanks for sharing☺👍❤.
Edited to add you look beautiful with that baby glow❤.
Great video as always! It’s so funny how out of breath you are now that you’re preggo! Lol! Have you noticed that you have more of a fungus gnat issues now? The most helpful thing for me to combat gnats is to let my plants dry out, so I get worried that if I’m constantly bottom watering (like you do with your peace lily) that the constantly moist soil will attract more gnats! Hope that makes sense!
When my BF got his first plant, I taught him bottom watering so he could get a good idea how much water that plant needed.
Very helpful information! Feeling the baby move is soooo amazing! I'm so happy for you!
Hi Harli, I am Janson from Singapore.
I recently followed ur UA-cam and love your content on plants.
Can I check for your bottom watering method, is it ok to buy a pot with no drainage and just let your plant sit on it overnight? And once the water dries up, just refill again.
I got more than 10 plants of plants and intend to convert all of them to bottom watering and I seen the benefits on it.
Looking for the best way to do it with minimal fuss.
Look forward to hear your advice on this.
Thanks in advance 🙂🌱
Great video. 15-20 mins of bottom watering does the trick.
Thank you for this video! I started bottom watering today. Like it already:)
Great video!! That syngonium behind you is so beautiful and lush!
what is that in her left ??
Looks like an arrow head plant :)
@@WinteRita Syngonium is known as the arrow head plant but that look different. And I meant the plant on her left and our right.