The $3 Self-Watering Planter Pot From Target That's So Easy To Use

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Trying to remember to water your plants consistently can occasionally feel like a monumental task. Once you add up the other daily items on your to-do list, watering plants sometimes falls at the bottom. Thankfully, there are plenty of self-watering tools that will keep your plants hydrated. Self-watering planter pots, like the Room Essentials Self-Watering Plastic Indoor Outdoor Planter Pot at Target, help reduce the frustration of plant maintenance. A self-watering planter features an extra reserve of water at the bottom of the pot. Instead of daily watering, plants draw water from this reservoir as needed.

Available for $3, this self-watering planter is a medium-sized pot with an 8-inch diameter. Each planter stands 7.1 inches high, with a round, symmetrical design. You can choose between six different solid colors, including black, white, fern shower, cosmic rust, gray, and blue. This free-standing pot design has a reservoir that sits at the base below the inner tray. No assembly is required, and water is added via the opening in the side of this built-in tray. Several reviews note how durable these planters are, with one review sharing that they "had one for over four or five years and it's now barely cracking because of the sun." Others mention the great value of the pots and that they are as nice as more expensive ones.

To get started with this self-watering planter, add a soil medium, pot your chosen plant, and then fill the reservoir with water. Self-watering containers like this one feature wicks that help water from the bottom via capillary action. This process, in which plants self-regulate their water intake, prevents both overwatering and underwatering. If you're looking to spend time traveling, using a self-watering pot like this one is also a good tip for keeping your plants alive while you're away. Water is added in the little port on the side of the pot. However, be mindful when filling it with water before you go. One reviewer noted that "it is so easy to spill the water from the reservoir because the plastic is so flexible." It's a great, lightweight choice, but it is a very flexible material.

If you decide to use this budget-friendly planter, make sure you know which plants work well and which do not. African violets, which require not too much or too little water, make a good choice. But plants that need a lot of water, such as impatiens, may not be ideal for this kind of pot. There are also a few more mistakes to avoid with your self-watering planters, including those that arise due to limited airflow. Rot and mold can be a consequence of the stagnant water. In fact, several reviews highlight the eventual build-up of mildew and algae in the bottom reservoir.