The Convenience of Self Watering Planters
It's finally here! The end of school -- and the official start of summer! I can't wait to pack up the kids and the dog and the sunscreen and head out for our yearly weeklong getaway to the beach. There's only one problem this year, and it's got everything to do with water. After years of having no landscaping, we've finally invested in making our yard really beautiful. But it's not the newly seeded lawn or the freshly planted shrubs and trees that are the problem. We've got a swanky new irrigation system to take care of all of those.
What I'm worried about are all the gorgeous pots of geraniums, petunias, and impatiens that I've strategically positioned all around the house, from the front steps to the back deck. They add so much to the look of our home, and after all the time and money we've spent on them, I don't want to come home from a week at the beach and have everything withered and dead. But where I live, the climate is mostly dry and arid, so if you don't water your potted plants every day, they're gone.
Thankfully, I found an answer to our floral woes on the Internet. Did you know that you could actually buy self watering planters? They're amazing! It is now possible to go on vacation and not kill your plants! Self watering planters work by allowing you to a fill a reservoir with water, which then slowly seeps into the pot's soil. Some have enough capacity to provide water for your plants for up to three weeks, which will suit even the most ruthless vacationer. And actually, self watering planters are great for the plant's root structure, because a little bit of water is slowly absorbed over a long period of time. As an added bonus, it's great to know that every ounce of water is going right to the plant and not being lost through evaporation.
There are some terrific garden retailers on the Internet that offer a huge selection of self watering planters. Most are made from durable, lightweight materials that are weatherproof and much sturdier than our traditional clay pots. One of my favorite stores, Plow and Hearth, sells self watering planters that look just like old-fashioned wood flower boxes. The secret is in the decorative finial -- you unscrew a finial, fill the planter with water, and you're all set. They're as pretty to look at as they are functional. So with our beautiful plants all taken care off, we can head for the beach with no worries!
If you're tired of always limiting your family vacations to just a few days because of the pressing need to tend to your plants, then I recommend checking out some self watering planters today. You'll be amazed at the technology, and you'll kick yourself for not buying them sooner!