Your Nana is a vital old woman that doesn’t go a day without checking her carrots or mint in the backyard. Her bones are strong thanks to all that time in the sun and vitamin D and her freckled face is always with a smile. Your nana also lives in the suburbs, while you on the other hand finally got the hang of living in the big city. And in the big city, time and green space for gardening are continuously shrinking.  

Being a zealous overachiever in the big city aiming to have it all, the idea of urban gardening seems more perplexing than all the challenges your job throws at your doorstep. Apartments and yards are getting smaller while creating extra space by tearing fences or grass will probably require a permit. The sun keeps shifting from friend to foe and continuous exposure is not beneficial for anyone. You’re hoping your neighbours might be friendly and helpful but what passed as cooperation and coexisting in the older days can now be considered as asking for favours or stepping on someone’s toes.

Can one get past tight spaces, sunscald, heat retention, air and rainwater pollution? How can an urban garden be created when you’re chasing your dreams outside of your home?

Enter Self-Watering Planters 

Self-watering planters are pots that have a water-storage unit integrated within them, just beneath the soil. The soil above the reservoir soaks up the amount of water your plants need when they need it. They have an overflow hole, allowing excess water to drain. Their versatile, modular design and flexible irrigation make indoor and outdoor use possible. You can move them with you as you do. 

Here are some of the ways self-watering pots can help you achieve the best of both urban life.

Time Savers 

The ritual of tending to your garden soothes the soul, but when you’re rushing for the underground or trying not to miss the carpool, it starts to feel like a nuisance. Self-watering planters are one of the best ways you can keep up with gardening if you’re having a busy life. 

Think about it, self-watering planters that require almost no maintenance allow you to have stress-free after-work drinks with colleagues instead of worrying that your precious plants are unattended. You can finally go on a vacation without worrying about what will be in store for you when you come back. Imagine the satisfaction of your neighbours when you share some of your freshness and greenery without them having to put any effort into maintaining them while you’re away. 

Moreover, homegrown food means fewer trips to the supermarket. Instead of waiting in lines at grocery stores or checking the origin and viability of produce, you can use the extra time to pick the fruits of your labour and prepare a garden-fresh meal (almost) as good as your nana’s.  And speaking of homegrown food…

Homegrown Food 

The importance of organic food, or lack thereof, cannot be stressed enough. But fresh produce may have started to seem like a distant dream, one that can’t be chased after while you’re speeding towards other goals in the concrete jungle. 

Luckily, one of the main benefits of self watering planters is that they are perfect for homegrown herbs, vegetables and even some fruits. You can even grow them all year round as you have the flexibility to adjust the conditions, like moving the self watering plants indoors when winter comes.  

In addition, there’s less waste and no need for pesticides or chemicals as they are not grown directly in the ground. If the soil in your area or yard is not adequate, you can always purchase the right potting soil for container gardening. Creating a garden where there were no conditions for one. Now that’s what I call ingenuity! 

Water Savers 

No matter if you are a beginner or more experienced gardener, sometimes it’s hard to tell exactly how much water does a plant need.  Over-watering plants is a common mistake even the best of the best can make. The ingenuity of self watering pots is in their divided sections, one filled with soil and the other with water. Not only is the water reused, but the roots of the plants also have access to water at all times, giving them the option to take in as much as they need.  

This will certainly save some plants from drying or root rot due to overwatering. Just observe the water level, fill up the reservoir and you’re all set. Contributing to the environment has never been this easy.

Bear in mind that not all plants are suitable for self watering planters as some require much more water. Choose the right plant for your planters and spare their life while you spare yourself the disappointment. 

Small Space Friendly 

How do you fit a lot of plants in a small space? Self watering pots and vertical gardens have solved this problem in a heartbeat.  

Vertical gardening is a subtype of urban gardening intended for small spaces, especially decorating the walls and roofs. Maximum usage of space is achieved, both indoors and outdoors. As we are on the verge of a horizontal space deficit, green walls are not only a sight for sore eyes but can also absorb heated gas in the air, lower temperatures, and improve indoor and outdoor air quality. 

For your urban vertical garden, almost all vegetables are suitable for growing. For a better yield, plant tomatoes, peppers, peas, cucumbers, radishes, melons, squash. Fruits, however, are a bit trickier but luckily strawberries grow in vertical gardens almost effortlessly. Try planting herbs like basil, oregano, cumin, rosemary, sage and mint or some medicinal plants like aloe vera, chamomile and lavender. 

Timeless Design  

Many of the self watering planters for sale are with a solid and durable construction, clean and contemporary design and UV protection. This allows you the freedom to decorate with planters in all kinds of ways. 

Plus, their raised design can help you easily tend to your plants without repetitive bending and the risk of straining your back. Units with a modular design can be combined and even mobile self watering plants exist, which certainly comes in handy when the weather conditions change.