Why do flowers in self-watering pots die so easily? It is mostly caused by waterlogged soil and root rot

Self-watering pot

Let us take a look at what the self-watering pot that the market claims needs no watering actually looks like. It is really just an ordinary flower pot with a hollowed-out inner basket

The flower is planted in the hollowed-out inner basket, water is poured into the outer pot, and a thick cotton cord connects them to conduct water. So can you really achieve permanent ease and grow the flowers well this way?

Unfortunately, even with a self-watering pot, the flowers still died, and the main cause of death was still watering!

Drawbacks of self-watering pots

1. Uninterrupted water supply puts great pressure on the root system

Normally, flowers are watered once every 3-5 days, and in fact you do not need to water too much each time. But some gardening enthusiasts use a self-watering pot and pour in half a pot of water at once, so the flower is in a state of "drinking water" every day. The roots hold too much water, and gradually they turn yellow and wither

2. The water in the pot is not changed for a long time, breeding bacteria

The water in a self-watering pot is left unattended for weeks. A pot of stagnant water easily breeds bacteria. Gardening enthusiasts who use self-watering pots just add water and that is it. When the flower dies and they open it up to look, the water has already gone foul

Moreover, most flowers like fresh water, such as the money tree (Pachira aquatica), orchids, Aglaia odorata, and the happiness tree (Radermachera sinica). Keeping them in a self-watering pot for a long time will certainly mean they do not live long

3. Summer temperatures are high, and the flowers are boiled to death

In summer the weather is already hot, and when water sits in a relatively enclosed self-watering pot, it quickly becomes warm and evaporates more, and then the flowers are "boiled" to death

4. Small space and too much water lead to insufficient oxygen

The capacity of a self-watering pot is small, and the volume of the inner basket is even smaller. The cotton cord conducts water into the soil, which seems convenient, but keeping it moist for a long time reduces the oxygen in the soil. The roots have difficulty breathing, the flowers grow slowly, and there are also problems with yellowing and falling leaves

5. It does not conform to the natural growth patterns of plants

The roots of normal plants are used to "dry and wet alternating", meaning water only after the soil dries, and watering thoroughly is enough. A long-term uninterrupted water supply affects their natural growth patterns. If you want to grow flowers big and strong, you still need to use a normal flower pot

What kind of pot should you actually use for growing flowers?

For growing flowers, it is best to choose a pot with drainage holes, and choose the style of pot according to the growth state of the flower and the length of its roots

1. Flowers with thick, long roots are best in tall pots

If your flowers have relatively thick and strong roots that easily grow very long, it is best to use a taller pot, so they are less likely to suffer root rot when planted (the water all accumulates at the bottom of the pot)

2. Flowers with fluffy, fine roots use short pots

 For flowers with relatively fine and messy roots, such as gardenia and jasmine, it is best to use a short pot. After planting the flower in the pot, there should be at least a fist's distance from the edge of the pot to be suitable

3. Herbaceous flowers use plastic pots with a large diameter

The petunia, lobelia, moss rose and so on that are very popular this year are all small herbaceous flowers, suitable for planting in large-diameter plastic pots. This gives enough space for them to fill out the pot, and they can also be hung up, making them light and easy to move

4. Succulents use small, compact pots

Succulent roots are small and afraid of waterlogging, so you should choose a relatively small pot. Generally, a pot where the succulent is planted 2-5 cm from the edge of the pot is suitable

When planting a succulent arrangement, it is best not to use too deep a pot. Deep pots easily accumulate moisture, and if one plant rots it will spread to the others, so the succulents should also be kept at a distance from each other

If even a self-watering pot kills your flowers

Do you know the reason now?

There is no way to cut corners when watering flowers

It is better to choose the right flower pot and take good care of them