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Bottom Watering 101
If you've never tried bottom watering, it might just change the way you care for your plants. Bottom watering is exactly what it sounds like: letting a plant drink from the bottom up by absorbing water through its drainage holes. This simple technique encourages strong, deep roots, helps prevent overwatering, and is a favorite trick among experienced plant parents. Here's why bottom watering works and how to do it correctly.
At Léon & George, our master gardeners have spent nearly a decade growing premium plants and helping thousands of plant parents nationwide, so the guidance here comes straight from hands-on experience.
Why Bottom Water Your Plants?
Bottom watering allows your plant to absorb exactly as much water as it needs through its roots, which encourages deeper, healthier root growth and helps prevent the soggy topsoil that leads to fungus gnats and root rot. It's especially helpful for plants that have dried out completely, since bone-dry soil often repels water poured from the top. It's also a gentle way to rehydrate thirsty plants after you've been away from home. Not every plant is easy to bottom water, though, as large, heavy plants can be difficult to lift and move.
How to Bottom Water Your Plants
Bottom watering is simple once you get the hang of it:
- Step 1: Remove your plant, in its plastic nursery pot, from its decorative container, and fill a drip tray, basin, or sink with a couple of inches of water.
- Step 2: Set the nursery pot in the water and let it soak for anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on how dry the soil is. You can also water lightly from the top during this time to help draw moisture up.
- Step 3: Lift the pot out and let it drain fully in the sink, bathtub, or outdoors before returning it to its decorative container.
The soil should feel evenly moist when you're done. If the top inch still feels dry, give it a little longer in the water next time.
A Tip for Heavy Plants
If you love bottom watering but don't want the hassle of moving a large plant, you can water directly in a waterproof ceramic planter. Just be careful not to overdo it, since plants hate sitting in standing water for long periods. Our Mid-Century ceramic planters are fully waterproof, so you can water in place without worrying about your floors.
The Right Tools Make It Easy
Bottom watering is even simpler with the right gear. A moisture meter takes the guesswork out of knowing when your plant is actually thirsty, and a well-designed watering can like the Diva Watering Can makes filling the tray and topping off clean and effortless.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you bottom water plants?
Bottom water on the same schedule you'd normally water, only when the top couple inches of soil are dry. For most houseplants that's roughly every one to two weeks, but always check the soil rather than watering on a fixed timeline.
How long should you bottom water?
Let the plant soak for 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on how dry the soil is. The soil should feel evenly moist to the touch when finished, and very dry plants may need a longer soak.
Is bottom watering better than top watering?
Bottom watering encourages deeper roots and helps prevent overwatering and fungus gnats, but it doesn't flush out excess mineral salts. Many plant parents alternate, bottom watering regularly and occasionally top watering to rinse the soil.
Can all plants be bottom watered?
Most houseplants can be bottom watered, but it's easiest for small to medium plants you can lift. Large, heavy plants are difficult to move, so they're often better watered in place in a waterproof planter.
Do you still need drainage holes for bottom watering?
Yes. Drainage holes are essential, because that's how the plant absorbs water from below and how excess water drains out afterward. Always bottom water in a nursery pot with drainage holes.