You should be bottom watering. Here's why.

What the heck is bottom watering?

Well, it's exactly what it sounds like - watering a plant from the bottom rather than the top. To do this you need two things: a pot with drainage holes and a saucer to keep under the pot. From there, you simply fill the saucer with water. The plant will drink the water from the roots up. When the saucer is empty, you can add more water. 

This method serves a few benefits to your plants. For certain plants that are averse to water, bottom watering protects leaves from water damage that can cause different fungal diseases.  

Bottom watering also prevents pests from eating at your plants. Because the topsoil of your plants will stay dry, they will be safe from gnats, mites, and other pesky critters that enjoy damp environments.

On top of preventing damage, bottom watering enhances root growth and strength. By watering your plants from the bottom, their roots must work to find the water. This search for moisture will force the roots to spread and grow stronger. In addition, watering your plants from the bottom also aids in nutrient flow and reduces the loss of nitrogen.  

Another benefit to bottom watering? It helps you avoid over-watering your plants. Since the saucer can only hold a certain amount of water, you can’t add any more until your plant needs it.  

This houseplant care practice can help your plants immensely. However, you don’t use this technique indefinitely! Salts from your water and fertilizer can accumulate at the bottom of your plant if you're only bottom watering. To avoid this accumulation, water your plants from the top at least once a month to flush out any unwanted salts. 

If you haven’t yet tried bottom watering, give it a shot, and let us know how it goes! Tag us on social media, DM us, our email us at support@newsteadystate.com!