How to Water Your Plants: Top vs. Bottom
Top Watering This is the most traditional method where you pour water onto the surface of the soil until it drains out of the bottom holes. • How it works: Gravity pulls the water down through the substrate, saturating the roots along the way. • Pros: It’s fast and helps flush out accumulated salts and minerals from fertilizers. • Cons: It can lead to uneven hydration if the soil has become hydrophobic (repelling water), and getting the leaves wet can sometimes encourage fungal issues or pests like fungus gnats. Bottom Watering This method involves placing your plant’s nursery pot (with drainage holes) into a tray or sink filled with a few inches of water. • How it works: Through a process called capillary action, the soil acts like a sponge and pulls the moisture upward to the roots. • Pros: It ensures the entire root ball is thoroughly and evenly hydrated without getting the foliage wet. It’s excellent for plants that are sensitive to crown rot, like African Violets or Succulents. • Cons: it takes longer (usually 15–30 minutes) and doesn't flush out mineral buildup, so you should still top-water occasionally to "rinse" the soil. Which one do you all use or prefer? I do both depending on the plant and my mood lol