Vergrowth Products
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Watering system for house plants: automatic, versatile, no power needed.
Houseplants Thrive with Our Innovative Watering System
Croton: Codiaeum variegatum 'Petra"
Patented: U.S. #11570957
Polyscias with Large Hydrator
Automatic Watering for Your House Plants
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The watering rate is determined by the wicks, not by the planting medium, reservoir or hydrator
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Unlike other passive devices, the hydrator watering rate can be changed readily just by adding or removing wicks - without re-potting
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You can use an empty wine bottle as a reservoir, giving much longer watering times verses a watering globe
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Once set up, watering your plants is simple - just refill the reservoir
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You can use a decorative reservoir daily, and change to a higher capacity one when traveling
- Watering your plants is automatic -> less water stress on your plants from lack of attention
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Because of the extension on the bottom of the hydrator, the reservoir is held more stably than if placed directly in the planting medium, dramatically reducing sagging and broken reservoirs
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The water is distributed over a greater area by the wicks verses by globes, terra cotta stakes or drippers
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Hydrators can be placed anywhere within the pot & still provide more uniform watering across the pot.
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The pictures above show a higher capacity long neck glass bottle reservoir - such as an oil, wine or other beverage bottle (the bottle's neck needs to fit down to the inside bottom of the Hydrator for stability)
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To see our products and order, click on Shop
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Comparisons with other approaches to plant watering:
Other Approach Limitations of that Approach
Watering can, etc. Must have someone to water manually; Cannot be done automatically; Prone to spills & overflows; Not usually consistent - dependent on attendant's schedule & dependability, since watering is required frequently for non-succulent plants
Water globe alone Watering rate cannot be controlled - depends on the porosity of plant growth medium & often empties too quickly, especially with a porous growth medium; Can also become clogged with a denser medium; Globe often sags to one side because of poor support from the moist growth medium; Limited capacity of the globes limits the time the plants can be left unattended; The water enters the plant pot at one location - causing less even water distribution
Wicks entering the Limited watering capacity, since most saucers are shallow; Difficult to see how much water remains pot from the remains; Often leads to longer term saturation of the plant medium with water, leading to sepsis bottom (saucer) and killing the plant's roots; Watering rate cannot be controlled, except by changing wicks, which enter through the bottom of the pot - requiring re-potting
Terra Cotta or Watering rate cannot be controlled - it depends on the porosity and size of the receptacle;
other porous The water enters the plant pot at one location - causing less even water distribution; If the water
receptacle source is "hard" (having dissolved calcium), the pores will gradually clog up, reducing
flow; They are usually expensive
Drip emitter {Adjustable rate drip emitter attached to the top of a reservoir such as a drink bottle, inverted and inserted into the plant medium}; The watering rate will decrease in use, since the height of water in the bottle reduces as it empties and the water pressure reduces, until the bottle is refilled; The water enters the pot at one location - causing less even water distribution
Separate container Takes up space and is unsightly due to the tubes or wicks leading to the plants; The tubes can slip with tubes or wicks out of the house plant pot, causing spills; The water usually enters the pot at one location - causing to water the plants less even water distribution; The tubes, that work by siphoning, do not provide adjustable flow rates
Powered pump [Container outside the plant pot that transfers water by small tubes or wicks to the plant pot];
Takes up space and is unsightly due to the tubes or wicks leading to the plants; The tubes can slip out of the house plant pot, causing spills; The water usually enters the pot at one location - causing less even water distribution; Separate system needed for each group of plants; Expensive
FAQ: How can I adjust the watering rate for my plants? Because water distribution is controlled by the wicks, the rate can be changed to accommodate the needs of the plant(s) by changing the number (or size) of the wicks. If water comes out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, try removing one wick at a time. You can test this by pulling up a wick from the planting medium (easily done since the wicks are near the top surface of the soil), rinsing it off and placing it into the hydrator where it will no longer be in contact with the potting soil. If the watering rate is now more appropriate, you can remove that wick completely by untying it or cutting it off at the retainer. You can also just leave it in the hydrator, since the plants may need more water after some growth.
If, on the other hand, the plant is not getting enough water, you can add a wick or substitute a larger wick. Polyester or acrylic yarn makes good wick material because they do not decay in the soil and come in a variety of thicknesses.
For more information about the product, its advantages, use, or to order, click the following links: Operation, Succulents, About, Shop, Hydrator Product Page, Contact, FAQ, Installation, Terns and Conditions, Support.