Both indoor and outdoor plants require a certain amount of water to grow healthily. If you often forget to water your plants or will be away for a few days, self-watering systems are available to keep your houseplants alive and thriving. Automatic watering systems for indoor plants are also convenient because you don’t need someone else to come over and check on them.
In this review, we researched the best automatic plant waterers on Amazon. Learn more about our top recommendations below.
Top 5 Automatic Plant Waterers
- Tomorotec Clear Glass Self-Watering Spikes: Best Automatic Plant Waterer Overall
- Kollea Automatic Watering System: Best Smart Plant Watering System
- Blumat Classic Plant Watering Stakes: Best Plant Watering Stakes
- Raindrip Automatic Watering Kit: Best Outdoor Watering System
- Blazin’ Bison Self-Watering Bulbs: Best Decorative Watering Bulbs
Compare Top Plant Waterers
| Product | Type | No. of Plants | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tomorotec Clear Glass Self-Watering SpikesCheck Price | Glass bulb | 2 | 6.7 ounces | 14.5 x 5.2 x 4 inches |
Kollea Automatic Watering SystemCheck Price | Automatic drip irrigation | 8–10 | 1.2 pounds | 3.5 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches |
Blumat Classic Plant Watering StakesCheck Price | Terracotta stakes | 3 | 1.6 ounces | 4 x 1.3 x 1.3 inches |
Raindrip Automatic Watering KitCheck Price | Automatic drip irrigation | 20 | 1.4 ounces | 13.3 x 4 x 8.7 inches |
Blazin’ Bison Self-Watering BulbsCheck Price | Glass bulb | 2 | 13.4 ounces | 12 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches |
Best Automatic Plant Waterer Overall
Tomorotec Clear Glass Self-Watering Spikes
Good for: This two-pack of self-watering glass bulbs is a simple way for homeowners to water plants for a few days.
These iridescent-colored plant-watering globes come in a pack of two. While iridescent, they’re also transparent, allowing plant owners to see exactly how much water they’ve added to each globe. They also have a narrow tube opening at the bottom of the stems so that water lasts longer.
Pros and Cons of Tomorotec Clear Glass Self-Watering Spikes
- Each watering bulb is individually crafted and hand-blown
- Can easily adjust the rate of water emptying by inserting at various angles
- Adds a subtle decorative element to potted plants and other greenery
- The glass is fragile and could break if forced into the soil too hard
- Some customers complained about dirt clogging the end of the tube
What People Are Saying About The Tomorotec Clear Glass Self-Watering Spikes
Our read-through of reviews showed us that customers who wanted an easy but effective way to keep their plants hydrated over a few days found these watering globes satisfactory. In their positive reviews, they highlighted the globes’ radiant iridescence, transparency to see how much water was filled inside of them, and simple overall design. However, in the critical reviews we read, some customers said the bulbs didn’t hold as much water as they wanted, and others shattered a bulb easily with minimal force.
Best Smart Plant Watering System
Kollea Automatic Watering System
Good for: We recommend this automatic watering system for homeowners with multiple indoor plants that require the same or similar amounts of water.
This set-it-and-forget-it automatic plant watering system allows users to select precisely how much water to disperse to their plants. It’s easy to see with its LCD screen and controls, and users can also toggle the time interval to adjust how often their plants receive water.
Pros and Cons of Kollea Automatic Watering System
- The system waters multiple plants using its included tubing
- The system remembers its previous setting, even after it’s turned off
- Has a large-capacity 2000mAh rechargeable lithium battery and USB power cord
- Though fairly simple, the setup is more complicated compared to other systems
- Requires charging to function as designed
What People Are Saying About The Kollea Automatic Watering System
According to our verified-buyer research, users who thoroughly read the product instructions had largely successful experiences using this waterer to keep their plants healthy. Satisfied customers added that the system reliably pumped water to their exact settings and that the tubing didn’t spring any leaks. Conversely, we found several users had issues with the water system’s battery, stating that it died prematurely, while one user reported that the pump volume and frequency were inaccurate.
Best Plant Watering Stakes
Blumat Classic Plant Watering Stakes
Good for: These terra cotta watering stakes offer continuous hydration. They’re designed for beginner and intermediate plant owners who tend to over- or under-water their plants.
This classic watering system consists of three terracotta stakes with food-grade silicone tubing. Users stick the end of the tubing in a bowl of water and the stake into the soil of their houseplant, which naturally disperses the perfect volume and frequency of water.
Pros and Cons of Blumat Classic Plant Watering Stakes
- Setup takes as little as 15–20 minutes
- Each stake is made of high-quality clay
- Made in Austria for product quality and consistency
- The DIY watering approach isn’t as simple as watering globes
- Some users had poor results when using these watering stakes outdoors
What People Are Saying About The Blumat Classic Plant Watering Stakes
Happy customer reviews that we encountered who used these watering spikes said their plants thrived, even when they left them unattended for multiple weeks. On the other hand, we learned that a minority of customers had poor experiences using the clay dripper spikes outdoors, stating that the plants didn’t receive enough water. But, overall, users had the best experiences when they used this system for smaller indoor plants.
Best Outdoor Watering System
Raindrip Automatic Watering Kit
Good for: This automatic drip irrigation kit is ideal for customers with outdoor plants and a hose spigot who wish to water up to 10 or more plants at once.
This comprehensive water pump kit can be used outdoors. The water timer is designed to save users time and money by delivering the appropriate amount of water to several plants simultaneously with minimal adjustments. The kit can also be integrated with an existing drip irrigation system.
Pros and Cons of Raindrip Automatic Watering Kit
- Can water up to 20 plants at once
- Includes a timer, tubing, fittings, emitters, clamps, and stakes
- The kit installs in three simple steps
- May be overkill for those with only a few houseplants
- Not designed for indoor plants
What People Are Saying About The Raindrip Automatic Watering Kit
Positively, we found the majority of reviewers said this kit was an excellent value and that it was installed easily. Negatively, some customers said that the quality of the auto-watering system’s drippers was poor and that the drip watering system didn’t work well for plants in long, narrow pots.
Best Decorative Watering Bulbs
Blazin’ Bison Self-Watering Bulbs
Good for: These colorful watering globes are good for homeowners with small indoor gardens that want an easy and decorative way to keep their plants watered.
These simple but attractive watering devices take the form of two glass bulbs. The bulbs are green- and blue-colored to tell each one apart. The bulbs contain a large water reservoir that lasts up to two weeks. Additionally, they’re 12 inches tall to fit large, oversized plant pots.
Pros and Cons of Blazin’ Bison Self-Watering Bulbs
- Easy to fill and insert into the soil
- The manufacturer offers a 100% lifetime guarantee
- Offered in a four-pack
- The plant-watering spikes can get hot if placed on a windowsill
- Fragile and prone to breaking
What People Are Saying About The Blazin’ Bison Self-Watering Bulbs
According to our research, customers who over- or under-water their plants said that these glass globes delivered the perfect amount and frequency of water over the course of several days. They added that the uniquely designed bulbs looked beautiful in their home garden. However, we also found a few critical reviews where customers mentioned that the bulbs were difficult to fill.
Buying Guide for Automatic Plant Waterers
To find the best automatic watering system for your plants, it’s important to consider factors such as capacity, timing mechanisms, and water flow. Here’s a brief description of each factor.
Capacity
Consider how many plants you need to water, as well as the size of the plants and how much water they usually take. While a single watering globe can only water one plant while you’re gone, a complete irrigation system could water 10–20 plants at a time.
Timers
Some automatic plant waterers have digital or programmable timers to control the frequency and duration of watering. Digital plant watering timers generally include more features and configurations, allowing you to conveniently set the unit and forget about it. Waterers with mechanical “timers,” such as water globes, provide users with more of an estimation as to how long the water will last. However, waterers with mechanical timers are often cheaper and require little installation.
Water Flow
Your plants will suffer if too much water is dispersed into the soil at once. If the water flow is too little, your plants will dry up. A system with an easy-to-adjust water flow is ideal if you’re not sure exactly how much water to give your plants.
Automation
All plant waterers in this review are designed to consistently disperse water when your plants are unattended. However, some systems can be connected to a spigot to continuously water your outdoor plants. Other products, like watering globes, can only hold a limited amount of water. Consider the watering schedule of your plants and how much automation is necessary for the best results.
How To Care for Your Plants While You’re Away
Watering your plants regularly is critical to keep them alive. However, there’s more you can do before you leave home to make sure you return to lush and healthy houseplants or outdoor plants. Here are some tips to care for your plants while you’re gone.
- Set up your automatic plant waterer several days before you leave home. This gives you time to adjust the waterer to ensure your plants are receiving the appropriate amount of water.
- You can use a moisture meter to gauge the soil moisture of your plants.
- Orient your plants so that they receive the appropriate amount of sunlight while you’re gone. Keep in mind that the more sunlight your plants receive, the more water they’ll consume.
- Prune any dead or dying foliage, as well as buds or flowers.
- If you regularly fertilize your plants, skip the fertilizer until you’re home.
- If using a self-waterer isn’t an option, “shower” your plants thoroughly before you leave. Many houseplants can survive just fine for a week or longer with one thorough watering.
- When in doubt, too much water is usually better for plants than too little water.
Frequently Asked Questions About Automatic Plant Waterers
What is the best automatic plant watering system?
The best automatic plant watering system is one that works best for the type of plants you have, as well as the number of plants you have. If you have an outdoor garden, an automatic drip system that connects to a garden hose may be the best solution. Conversely, a simple watering globe could be best for a single houseplant, such as a pothos.
What are the different types of automatic watering systems for plants?
There are many ways to keep your plants watered while they’re left alone, although plant watering globes and spikes tend to be the most popular for casual plant owners due to their simplicity. Here are some other types of automatic plant waterers:
- Drip watering systems
- Self-watering mini plant pots
- Self-watering plant pot reservoirs
- Stackable self-watering planters
- Vertical herbal garden walls
What are the pros and cons of an automatic plant waterer?
The pros of automatic plant waterers include their inexpensive price tag, configuration, ability to water multiple plants at a time, and simply keeping your plants alive while they’re unattended. The cons of using an automatic plant waterer include the potential for your plants to die if they receive too much or too little water.
How long do automatic plant waterers dispense water?
Automatic plant waterers tend to dispense water anywhere from one to two days or as long as multiple weeks. Systems connected to a replenishing water source may be able to water your plants continuously. No matter which automatic plant waterer you choose, each product is designed to only dispense small amounts of water at a time based on how porous the potting soil is.
What is a drip irrigation system?
A drip irrigation system uses a network of small tubes to send water to your plants from the source. The source could be a large bowl of water or a garden hose spigot.
How We Selected the Best Automatic Plant Waterers
To provide our readers with the best automatic plant waterer recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of plant waterers with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews from trusted publications and independent reviewers and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any out-of-stock items. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
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