Q.Self Watering Of Tomato Plants
Having looked at various self watering pots, why cant I simply plant tomato plant in a pot with holes in it, stand it in a tray that has water of say 1-2″ of water and job done? Seems too easy, so what would be the problems?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
No, there should be no contact between the soil and water. Standing water will go aseptic, very fast. Wicked water, using proper wicking will regain oxygen as it is moved. DO NOT let your soil remain soggy and in standing water.
As long as excess water can spill out to prevent overwatering, and the soil contacts the water to allow wicking, then yeah, that's exactly what any basic self-watering planter consists of. There's lots of YouTube videos of how to DIY them.
So, just standing the pot in water is the same as a wicking pot?
There's no difference at all between a DIY self-watering planter and a purchased one, and you can save some money with a DIY option. Tomatoes can be fussy about over- or under-watering, though, so they'll still need regular attention and a careful eye to prevent getting swampy soil & root rot, or dry soil & blossom end rot.
