Top vs Bottom Watering: Which Method Is Best for Your Plants?

Bottom watering means letting plants absorb water through drainage holes from a tray or saucer instead of pouring water on top. Doing so encourages stronger roots, prevents overwatering, runoff and is preferred for pickier plants. 

As a chronic over waterer, bottom watering has saved so many of my plants. I tend to water too much and too inconsistently, testing my plants sometimes.

So, starting the shop, the plant room? My oasis? I needed a schedule, a form of organization and structure. 

Bottom watering is more passive than top watering and prevents soil erosion better in my houseplants soil than top watering. The plant room is full of philodendrons, monsteras, pothos and snake plants that love the bottom watering method.

However, my smaller snake plants, aloes, and type 1 and type 2 cactus prefer top watering. Top watering refers to pouring water directly onto the surface of the soil until it drains out of the bottom. 

I think bottom watering is best for watering lots of tropical, watering loving plants at once. My peace lillies, philodendrons, monsteras, pothos, rubber trees, type 3 cacti and diffenbachias love bottom watering.

Top watering waters plants deeper and individually. It is best for deep or outdoor pots or pots without drainage holes. Flushing plants with top watering once a month helps rehydrate the roots and soil. My types 1 and 2 cacti, like aloe and hoyas all prefer top watering.

I like to top water once a month and bottom water regularly to prevent pests and encourage consistency. I use room temperature water for both bottom and top watering.

Whatever method you use depends on your lifestyle, your watering techniques and what plants you have at home. 

The types of plants you keep, the amount of sunlight you give them helps determine how fast the water will be drank whereas your lifestyle ensures your consistency and depth of watering when you commit.