Have you ever watered your plants only to realize you may have just done too much?
Do you top water?
I'm not a fan of that. I like to bottom water.
Bottom watering means allowing your plants to absorb water from a tray or saucer through the drainage holes, rather than watering them from the top. This method helps encourage stronger root growth, prevents overwatering and runoff, and is especially great for plants that are a little more picky. Top watering means pouring water directly onto the surface of the soil until it drains out the bottom.
As someone who tends to overwater, bottom watering has saved so many of my plants. I can get carried away with watering, sometimes a little too much and not always on a consistent schedule.
When I first set up my little oasis—aka the plant room, I needed to water 20 different species of plants as needed. That’s when bottom watering became my go-to method.
Bottom watering allows your plants to drink at their own pace. It encourages root autonomy yet is considered a passive approach to top watering. It does a better job of preventing soil erosion in my houseplants.
My plant room is full of philodendrons, monsteras, pothos, and snake plants, all of which thrive with bottom watering. That said, some of my smaller snake plants, aloes, and cacti (both type 1 and type 2) actually prefer top watering.
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Bottom Watering Benefits |
Top Watering Benefits |
| Encourages root autonomy. | Flushes salt and fertilizer build up. |
| Prevents overwatering. | Rehydrates dry or compacted soil. |
| Beneficial for sensitive and water loving plants. | Can be used on all plants. |
| Prevents soil erosion and runoff. | Beneficial for outdoor plants. |
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.
| Bottom Watering Plants | Top Watering Plants |
| Monstera, monstera deliciosa | Barrel cactus, goblin cacti |
| Fernleaf cactus, fishbone cactus | Aloe, hoya |
| Philodendrons, peace lillies | Prickly pear cactus |
| Diffenbachias, rubber trees | Hawthoria |
| Pothos |
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.