Best Overall
Winston Porter Carmeron Self-Watering Planter
- It’s available in 17 different colors.
It’s available in 17 different colors.
- Since you can’t see the water reservoir, you’ll need to monitor your plant’s soil when just starting out to figure out refill frequency.
Since you can’t see the water reservoir, you’ll need to monitor your plant’s soil when just starting out to figure out refill frequency.
Our pick for the best self-watering planter offers an easy way to water your plants, a classic look, and an array of color and size choices. Made of BPA-free, weather-resistant plastic, these planters look like a traditional ceramic pot, but are lighter in weight and easier to move. In person, the design looked basic, but not cheap.
Available in six sizes, these planters offer 17 color options too. We love the range in choice, from neutral shades like black and chocolate to brighter colors such as calypso (turquoise), tequila sunrise (bright orange), and earthy yellow. You’ll definitely find a planter to suit your plant and space, whether indoors or outdoors.
We like that the self-watering mechanism is straightforward and easy-to-use. It’s simply a tray with small porous channels that separates the base of the pot from the potting mix. These channels are filled with soil and act as wicks, bringing the water up to the roots.
With this self-watering design, you water from the top, and extra water collects at the planter’s base for future use. And your plant will also receive the necessary oxygen circulation it needs for its roots to thrive. Keep in mind that you can't see the water reservoir, so you'll have to make an educated guess about when to refill.
The planter is extremely durable—when we tested it at home we left it outside and noticed absolutely no damage or marks. We also like that the simple design allows the plant to be the visual focal point, making it a great choice for eye-catching flowers
Product Details: Dimensions: 17.75 x 17.75 x 13.75 inches plus five more sizes | Plant Capacity: Not listed | Refill Frequency: Not listed
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
Best Budget
HBServices USA Self Watering Pot
- A detachable, clip-on watering attachment makes filling the reservoir easy.
A detachable, clip-on watering attachment makes filling the reservoir easy.
- For the self-watering to work, pack soil into the base of the planter’s hollow legs.
For the self-watering to work, pack soil into the base of the planter’s hollow legs.
For seamless self-watering and a modern look, this planter can’t be beat. We love how the saucer detaches from the planter, allowing you to easily fill up the reservoir. To make watering even easier, each planter comes with a clip-on watering attachment.
You can keep it on all the time, or simply detach it when you’re not using it. The base of the planter has hollow legs that sit in the reservoir to wick up moisture to the plant’s roots. For the self-watering to work, these legs need to have soil in them.
And no need to worry about rot and fungus since the base has slots to allow airflow through the soil. Made of polypropylene plastic that’s 100% BPA-free, the planter is safe for vegetables or herbs. It comes in five colors including white, plum, green, blue, and black.
You can also choose from four different sizes: 4, 6, 10, or 12 inches. It's very lightweight but not flimsy; a cat knocked it over almost as soon as we unpacked it and the planter suffered no damage or visible marks.
The 12-inch plant comes with wheels on the bottom so it can easily be moved whether your plant is indoors or outdoors.
Product Details: Size: 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches | Plant Capacity: Not listed | Refill Frequency: Two weeks
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
Best Splurge
Pottery Barn Annika Self-Watering Planter
- This planter has built-in technology that indicates when you need to fill the reservoir.
This planter has built-in technology that indicates when you need to fill the reservoir.
- Be sure to close the drainage hole at the bottom when using this planter indoors to avoid a mess.
Be sure to close the drainage hole at the bottom when using this planter indoors to avoid a mess.
If you’re willing to splurge a bit, this is the best option for you. It tells you exactly when it’s time to water your plants—no more guessing. At the top of the planter, you’ll find built-in technology that shows the water reservoir's fill level.
Three raindrop images turn blue when the reservoir located at the bottom of the planter is full. The blue color fades away as the reservoir depletes of water, indicating when it’s time to add more. We found it pretty foolproof to use thanks to this feature. We also loved the hole on the rim, which allows us to water from the bottom.
If there’s a lot of rain, a drainage hole at the bottom of the planter will rid the plant of excess water. You want to avoid overwatering and having the soil and roots around your plants become saturated. Be sure the drainage hole is open outdoors so the water can drain quickly, but seal it indoors to prevent water from leaking.
Because of these details, we'd recommend the planter to beginners, those who have trouble keeping outdoor plants alive in hot weather, or even people who travel a lot and can't stay on top of a regular watering schedule. The planter also comes with a 10-year warranty.
Made of sustainably-sourced polyethylene, these planters are durable and weather-resistant. Best of all, they were created to resemble clay and don’t look like plastic at all. With a high-end look, they’d style well in both traditional or modern spaces. Choose from four sizes and four neutral finishes—white, black, bronze, and slate.
Product Details: Size: 18, 22, 26, or 30 inches | Plant Capacity: Not listed | Refill Frequency: Not listed
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
Best for Indoors
Gardenix Decor Self Watering Planters
- Sold as a set of three, each planter comes with its own water level indicator and grow tracking tool.
Sold as a set of three, each planter comes with its own water level indicator and grow tracking tool.
- Some assembly is required.
Some assembly is required.
For your home’s interior, you want a self-watering planter that will not only help your carefully selected houseplants to thrive, but add style while doing so. Sold as a three pack, the Gardenix Decor 7-Inch Self-Watering Planters fit the design industry’s magic number when styling with objects. Complement your plant or flower with planter colors in gray, teal, terracotta, and white.
This planter comes with a plastic, inner liner that separates the potting mix and plant from the water at the planter’s base. Thanks to this design, your plant’s roots won’t be sitting in water, and you’ll avoid root rot.
To get started, you’ll first assemble the water indicator and place it on the side of the liner. Then, you’ll add the soil and fill your planter with water using the indicator. Depending on the plant, you won’t need to water it for about a week and a half, but the water level indicator will tell you exactly when it is time to do so. As a bonus, there’s also a dial at the top of the planter that tracks the growth of your plant.
It also comes with an all-natural coco soil to be used as a potting mix. Made of 100% organic, coconut shell fibers, it helps provide a perfect combination of moisture and oxygen to the plant’s root system for it to thrive.
Product Details: Size: 7 inches | Plant Capacity: Not listed | Refill Frequency: 10 days
Best Extra Large
Crescent Garden Dot TruDrop Planter
- You won’t need to water your plant for two to six weeks.
You won’t need to water your plant for two to six weeks.
- It’s more expensive than other options.
It’s more expensive than other options.
While the Crescent Garden Dot TruDrop Planter is a practical, extra large planter, it’s also a statement piece. Modern and sophisticated, it’s available in a few neutral colors including alpine white, caviar black, mocha, and vintage copper.
It also comes in two other sizes (16 and 20 inch), if you’re looking for something smaller for flowers, herbs, or vegetables. The extra-large size is perfect for a small tree or rose bush, and it keeps plants hydrated for two to six weeks, depending on the plant and its environment.
This self-watering planter features a foolproof way to give your plants exactly what they need, when they need it. Just use a gardening hose or watering can to fill the reservoir with water. The roots will soak up water from the bottom, and the gauge at the top indicates the plant’s level of hydration.
Made of polyethylene, the planter is also lightweight and durable. But because it seems to have it all, you’ll pay extra—it’s more expensive than other options on our list.
Product Details: Size: 26 inches | Plant Capacity: Not listed | Refill Frequency: Two to six weeks
Best for Outdoors
Lechuza Cube Cottage Self-Watering Planter
- The built-in water level indicator clearly shows you when the plant needs water.
The built-in water level indicator clearly shows you when the plant needs water.
- Made of resin, this planter may be heavy to move around.
Made of resin, this planter may be heavy to move around.
The Lechuza Cube Cottage 50 Self-Watering Garden Planter is the best outdoor self-watering planter. The cube-shaped planter has a built-in water level indicator that lets you know exactly when it’s time to water it. There’s also a removable drainage plug on the bottom, which is important for outdoor planters so that excess water can drain after a heavy rain.
Not only is this pick practical for your outdoor space, but it’s also stylish. It has a woven design that resembles wicker, which gives it a classic, natural style. Add a showstopper like a colorful croton or yucca plant (which you definitely don’t want to overwater) to liven up a corner of your porch or patio.
Made of polypropylene, or resin, which won’t easily crack, rust, or fade when exposed to natural elements, this planter is easy to put together. However, it may be heavy to move around, especially once it’s home to the plant and water.
The self-watering planter also comes with the company’s own substrate, Lechuza PON, made from nutrient-enriched pumice, zeolites, and lava. This combination acts like a buffer that absorbs excessive fertilizer and gives it back to the plant when needed.
Product Details: Size: 16, 20, or 26 inches | Plant Capacity: Not listed | Refill Frequency: Not listed
Best for Herbs
Amazing Creation Window Herb Planter Boxes
- It offers an easy viewing window on the side of the planter so that you can see when water is low.
It offers an easy viewing window on the side of the planter so that you can see when water is low.
- Be sure to measure before buying to make sure it will fit on your window sill.
Be sure to measure before buying to make sure it will fit on your window sill.
This is a self-watering planter that’s perfect for planting your herbs. Its rectangular shape will fit nicely in your kitchen or outside on a patio. It comes in a pack of three, each a cream color, but with a different color insert—orange, coffee, or green—which shows nicely at the top of the planter.
Once planted, your herbs will be self-sufficient. Just water it and the planter will slowly water your plant for two weeks. A viewing window into the planter’s water reservoir at the bottom will let you easily see when it’s time to water again.
Made of a durable plastic that’s food safe, this planter’s nesting design enables it to self-water. Two water absorbent strips sit at the bottom of the insert and hang down into the water reservoir to wick up moisture to the plant’s soil and roots.
This planter is designed to sit on your window sill, so measure before purchasing to make sure your sill is wide enough to hold the planter. If you love to cook with herbs, this is the best self-watering planter for you.
Product Details: Dimensions: 9 x 3 x 5.5 inches | Plant Capacity: Two or three herbs | Refill Frequency: Two weeks
Best Kit
City Pickers Patio Raised Bed Grow Box Kit
- You’ll be able to grow and eat fresh vegetables without the upkeep of watering and weeding a garden.
You’ll be able to grow and eat fresh vegetables without the upkeep of watering and weeding a garden.
- There isn’t a water level indicator.
There isn’t a water level indicator.
Forget about digging a garden in your yard, the City Pickers Patio Raised Garden Bed Grow Box Kit provides almost everything you need to create one right outside your door. This convenient kit comes with a growing box, caster wheels, a water fill tube, an aeration screen, and a mulch cover.
Made from polyethylene, the container is chemically inactive, BPA free, phthalate free, and safe for growing edible garden vegetables. The 2-gallon self-watering planter has drainage holes to prevent overwatering, and it has casters so you can easily wheel it around your patio if need be.
The bottom of the planter acts as a water reservoir, and there is a small tube on the side of the planter where you can add water. After you add water to the tube, the self-watering system will keep your plants’ roots moist. You also don’t have to worry about a lack of oxygen—the aeration screen helps create air flow so your plants receive an adequate amount of oxygen.
It comes in a traditional terra cotta color, but there are also six other colors to choose from including blue, aquamarine, brown, charcoal gray, green, and sandstone. Like the Dayton Black Self-Watering Plastic Planter, this planter also doesn’t have a water level indicator, so make sure to add more water every few days to avoid drying out your plants.
Product Details: Size: 24.25 x 20.25 x 9.5 inches | Plant Capacity: 5-20 seedlings, depending on the type of plant | Refill Frequency: Every few days
Best for Urban Gardeners
Glowpear Self-Watering Urban Garden Planter
- It can hold 3.5 gallons of water, so you won’t be refilling every day.
It can hold 3.5 gallons of water, so you won’t be refilling every day.
- It’s one of the most expensive self-watering planters on our list.
It’s one of the most expensive self-watering planters on our list.
Contemporary and chic, the Glowpear Self-Watering Urban Garden Planter is the right size to grow a handful of plants while fitting on a small outdoor patio. With this planter, you can grow vegetables, fruit, herbs, plants, flowers, and even take indoor plants outdoors since it comes with a clip-on drip tray.
This rectangular, raised self-watering planter holds up to 3.5 gallons of water, so you don’t have to refill it every day. There are a couple of different ways to water your plants with this planter. You can pour water directly into the reservoir, or you can water your plants normally with a watering can or hose. When the water level is low, an indicator on the side of the planter pops up to let you know to add more water.
And if by chance you overfill it or if it rains, there’s a drip drain. Made of polyethylene, it’s BPA-free, food safe, and UV/ corrosion resistant. It’s also modular, so you can add on another unit and expand your garden plot.
Because of its impressive features, it is one of the most expensive self-watering planters on our list. However, we love its modern look and large capacity, so it’s our top pick for the best urban self-watering planter.
Product Details: Size: 18.5 x 29.5 x 19.7 inches | Plant Capacity: Not listed | Refill Frequency: Not listed
Best Stackable
Vivosun Vertical Gardening Stackable Planter
- It’s space saving and has removable tiers.
It’s space saving and has removable tiers.
- For indoor use, you may want to use a larger bottom plate to collect excess water.
For indoor use, you may want to use a larger bottom plate to collect excess water.
If you want to utilize vertical space, consider this self-watering planter. It features three pots per five tiers, so it can fit up to 15 plants in total. The tiers are also removable so you can customize the height of the planter. You can use this as a hanging planter too, but only when using one, two, or three tiers (otherwise, it’ll be too heavy).
You’ll water from the top of this planter for its self-watering function to work. It’s basically a trickle-down effect with all individual planters receiving proper irrigation. Each planter comes with a filter screen to separate the water in the reservoir from the plant, and each planter also has a drainage hole for excess water.
There’s also a bottom plate to collect excess water and keep the floor clean. However, for indoor use, you might want to add something a little bigger—after all, this one plate is collecting the excess water from 15 plants.
Available in five colors—black, brown, gray, green, and ivory—we like that It works with any aesthetic. Not to mention, it’s made of durable, BPA-free plastic that’s food safe. You can also buy this as a two-pack and have 30 self-sufficient plants.
Product Details: Size: 12.5 x 12.5 x 24 inches | Plant Capacity: 15 | Refill Frequency: Not listed