Make your houseplant care routine a breeze with these houseplants that grow well in self-watering pots!
Some houseplants seem to wilt the moment you miss a watering. That’s where self-watering pots can make a real difference. Their built-in reservoirs keep moisture available to the roots, helping many houseplants stay healthier with less daily maintenance. If you’re thinking about making the switch, these are some of the best plants to start with.
Indoor plants you should grow in self-watering pots
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon partner, we earn from qualifying purchases that support our site. You can also check ours Amazon storefront here for all the gardening supplies you’ll need.
1. Lily of Peace
Botanical name: Spathiphyllum spp.
If you ever have grow a lily of peaceyou’ve probably seen it droop dramatically after missing a watering. The good news? It usually bounces back quickly, but repeated periods of drought can put undue stress on the plant.
A self-watering pot helps keep the soil consistently moist, so your peace lily spends less time recovering and more time producing lush foliage and elegant white blooms.
Pro tip: Even so, allow the tank to empty occasionally before refilling, as constantly saturated soil can reduce oxygen around the roots.
2. Boston fern
Botanical name: Raised kidney stone
Boston ferns grow naturally in moist forests where the soil rarely dries out completely. That’s why they often struggle indoors, especially if watering is inconsistent. This is what makes them a great match for self-watering planters.
However, their delicate leaves often develop crispy brown tips if the potting mix dries out too much between waterings. Combining it with a compact humidifier it can help keep the leaves lush, especially during the dry winter months.
3. Philodendron
Botanical name: Philodendron species
Philodendrons are houseplants, but they reward consistent care with noticeably stronger growth. Keeping the soil evenly moist encourages bigger leaves, healthier vines and more vigorous growth, especially during the active growing season.
Of course, a self-watering planter it won’t turn a small philodendron into a giant overnight, but it makes maintaining healthy, strong vines much easier, especially if your schedule isn’t always predictable.
See the best colorful and colorful Philodendron varieties in this guide to see which one suits your home colors!
4. Prayer plant
Botanical name: Maranta leuconeura
One of the best things about prayer plants is watching their beautifully shaped leaves fold upwards each night. To keep this foliage healthy, they need evenly moist soil.
Since frequent drying out can lead to curled leaves, crisp edges, and faded colors, a self-watering pot setup provides a more consistent supply of moisture, helping the plant stay alive with much less effort. Here it is the best places for a prayer plant to thrive!
5. Fittonia
Botanical name: Fittonia albivenis
Quite popularly known as the ‘fainting plant’, Fittonia tends to collapse dramatically when thirsty. Although it usually increases after watering, repeated episodes can weaken the plant over time. That’s why you should grow one in a self-watering pot!
The built-in reservoir in such a pot keeps moisture available to the roots, so the potting mix doesn’t dry out as quickly between watering periods. Here it is great varieties to grow!
6. Chinese Evergreen
Botanical name: Aglaonema spp.
Chinese Evergreen is often recommended to beginners because it is forgiving, but even this easy-going plant appreciates consistent moisture while actively growing. Likewise, irregular watering can slow growth and leave foliage looking less vibrant than it should.
So instead of relying on a fixed watering schedule, a self-watering planter lets the roots draw moisture when needed! That and feeding it a balanced liquid indoor plant fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season. Simple, right?
7. Pothos
Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum
Pothos is famous for surviving neglect, but if you want these long, scaly vines to really take off, consistent moisture makes a noticeable difference. When the soil repeatedly swings between very dry and wet, growth often slows and new leaves may appear smaller.
Just go with a self-watering planter! It will help create more consistent conditions, encouraging fuller vines and healthier foliage over time. Here are some inspiration to grow one in your home!
8. Arrowhead plant
Botanical name: Syngonium podophyllum
Arrowhead plants grow quickly once they are happy, constantly producing fresh leaves and longer stems. This type of growth uses plenty of water, especially during the warmer months.
Now, only a self-watering planter helps meet these requirements without making you a fuss. It keeps moisture available when the roots need it, allowing the plant to focus on producing lush foliage rather than recovering from dryness. Perhaps try one in pink?
Pro tip: Go for a medium-sized self-watering planter to help maintain the consistent moisture this tropical climber prefers so it can focus on producing healthy foliage rather than recovering from repeated droughts.
9. African Violet
Botanical name: Saintpaulia ionantha
Few houseplants bloom as profusely indoors as African violets, but they appreciate a little consistency. Instead of watering from above and risking spotting, a self-watering pot lets the roots absorb moisture as needed.
It is one of the easiest ways to keep the plant healthy and encourage flowers throughout the year.
Pro tip: Bright, indirect light and normal skull will reward you with even more blooms.
10. Maidenhair Fern
Botanical name: Adiantum spp.
Ask any plant lover about tricky ferns and maidenhair is usually at the top of the list. Its delicate leaves dry out incredibly quickly, so even one watering can leave the plant looking tired.
But not if you have a self-watering pot! It solves the biggest challenge by providing a steady supply of moisture that these beautiful ferns depend on.
Pro tip: Compliance a fine mist spray bottle close by is another simple way to increase humidity around the thin leaves.
11. Allocation
Botanical name: Alocasia spp.
Each new Alocasia leaf is a showpiece, and producing these large, impressive leaves requires plenty of water and energy. When the soil dries out too often, growth may stop or older leaves may drop earlier than expected.
So go with a self-watering planter. It allows the plant to invest its energy in cultivating them impressive leaves. But during the winter, let the tank sit empty a little longer between refills, as growth naturally slows down.
Check this out coarse aroid potting mix which provides excellent drainage while maintaining just the right amount of moisture for healthy Alocasia growth.
12. Kalathea
Botanical name: Goeppertia species
Calatheas has a way of letting you know when something is wrong. Those brown edges, curled leaves and faded patterns they are often the first signs that conditions have become too dry.
Instead of watering on a strict schedule, letting the plant draw what it needs from a reservoir creates a much more stable environment. This is often enough to keep those intricate leaf designs looking their best.
Self-watering pots won’t replace good plant care, but they can make it much easier to keep your favorite houseplants happy. Pair one with the right potting mix and you’ll spend less time worrying about watering and more time enjoying healthy, thriving foliage.
Don’t forget to try this Plantopedia guide, which covers all the steps you need to grow a healthy plant. Buy yours now!
