Here’s my final post in the houseplant series and it also is a Julia Original.  I call it Houseplant Insurance.  Others call it the self-watering pot.  I suppose this is less of an idea and more of a purchase suggestion.  But I like to think of it as a credo.  If you are known to let your houseplants die, you need to invest in some self-watering pots.  Those combined with hearty houseplant varieties are virtually indestructible.

So what is a self-watering pot?  Here’s what it looks like to the unsuspecting guest:

And here’s what it looks like when you take it apart to add water (once in a blue moon):

That little guy on my living room coffee table is also in a self-watering pot:

When you purchase a self-watering pot, you should realize that the larger the base the less often you have to water it.  That one up top requires a refill once every month to 6 weeks while the smaller one is more like every 2-3 weeks.  Either way, it’s a lot less to keep up with in the plants department.  I found the large one at Urban Gardener in Atlanta.  The smaller one I found at Lowe’s.  Because of it’s size, it was marketed as being perfect for violets.  But obviously it works for a lot more than just violets!

These pots aren’t dainty or formal.  They are typically heavy pottery which works for most rooms in my house (the plastic ones are more plentiful but I’m not a fan).  They aren’t always easy to come by so keep an eye out for them and snap ‘em up when you see them.  A few extra dollars spent on a self-watering container is well worth it since your plants will last much, much longer.  Believe me, I know!  ;)