If you love plants and have limited space, worry not! Thanks to the best self-watering vertical gardens, they have a small footprint and thus space-savers. With vertical gardens, you can grow anything from berries, herbs, flowers, and succulents. Better still, planting on them is accessible without much straining like bending and kneeling, though a bit of stretching may be mandatory.
They work perfectly on patios, balconies, and small porches. You can also use them for indoor plants as long as there are excellent light conditions for what you want to plant. Regardless of wanting something small to make your outdoor setup more colorful or even have more aspiring gardening goals, the below top recommendation has something for you.
Read on.
Also check – The Best Self-Watering Globes To Buy
What Is A Self-Watering Vertical Garden?
A self-watering vertical garden is a planter featuring a design of several baskets piled on top of each other. A long wick or rope is running down from the top of the first basket to the bottom. Better still, it can use a drip system that enables watering of the plants from the top down.
So, why should you get a self-watering vertical garden? Generally, this system saves time and water, which reduces the frequency of watering your garden. Besides, the slow and continuous flow of water is likely to take a lot of time manually.
How to Choose the Best Self-Watering Vertical Gardens
Because there are plenty of options, you want to make sure you buy one that works best for your needs and preferences. Besides, every gardener or homeowner has their dream garden or outdoor appearance.
Let’s see the main features you should bear in mind while shopping for a vertical garden.
Choice of Wick
The choice of wick you decide to use in your vertical gardening plays a significant role in how water distributes multiple tiers. Preferably, cotton or cloth material will make a long wick enough to loop through many planters from the top to the bottom of the multi-level planter. This way, water will drip flawlessly down the wick-rope into the lower-level pots.
Conversely, you can also opt for a soil wick. With a soil wick, the water drips down naturally from the topmost to the bottom pots. It would be best to select an ideal self-watering pot system that works for growing and mature plants.
Drainage Holes
It is essential to know that some plants are likely to get an inadequate water supply even after giving them all. You will find that you are pouring out some water on the floor instead.
Therefore, an excellent vertical planter system has a way of holding excess water to water and dirt stains from damaging your balcony or countertop. Better yet, you can go for fancy designs that feature a pump for recirculating the excess water back to the top, so there is no waste.
Size
The correct size of self-watering vertical planters will ensure your plants fit your plants from top to bottom. Also, if you want to plant large plants, place them at the bottom plants to provide a stable display.
Furthermore, a good size will ensure you have maximum space to grow many plants and a healthy room to avoid the suffocation of others.
We offer choices from the best materials, styles, and price points from our top selection below. Also, we cover different sizes and heights, not to mention straightforward installation processes. Above all, our options below offer much stability. This is commonly a significant problem from plenty of options in the market.
Indulge!
This Terracotta 3-Tier Stacking Planter consists of everything to use in hanging plants like trays, swivel chains, and grids. Also, it is a self-watering system that allows water to trickle down through other tiers hence ensuring your plants are not overwatered. With this system, you can control the amount of water you give your plants.
The water self-regulating ability makes sure the plants receive consistent watering and plant health. Moreover, it is also an attractive design that can work best even in tight spaces. So, if you are planning to add more life and color to your studio apartment, you can place this planter in a corner or even hang it. What’s more?
Furthermore, the tiered planter is best for growing different plants such as annuals, herbs, and strawberries. Remarkably, you can stack the planter in any design you feel would suit your plants using the grids. Because a tray is 6″ high and 12″ in diameter, you can build the trays to about 19″ tall to suit your height.
Pros
- Distributes water evenly
- Can hold multiple planters together
- It can rest well on the floor or hang on the wall
Cons
- The top tier dries out quickly
The Greens talk 5 Tier Vertical Garden Planter is a BPA-free high-quality hanging planter. Also, it features polypropylene material of construction which is a UV-resistant plastic. This way, rest assured of durability even when there’s extreme sunlight.
Moreover, there’s a unique multi-terrier watering system in this planter. The multi-terrier watering system permits trickling down of water through the inside water channels from the topwater supply to the plants at the bottom.
In other terms, this is more of a soil-based water distribution system and not hydroponic. That is why the water uses gravity to start at the top, watering all the pots and plants downwards.
Amazingly, this makes a perfect spot for growing herbs, fruits, and vegetables, mainly because it can hold an average of 40 gallons of potting soil.
Pros
- Grows a variety of plants
- Suitable for small spaces
- Easy to stack up
- Easy and simultaneous watering system
Cons
- The drainage holes tend to clog efficiently hence needs frequent cleaning
T4U’s vertical planter features six tiers that you can place in, whether indoors or outdoors. Each level provides three spaces for planting (which totals 18), and the complete set can support about 28 quarts of soil. So, you have enough room to grow your fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Also, it comes with a flexible plant saucer that has four wheels. This makes it portable to place it in any preferable location. Its watering system is somewhat ‘smart,’ allowing you to add water at the top only for the bottom one’s benefit.
Above all, you can use this planter as six tiers in one, or you can separate the six tiers to create unique decorations.
Pros
- Plenty of room for more desirable plants
- Durable anti-UV material even when outdoors
- Smart watering system
- Portable to any favorable spot
- Versatile to use separately for other purposes
Cons
- It is not as sturdy as expected
The self-watering vertical wall hangers with pots have an automatic dripping water system design that allows your plants to self-water. This way, you will not tire frequently watering your plants as the top pot drips water gradually to the rows beneath.
This is an excellent match if you live in a small apartment because the wall planters are compact. Better yet, they save space by leaning outwards to display your plants indoors or outdoors at the balconies. Ideally, mount twelve pots onto your preferable wall to have a vertical garden.
They are durable PVC, which is not just lightweight but strong too. Remarkably, the hooks are sturdy, so you won’t need to fear your plants falling off the wall when they become heavy as they grow.
Pros
- PVC material is durable
- Easy to install
- Sturdy hooks all through plant growth
- Ideal for compact spaces
Cons
- No way to save water at the bottom
The BlueSkyGrow self-watering planter is a vertical standing and allows you to use it outdoors or indoors to grow herbs or flowers. Better still, it is small enough that it can fit in your living room or on a counter.
Also, it has a design that allows automatic dripping of water from the top planter to those under it. This way, you won’t have to water frequently, making it self-watering and easy to use. Fortunately, all the water drains into the bottom reservoir, protecting your floors and counters against water damage.
Remarkably, the design also features inbuilt LED lighting to ensure your plants receive the right light spectrums for proper growth. Still, the LED lights maximize photosynthesis, thus easy to regulate using the touch screen panel.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- LED lights for speedy growth
- Quiet water pump
- Easy to use
Cons
- Large plants tend to block light for plants beneath
If you are planning to grow many plants, this five-tier vertical garden will suit your needs. It is BPA-safe and features more bottomless green planters 22″ wide in a black metal frame. Because it is wide, it provides enough room for you to grow several plants, including vegetables, flowers, and fruits of your choice.
The planters consist of drainage holes on the bottom as well as indoor plugs. Better yet, they are attractive in green and brown plastic apart from the available dove grey.
Remarkably, this vertical garden is easy to install without tools but following a short manual. Also, it has an ergonomic design that allows even the elderly to grow plants without straining the hips and back.
The metal frame is high-quality and sturdy enough to ensure the stability of the plants, weight of soil, and water. Moreover, both the frame and planter boxes are weather resistant and can endure indoor and outdoor use.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable construction
- Easy to install
- Ergonomic and attractive design
- Drainage holes to avoid overwatering
- Wide enough for more plants
Cons
- Tiny drainage holes that let out water very slowly
If you want a vertical garden that is more like a piece of furniture, a vertical wooden garden is your perfect shot!
Each layer has three holes on each side to adjust both the height and slope that change it into a trapezoid. This way, you can easily stack plants of different sizes. Moreover, a good trapezoid design guarantees good lighting, full ventilation, complete and suitable watering for the flower and plants.
The flower shelf has three tiers which make the space increase from top to bottom. Also, it is large enough to plant plenty of bonsai and green plants. Because the height is adjustable between and increases the layers, it can accommodate plants of different sizes. Preferably, you can keep the plants at an appropriate distance to enable proper growth.
There are two arc shapes at the bottom, which make the shelf unshakeable hence increased stability. Besides, the four sides feature high plates that prevent plants from falling off. Under each tier, you will find a hole. The holes allow water to drain smoothly to layers beneath.
The wood rack is also solid and durable, not too eco-friendly. Better still, it can support up to 66 lbs. conversely, the wood finish is also easy to clean and naturally beautiful. Remarkably, it can also work as a storage box, not just a flower rack. So, you can also choose to remove each box independently and store different items.
Pros
- Versatile use
- Sturdy and stable
- Large and plenty of space
- Adjustable height
- Reasonable design
- Water drainage
Cons
- Poorly placed water draining holes hence ineffective
This succulent garden planter takes up less space due to the compact base that can also be ideal on your desk and office working area. Better still, it features an innovative system of cylindrical natural bamboo pots that allows you to explore your imagination by placing succulents by types, colors, species, or even sizes.
A Martrams Vertical Succulent Garden gives you an exceptional opportunity to grow smaller, adapted vertical gardens for your home or office. Apart from its unique design, it offers flexibility and durability and a steel frame that is both water and fire-resistant for prolonged strength.
The sturdy bamboo base provides this stand-up garden with maximum stability to match its size and capacity. Also, the stainless-steel cables covered in PVC are rust-proof and also very safe for succulent cactus plants.
The bamboo cylinders are safe to come into contact with humidity. This way, aside from being natural, they also give outstanding warmth to the vision. So, if you are thinking of modifying your interior or exterior space, this Succulent Vertical Garden System is the way to go!
Pros
- Unique and practical design
- Sturdy and stable
- Specially treated for humidity
- Flexible and durable
- Takes less space
- Ideal for several small spaces
Cons
- No assembly instructions
This vertical garden is from heavy-duty natural cedar, which is chemical-free. Better still, it is double-sided hence holds several plants of your choice.
Besides, it features six shallow, angled shelves on every side. This makes it ideal for growing a combination of herbs and ground flowers, and you can use the top planter to grow taller varieties such as tomato plants if well-secured to the stakes.
The 4-foot-tall vertical garden has a broad base of about 2 feet wide to enhance stability. Also, the thick sideboards guarantee long life endurance and reduce deforming and any form of damage.
Remarkably, the setup is easy and quick, thanks to the included manual and instructional videos.
Pros
- Practical open-middle design
- Easy to assemble
- Stable and durable construction
- Plenty of room
- Easy to maintain plants
Cons
- The screws don’t stay in the wood for long
This rotating garden tower is also a composter and can turn kitchen leftovers into organic fertilizer. This way, rest assured that you will be able to achieve healthy organic produce.
Also, it can grow a maximum of 50 plants in about four square feet; you have the pleasure of placing it in any favorable position as you grow different plants altogether.
A prominent selling feature is the ability to rotate. This rotating tower does not only give you enough room to grow flowers, vegetables, and herbs, but it is also ergonomic. So, it ensures that you can easily access plants even in tight spots without straining your body.
Nonetheless, it comes resting on wide feet that allow you to station the tower anywhere you like; for instance, balcony, office, living room, corridors, and even outdoors.
Pros
- Creates organic fertilizer by composting
- Plenty of room
- Ideal size to fit in most locations
- Rotates for easy access
- Wide feet for stability
Cons
- The middle connection seems off to create instability with more weight or over some time.
Conclusion
Your small apartment should not separate you from your love for plants. With the best self-watering vertical garden, you can prepare and enjoy a thriving garden without compromising on your space. Better yet, they are available at different prices and designs to ensure you have one that meets your needs.
From our above selection, which self-watering garden do you prefer and why? Please leave a comment below. Happy gardening!
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