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Hydro Pot
Ever since I posted my Pesto Butter Chicken, I have almost literally been swamped by emails and comments asking me about the hydro pot I mentioned.
I had no idea they were unique. I thought it was a normal item but now I’m not so sure about that anymore, so posting this to show you what I mean.
A hydro pot is simply a two layer pot. You put the herb or plant in the top level and stick a hydro cord into the soil, you then fill the reservoir with water -keep it full at all times- and you put the other end of the hydro cord in there. The plant will basically water itself and use as much or little as it needs.
I started out with basic, simple white plastic hydro pot by Rosti Mepal. It worked, but I couldn’t see the water level in that one and I kept forgetting to fill the reservoir making it defy its purpose.
So I switched to so-called design hydro pot (how come the word design always equals expensive?) by a brand name Eva Solo—I think it’s a Danish company. Much prettier and more expensive, but also more useful because I can see the water level now.
They come in different colors and sizes.
You can use them for regular plants as well as herbs.
This is no advertisement, mind you. I’m not being paid for this and Eva Solo has no idea who I am. Unfortunately.
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That’s so funny. After your last post I went straight off googling hydropots, but wasn’t sure what you meant. Thanks for the update!
I’m envisioning an herb garden on my counter this winter … thanks for posting this!
Love these! Considering I recently almost killed my mint plant because I just forget to water the dang thing, this sounds like something I could really use.
To those of you searching, I was able to find them on amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=eva+solo+self+watering&x=0&y=0
Don’t even try searching for “Hydro pot” – predictably, all you will find is advice on hydroponically growing pot.
Thanks … I’ll add the link! And for people in Holland and Europe they can be found at http://www.fonq.nl.
Those are too cool. I need one of those. I have a very picky plant that kills off pieces of itself if you water it too much, silly thing. :) Thanks for sharing.
I always either drown the stupid things or they dry out. I bought two 2 euro basil plants and they carried me through almost three months in those hydro pots.
Every time I picked off the leaves, they would grow right back on in no time. It was amazing.
very cool!! my outdoor basil is doing great but it wont in a few months, this would be great for winter time!!
I use the Aero grow unit for all kinds of herbs, Take a look at it on http://www.aerogrow.com/. an excellent product.
That looks really fun! I can see how that would work pretty well. Don’t think I have enough room in my kitchen for it, though.
My mother uses similar pots to these for her violet plants. They are actually called violet pots, and made from ceramic. It is made with two pots also, but one pot sets into the other pot. The outside pot is painted and sealed, where the inside pot is made a bit smaller (so it can set all the way into the outside pot) and it is not painted and sealed. the reason for this is ceramic is porous, and the soil soaks the water it needs through the sides of the pot instead of through a hose like these hydro pots. Violet pots work like a charm also for other types of plants! Possibly less expensive than the hydro pots. But, like Kay said, you can’t see the water level so you have to check every now and again.
Love this post and love herbs :-)
I have a few questions about the growing rate and size of basil when you use indoor hydro pots. How long does it take to pick your first batch of basil? Are the leaves as large as when you grow them outdoors?
In addition, do I need a grow light for herbs? I mean will a grow light increase my success in growing herbs indoors?
4 to 6 weeks and lights are a must, look at the Areo grow site above for all types of herbs and flowers and there care.
is the hydro cord just a piece of rope?
No, it’s more like a special, thick kind of nylon.
Oh my! I got sucked in. Read the post, fell in love with the pots, headed to Amazon and just looked at all 12 pages of Eva Solo’s products. Love all of them! Ok, back to Amazon to order some pots. Thanks for the recommendation!
One of our local garden centers sells “regular” plastic flower pots with similar design-there is a nylon cord at the bottom of the pot-circling underneath. Simply put water in the saucer and it waters itself. Love it. Since I just killed a basil plant from the grocery store (no sun in window? too much/not enough water? doomed from the start? ) I’m going out to the garden center before I replace the plant.
These pots are beautiful but a little pricey. I Googled ”self-watering pots” and there are several tutorials on how to make them out of recycled materials. Definitely not as pretty as yours but affordable.
They definitely are! Cute but awfully expensive. There are also cheaper versions, though, they’re made from plastic and are a few euros. The Rosti mepal line I started out with is much cheaper. The only (and major) drawback was not being able to see the water level so I kept forgetting to refill the reservoir.
Thanks for the information! Did you buy it in one of the shops in the Netherlands or you have to buy it online?