Got a Brown Thumb? These Self-Watering Planters Do All the Work for You (2024)

If, in addition to struggling with a water routine, you or your giftee struggles to get quality sunlight indoors for their plants, this high-tech self-watering planter garden will do the sun's job. It's pretty much a gardener in box form in that it truly does all the work for the human.

This luxe planter can grow six 12-inch tall plants at a time in its hydroponic pod system, thanks to its 20-watt LED grow light. (It’ll work wherever you can safely plug it in.)

It also features a sleek digital display with illuminated push-button controls, an internal water pump that periodically runs to help oxygenate the water, and built-in settings to remind users when to add more plant food and water.

It comes with pods for Genovese Basil, Curly Parsley, Dill, Thyme, Thai Basil, and Mint — the essentials that every home chef needs! It grows plants efficiently and allows owners to have minimal stress throughout the process.

What's more, absolutely no soil is required to grow plants in this thing. This cuts down on costs and simplifies the growing process even further.

Gift this to your mom who has been itching to grow an herb garden, or to your brown-thumbed friend who loves the idea of owning plants, but really shouldn't be trusted with the responsibility. You know the one.

Hydroponic growing comes with a learning curve, however! When my mom got her AeroGarden Harvest Elite for Christmas, both of us were entirely new to the system. While the seed pods felt like something from the future, some of them never germinated.

Eventually, we realized that the seasonal room we were keeping the AeroGarden in was too cold, even with the growing lamp. A location change to the kitchen served us well!

Best for novices who want as little to do with the planting process as possible, this is a stellar option for apartment renters and people who don't have a ton of green space around them.

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Planting an indoor herb garden can be a great source of joy — and while sophisticated, high-tech hydro planters can be fun, there are plenty of more affordable ways to start growing your plants indoors, as well.

This three-pack of self-watering indoor and outdoor planters is an excellent way for would-be gardeners to try their hand at growing herbs. Each pot features a water reservoir that keeps your plants growing without much help from you, and the durable design means it is built to last.

For years, I’ve been growing herbs indoors in little plastic pots with unreliable success, often forgetting to water them when life gets busy and then overdoing it. I love these planters because their water reservoirs take all the guesswork and unpredictability out of the project.

Plus, they fit comfortably around my small apartment. Since they come in packs of three, I’ve gotten to play around with location, keeping one in the kitchen and two on my windowsills. Since this is an herb starter kit, you’ll eventually transfer your herbs into your garden or a bigger pot. However, these planters are built with longevity in mind, so save them for next season!

Made for indoor and outdoor use alike, you can keep this self-watering planter in your kitchen, or hang it outside on your windowsill. Since this is an herb starter kit, you’ll eventually transfer your herbs into your garden or a bigger pot. However, these planters are built with longevity in mind, so save them for next season!

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Terra cotta and glass? Yes, please. We love the chic look of these minimalist materials — and the way these planters take the worry out of our plant care routine.

Terra cotta is a porous material that can dry out quickly, but when placed in water, it actually allows the water to pass through the material and into the soil inside. In this system, plants will absorb only what they need, so you don’t have to be an expert to use this planter. You can also see the water level, so you always know where you’re at. This makes it an excellent beginner-friendly gift — there’s no guessing involved!

This planter is made of a cylinder glass reservoir that houses a terra-cotta planter, so you just have to set it in the glass portion for perfectly watered plants. Plus, they come in several different sizes, which helps you make the right selection for your plant and its roots.

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When it comes to succulents, Hilliard-Knapp tells us that they need sandier soil and that the soil should dry out completely before watering again. Because of this, generic self-watering planters won’t do, especially if they’re designed to keep the soil moist 24/7. This would lead to dramatic over-watering!

That’s why it’s important to choose a self-watering planter that’s specific to the needs of succulents, should you choose to care for them this way.

We're big fans of the simple look of this self-watering succulent planter from Gardenix. The company claims it's the first-ever self-watering planter designed entirely for succulents. With its water-level indicator, you can make sure you never over-saturate your succulents again.

We also love that these planters are 100% organic, and made from coco shell fibers. Not only does this create a healthy habitat for your succulents, but the organic material produces just the right drainage that succulents need.

Related: Spice Up Your Loved One’s New Pad With This Self-Watering Chili Pepper Plant

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This self-watering plastic planter is as stylish as it is practical as it adorns your porch or entryway with lush greenery. At close to three feet in height, this self-watering planter is definitely on the larger side. Following Hilliard-Knapp's advice, you’ll want to make sure that whatever plants you fill this with have a deep root system so that they can access the water reservoir.

If you end up choosing to use this planter with plants whose roots haven’t grown as deeply yet, you’ll want to make sure you water it from the top as well at the beginning to ensure the roots have room to dig down and grow.

While the bigger side might call for a little more work, this planter’s aesthetic and durability make it worth it. The polyethylene plastic it is made from is water, rot, and fade-resistant, so you can use it outdoors season after season and still enjoy its original beauty.

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Chances are, you’ve seen these earthy coco liners hanging from many a front porch without ever realizing that these are self-watering planters!

Made from natural coco, these plant liners have thick fibers that absorb water and keep the soil moist. To start, you’ll soak the liner in water for 30 seconds. Then, you’ll place it in your hanging vessel and fill it with soil and plants of your choosing. The coco fiber is hydrophobic and prevents the loss of water, making it so that the plant's roots can drink up and get the water they need to flourish.

When I set up my coco lines, I was impressed with how, after I soaked them, I could shape and mold them to fit the hangers I already had at home. The liners were easy to work with and manipulate. I could have cut them for further customization but found that I didn’t need to based on the hangers I had. Since I have a covered porch where the rain doesn’t reach, these felt like the perfect option.

The coco liners are 100% natural, so they’re safe to use for veggies, herbs, and flowers alike. While they’re most traditionally used in hanging baskets, you can also use them as a layer in potted plants. No matter which method you choose, these liners take a lot of work off your hands, making it so you’ll have to water them less.

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If you’re looking to spruce up your home without a lot of fussing around, then this might be the best self-watering planter for you. This window box is made to withstand everything, from hot summer days to tough winter conditions. It's also fade-resistant, so you won't have to worry about having to repaint every so often. This means you can leave it up year-round without having to worry.

The double-wall design also adds sturdiness to the design and provides your plant’s roots with enough room to grow, and plenty of insulation from inclement weather. The water reservoir rests under the soil, with water getting pulled up through the potting mix through capillary action. We also love that this planter comes with a 15-year warranty for homes.

However, there’s one thing you need to do before adding this planter to your shopping cart, and that’s measuring your windowsill. At 36 x 11 x 10.8 inches, this window planter will fit most windowsills, but not all. Make sure it fits yours before you buy!

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