---
title: "💧Top watering or bottom watering? 💧"
description: "💧Top watering or bottom watering? 💧"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/aGAK-4ayRFKntIfFxTpxsQ/651b1b0a02c4f9174b7dc5e6"
community: "Expert Level Greenspace"
author: "Mia"
published: "2023-10-02T19:33:30.225Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/zdyrjruk9pxkybl9y7lh.jpg"
---

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# 💧Top watering or bottom watering? 💧

_Posted by Mia on 2023-10-02_

💧Top watering or bottom watering? 💧

## 10 comments

### Rex commented on 2023-10-02

bottom water my Carnivorous Plants and top water my normal plants. So both

#### Mia replied on 2023-10-02

What are the pros and cons of each of them? I have struggled with soil staying wet for too long in the past

#### Rex replied on 2023-10-02

i would just go with top watering as seeing water drain out is a good indicator that it’s got enough water. as for ur soil stating too wet u can fix that by adjusting ur soil mix and pot size

### MeasomerPi commented on 2023-10-03

I’m also in the “it depends on the plant” camp.

I bottom water orchids and rosette succulents. It allows the orchids to take up a little more water and last longer between waterings. The rosettes don’t appreciate my lackadaisical approach to watering so bottom watering keeps me from causing crown rot.

The rest of my collection I will top water, mostly because of speed. However, the water in my area is hard so I also like to top water everything monthly to flush accumulated minerals.

My take - I don’t think it particularly matters either way. The most important thing is to find what that works for you.

#### Mia replied on 2023-10-03

Ok, thank you.

#### Mia replied on 2023-10-03

Which will dry out quicker though? Top or bottom watering?

#### Roundshouse Plants replied on 2023-10-09

I agree. Each plant seems to like it differently. My philodendrons favor bottom watering, but my thin-leaved plants (syngonium, Njoy, schefflera) like top watering. I prefer bottom watering because I feel like I can control my watering better. I know that this plant likes water filled to this line in the saucer etc. I'm a habitual over-waterer so knowing where my stopping point is helps me be more consistent.

### MeasomerPi commented on 2023-10-03

It depends on variety of factors including the media you’re using, the amount of light and airflow, the type of plant, etc

But generally speaking in my experience, bottom watering seems to dry out faster.

### ToPlantHarmony commented on 2023-10-04

It depends for me as well. On the size of the plant, the soil it’s in, etc. Most of mine do well with bottom watering but some need top watering sometimes, if not all the time, as well.

### Claire5904 commented on 2024-01-09

For me it’s the size of my collection that prevents me from bottom watering. I’d be here for two weeks taking everyone to a sink or bathtub. Also salts and minerals can build up in the soil and a good watering where some comes out of the bottom can be a nice flush for your plant.

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