---
title: "Question: when you have a plant in a self watering container and you…"
description: "Question: when you have a plant in a self watering container and you want to feed/fertilize your plant does the fertilizer go in with the water or do you put…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/0ni2HJpAVdJo09olIemzIu"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Pthomas"
published: "2026-07-04T15:00:34.589503Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/lh35vZ-eXDO4pb6AVAirNQNSNWFCuFXwPNTkSvJd3wI/Jpoc5S4rTQiig68YYmMOUQ.webp?size=large"
---

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# Question: when you have a plant in a self watering container and you…

_Posted by Pthomas on 2026-07-04_

Question: when you have a plant in a self watering container and you want to feed/fertilize your plant does the fertilizer go in with the water or do you put it in the soil (on the top of the plant)? I’m using Miracle Grow Indoor Plant Food in liquid form.

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/lh35vZ-eXDO4pb6AVAirNQNSNWFCuFXwPNTkSvJd3wI/Jpoc5S4rTQiig68YYmMOUQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/lh35vZ-eXDO4pb6AVAirNQNSNWFCuFXwPNTkSvJd3wI/XPueIrdzTf-JEMhDKpuegQ.webp?size=large)

## 8 comments

### plantgeek commented on 2026-07-04

you have other things to worry about, those roots are rotten. orchid roots should never be brown, stringy, wrinkly, or mushy. orchids do not do well in self watering pots, they NEED to dry out completely. cut off all of that dead material and remove that peat plug. orchids should not be in organic material like peat or potting soil, put it in orchid bark. water only when the roots become that silvery color you see on the aerial roots.

### Plantingsherry commented on 2026-07-04

That sounds like good information, but the leaves look healthy.

### Avai M commented on 2026-07-04

You can add the Miracle Grow with the water and mix it so that you both water and fertilize the plant. But plantgeek is right, worry about your roots first then you can start fertilizing. Good Luck 👍 🪴

### Pthomas commented on 2026-07-04

I’m am sorry! I mixed up two post!

### Pthomas commented on 2026-07-04

That was a separate question from the orchid! My question for the orchid is should I cut those dry roots off?

#### plantgeek replied on 2026-07-04

yes! leaving them there risks a bacterial infection

### Pthomas commented on 2026-07-04

Thanks for the answers! I was gifted the orchid a few years ago and it’s been growing despite some of the dried roots. It’s in orchid bark like it’s supposed to be. The self watering pot is what my ZZ plant is in.

### Michael commented on 2026-07-04

If you are using semi hydro (like I am) half Lecha and top half spag moss, every time I add water I add liquid fertilizer mixed water. Never fill past the top of your Lecha

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