---
title: "Bottom watering of plants. Do you bottom water any of your plants?…"
description: "Bottom watering of plants. Do you bottom water any of your plants? How long do you let them soak in the water and is it better overall? If you top water how do…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/MlWxxAQ0fKwi3vOEfyNgcY"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Aimee loves plants"
published: "2026-08-20T13:15:17.157167Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Pp76gsA9OYyGhw0io92ueJAp-G7X5PS40oiJpJwSXlQ/wKntlD0_S3qvHWTIx8cD9A.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md)

# Bottom watering of plants. Do you bottom water any of your plants?…

_Posted by Aimee loves plants on 2026-08-20_

Bottom watering of plants. Do you bottom water any of your plants? How long do you let them soak in the water and is it better overall? If you top water how do you know when it’s enough?

Photo of my new cute ladder shelf that I found at the thrift store this week for $10 😍 got it for plants. Need more to give it more life 💚💚💚

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Pp76gsA9OYyGhw0io92ueJAp-G7X5PS40oiJpJwSXlQ/wKntlD0_S3qvHWTIx8cD9A.webp?size=large)

## 6 comments

### Amateur plant mama commented on 2026-08-20

I only bottom water things that don't like their leaves wet. I usually let them soak for 20 minutes or so.  
Top watering for everything else and I water until it runs through the drainage hole and make sure it drips dry and isn't sitting in water.

### Nunyabzwx commented on 2026-08-20

Yep i do the same as Amateur plant mama

### Nikiller commented on 2026-08-20

I bottom water all my plants except for my shared planters that I can’t bottom water. I’ll occasionally top water plants that can handle water on the leaves to wash out salts from the soil

#### Nikiller replied on 2026-08-20

I let things soak from 10-90 minutes depending on the size and species. My 10’ wide regal shield needs to slurp up a gallon of water every 2-3 days, bottom water her for 90 minutes and just wait for it to stop absorbing. My tiny 2” begonia drinks for 10 seconds, no time at all.

### Waspinator commented on 2026-08-20

I bottom water african violets and begonias mostly (and use self-watering pots for alocasias and especially thirsty plants). For those, I do 20 minute soaks. I sometimes bottom water orchids, if they're dehydrated (soak for like an hour to help it rehydrate) or getting repotted (20 minutes to an hour to make the roots flexible.) Bottom watering is also useful for small and delicate plants that need their roots to not be disturbed, like seedlings. When top watering, pour water until it drains out the bottom, make sure you evenly wet all the soil.

### Aimee loves plants commented on 2026-08-21

Thank you all!

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_