The Case For Sub-Irrigation Of Houseplants
Top watering by pouring water on the soil is not recommended.
Jardiner is perfect for African Violets

By using Jardinier Subirrigation Containers it will produce healthier houseplants and makes their care more user-friendly and hassle free. We know of no disadvantages.

The following is a long list but well worth reading if you have not experienced the benefits of measured sub-irrigation.

Benefits to the plants
  • Reduced exposure to soluble salts problems. Salts are elevated up and out of the way of the primary root zone.
  • Maintenance of the ideal state of 'evenly moist' is much easier. This is a healthier soil condition and reduces the exposure to precipitation of soluble salts out of solution in the dry state. This condition can result in the burning of hair (feeder) roots.
  • Water moves up evenly molecule by molecule, drop by drop. Capillary action facilitates maintenance of the ideal state of 'evenly moist' with no exposure to dry soil pockets.
  • A small measured amount of water can be delivered directly to the root zone with hypodermic like accuracy. This is essentially impossible to do with top watering. It makes sub-irrigation feasible for all types of plants including cactus and succulents.
 
  • Gentle movement of water by capillary action reduces the tendency for soil particles to compact, which improves oxygenation over time. Pore spaces do not close up as they do from the force of water moving by gravitational pull.
  • R&D trials conducted over several years have shown that subterranean irrigation has some real benefits. These trials have consistently demonstrated that sub-irrigated plants require less water, grow more vigorously and retain their condition for longer. The impact of temperature, climate change and the subsequent stress on the plant are reduced.
  • Sub irrigation allows the use of a wider range of decorative top-dressings that would otherwise be washed into the soil by top watering.
Provides a healthy, consistent growing environment

Benefits to the caretaker

  • The interval of time between plant watering can be extended. A 'reservoir' capability allows extra water application to cover caretaker absences (vacations, etc.).
  • Plants can be watered on a fixed schedule (every 2 weeks for example). Larger plants can go even longer than 2 weeks. Every 3-week plant care is definitely feasible. Small 5'' inch pot size plants might require a 10-day cycle.
  • A closed watertight sub-irrigation system reduces exposure to water damage of furnishings and floors.
  • The run -off from top watering can provide slippery areas. This can be a liability in public areas.
 
 
Benefits to the environment
  • Proper use of measured sub-irrigation results in a dry soil surface 100% of the time. There is no exposure to creating an environment for propagation of fungus gnats (Sciaridae). They are annoying to humans and are known to be causes for plant damaging diseases.
  • A dry soil surface mitigates exposure to the creation of toxic molds and triggering of allergic reactions such as asthma.
Makes plant care, easy, efficient and foolproof
Current Situation

We know from personal experience that sub-irrigation is the method of choice for established interior plantscape companies. They obviously would not use an inferior method since they guarantee their plant maintenance. Meanwhile the retail houseplant market is admonished to 'poke and pour' and as a result indoor plants are seen as difficult to maintain.

Until now subirrigation has NOT been readily available to the UK consumer. There are even fewer products available than the last time we surveyed the field. Do you know of any other consumer product as poorly supported as houseplants?

We are aware that sub-irrigation is widely used in the interior plantscaping industry and not in the retail houseplant market.