Too Large Self-watering From IKEA

photo from Desire to Inspire

I spotted this IKEA "self-watering" planter (PS Fejo) while paddling through my RSS feeds today. It was good to see living plants in this remodeling job. 

What caught my eye however was something I've realized about IKEA's one size fits all sub-irrigation planter (see previous post). It's too large for most of the plants they sell. 

This planter is clearly too large for the plant installed and more than likely it will decline and die over time from over watering. 

I realize the plant may have been “staged” for the photo in this location but there is also not enough light to ensure its survival. The combination of low light and an oversized sub-irrigation planter is a sure killer. 

This is one of the reasons "self-watering" planters get an undeserved bad reputation in the consumer market. IKEA should do two things: provide much better consumer education about sub-irrigation and offer several sizes of this planter or some other design. 

Incidentally, this plant would most likely fit comfortably into a sub-irrigation pop bottle planter (2-liter size), which could be concealed in a decorative cachepot. Now that would work! Just more light please! 

Via: Desire to Inspire 

Comments

[John Stanley]

I'm going to use mine like an Earthbox. It's going outside. Maybe a tomato plant or carrots.

[Greenscaper Bob]

Why not? You probably need to drill an overflow drain hole in the side just above the reservoir platform, or use a gas tank siphon to remove excess rain water. Good luck with you sub-irrigated veggie growing. Betcha can't use just one. ;-)

[graciela.]

Ikea has come out with some new sub-irrigated planters that come in more than one size. I have an Earthbox but can't afford to buy another one so I'm going to buy one of these new Ikea planters ($10) and also plant veggies in it. Good idea on making an overfill hole.