Temperatures are skyrocketing in the Eastern US and it's a reminder to check our plants are staying hydrated. One of my favorite ways to keep pot plants (and even houseplants) watered without spending hours going back and forth with my watering can is using terracotta watering spikes.
Terracotta watering spikes are ingenious tools that sit in plant pots filled with water. Because terracotta is porous, the water is slowly released into the surrounding soil, keeping plant roots consistently moist. Right now, I've got my eye on this 15-pack of Amazon terracotta watering spikes for just $22.89. Stocking up on them now will ensure my container garden is prepped for the summer months ahead.
I particularly like the sculptural shape and thickness of these terracotta watering spikes, ensuring durability where others are fragile and break. They've been bought over 2,000 times this month, with thousands of reviews raving about their quality and functionality. Plus, there's no doubt they bring a charming look to pot plants.
These terracotta watering spikes are large enough to hold a bottle of water, or to simply be filled up with water. They're porous, slowly releasing moisture into plant soil. You should soak them for five minutes before inserting in plant soil and filling up.
A Summer Essential
With containers already drying out quickly from being elevated, hot weather calls for a precautionary tool like terracotta watering spikes to stop plants dehydrating completely and experiencing heat stress.
Similar to watering globes (like these pretty green and pink ones from IKEA), the terracotta spikes gradually release water into plant soil. What makes them even better is the fact they're porous, so they can release water much more efficiently than the dripping habit of globes.
These Amazon terracotta spikes are designed to be buried in the soil and then hold an upside down bottle of water (like this glass bottle from Walmart). It creates a playful look, elevating containers, though you can also just fill the spikes up with water.
'I have a bad habit of overwatering plants and killing them,' says one five-star reviewer. 'With these [watering spikes] I wait until the soil is dry, water them and fill the stake. It's working out quite lovely,' they add.
'I have them on my cucumbers, I have them on my tomatoes, and they keep the soil damp all the time,' another person notes. 'Excellent product. My plants are thriving,' they add.
You can use the spikes in the ground too, much the same as a garden olla works (you can find a terracotta olla on Amazon).
The only thing to note is you still need to keep watering mistakes in mind to make these terracotta spikes work. 'They do drip until the water in the bottle runs out, even if the soil is already wet,' one reviewer notes.
This means some careful management is needed, only filling them up once the soil has dried sufficiently.
'I have not had a problem with them causing overwatering, as I fill them when the plant needs watering,' one shopper writes.
Nevertheless, the spikes provide much more consistent moisture for plants than frequent watering with a watering can, ideal for hot spells.
Just make sure to use a soil moisture meter (like this from Amazon) between topping up the watering spike to avoid overwatering and to prevent issues like root rot.
What to Shop
Bury this olla in your garden bed with the top at surface level. Fill it with water and watch as it keeps plant roots hydrated. Made of terracotta, it's porous and provides consistent moisture.
Use this drip irrigation kit to install a controlled watering system in your yard. It includes 1/2 and 1/4 inch irrigation tubing, alongside everything you need to set it up easily.
This soil moisture meter can help you avoid watering mistakes. Simply insert the probe and it will identify how wet the soil is. It can be used on indoor plants and in the garden alike.
Ahead of hot temperatures arriving, it's worth reading up on how to water plants in hot weather to avoid causing accidental damage. Our guide to protecting plants in a heatwave has more advice on the challenging seasonal conditions.
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