Hey Nah,

Welcome to Day 1 of our mini email series on all things watering!

Today we're getting into one of my favourite topics, bottom watering vs top watering.

Most people have watered from the top their entire plant-owning lives, and honestly, that's fine. Top watering works. But there's a strong case for adding bottom watering to your routine — or switching to it entirely for certain plants — and once you understand the difference, you'll never look at a saucer the same way again.

So what's the difference?

Top watering is exactly what it sounds like. You pour water into the top of the soil and let it drain out of the bottom. It's quick, it's familiar, and for most plants in most situations, it does the job.

Bottom watering flips that completely. You place your plant in a tray or container of water and let the soil draw moisture up from the bottom through the drainage holes. The plant drinks what it needs, and you empty the tray after about 20 to 30 minutes.

Simple enough. But here's where it gets interesting.