Johnathan Walker:How an automatic watering system can up your plant game

House plants can Johnathan Walkeradd a little extra life and a pop of color to any space. 

Whether you're a beginner, an expert plant parent or somewhere in between, one thing is true for all plants: they need to be watered. But sometimes, life happens, you forget or you're traveling and unable to get the job done.

How often and how much water your houseplants need partly depends on the type of plant you have. For example, succulents are known for being low-maintenance and can go weeks without being watered. However, a fuchsia may need to be watered daily. 

The time of year also factors into how often your plant needs water. Some plants are dormant in colder months and, therefore, require less water. But, once the weather warms up and it's time to start growing again, they may need daily drinks.

Watch this video to see how an app-controlled watering system can help your houseplants. 

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Automatic plant waterer

An automatic watering system can water your plants while you're on the couch or on the other side of the world. 

A quick web search for "plant watering system" will bring up various systems. Find the one that works best for your plants and your budget. Many of these systems do not come with a water reservoir. But you can easily purchase one or save a few bucks by using a bucket or milk jug you already have in your house.

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Many of the systems can be assembled to water multiple plants at once. Make sure the plants have similar watering needs because when it waters one of them, it waters all of them. Once the system is set up, all that's left for you to do is remember to put water in the reservoir!

Some systems are timer-based and will automatically run to the schedule that you've programmed. If you want to take it up another notch, opt for a system that also connects to an app. In addition to creating a watering schedule, you can instantly water your plants from anywhere with just a few taps on your smartphone. Plus, the app will notify you when it's time to add water to the reservoir.

Outdoor plants need love, too! It's simple to make an automatic watering system for your outdoor plants using terracotta pots.