Quick answer: an automatic plant watering system keeps your plants watered without you being there. The gravity fed systems we sell, AutoPot and MEGAPot, need no pumps, timers, electricity or mains water. A tank sits above your pots, a float valve in each tray lets water or feed in to a set level, then shuts off until the plants have drunk it. You fill the tank; the valves do the rest.
How gravity fed watering works
Water runs from your tank down a feed pipe to each pot's tray. In AutoPot systems the valve is the AQUAvalve5: it fills the tray to a set depth, then closes. The plant drinks the tray dry before the valve opens again, so the roots get a natural wet and dry cycle rather than sitting in water all the time. MEGAPot works the same way with its own Mega Valve, which has a 10mm inlet.
Because nothing is pumped, there is nothing to switch on, nothing to programme and nothing to fail in a power cut. AutoPot says its systems can often be left unattended for weeks, and that they can reduce water and nutrient use by up to 50%, because everything you put in goes to the plants with no run off.
The tank has to sit higher than the valves so gravity can do the work. Follow the height given in your kit's instructions, stand the tank somewhere level and stable, and fill it before you need to move it: a full tank is heavy.
Which system suits you
| System | Pot size | How many pots | Tank | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoPot Easy2Grow Kit | 8.5L or 15L | 2, add more with extension modules | Included | A first system for a greenhouse, patio or spare corner |
| AutoPot 1Pot 15L System | 15L | 1 to 36 in our bundles | FlexiTank included, 47L to 400L | Most indoor and greenhouse growing |
| AutoPot 1Pot XL 25L System | 25L | 1 to 36 in our bundles | FlexiTank included, 47L to 400L | Bigger, longer growing plants |
| AutoPot Tray2Grow | Your own seed trays, small pots or grow bags | Several containers on one tray | Not included | Seedlings, microherbs, grow bags |
| MEGAPot 16L System | 16L fabric pot (22L, 39L and 56L also stocked) | 1 to 32 | Not included | Growers who want fabric pots and room to expand |
| MEGAPot Multi Pot | 4 pouches of 16L, 22L or 30L | 4 on one 80cm x 80cm tray, one valve | Not included | A 0.8m or 1.2m grow tent |
| MEGAPot Veg Pot System | 25 x 1L or 16 x 2L | One tray, one valve | Not included | Veg, herbs and young plants |
For systems without a tank, pair them with an AutoPot FlexiTank (50L to 1000L) or a SuperTank Flexible Tank (25L to 1000L, light proof, with a front tap that links straight to AutoPot and MEGAPot).
What size tank do I need?
Pick a tank big enough to water your plants comfortably between top ups. As a guide, these are the tank sizes AutoPot bundles with its 1Pot 15L systems:
| Number of 15L pots | Tank in the bundle |
|---|---|
| 1 to 6 | 47L |
| 8 or 9 | 100L |
| 12 or 16 | 225L |
| 24 or 36 | 400L |
Bigger plants, larger pots and warm weather all empty a tank faster, so if you are going away, go up a size. Tell us your setup and we will help you plan it.
Using it in a greenhouse
AutoPot says its systems work indoors and outdoors, and its Easy2Grow kit needs no power or mains water, so it suits a greenhouse with no electric supply. You can run it as a hydroponic system or with ordinary compost, and AutoPot says it can be fed from a reservoir or a water barrel. The Tray2Grow takes seed trays, small pots or a grow bag on one tray, which is handy for tomatoes, chillies, peppers and salad in a greenhouse.
Using it in a grow tent
In a tent, floor space matters. The MEGAPot Multi Pot fits four pots on one 80cm x 80cm tray, made for a 0.8m or 1.2m tent, and raises the pots just 10mm to save headroom. AutoPot 1Pot systems let you place each pot where you want it. MEGAPot modules work with coco, perlite, clay pebbles, rockwool or soil. Browse grow tents, coco and clay pebbles to complete the set up.
FAQs
Do automatic plant watering systems need electricity?
Not the ones we sell. AutoPot and MEGAPot are gravity fed, so there is no pump, timer or power supply.
How long can I leave plants on an automatic watering system?
AutoPot says its systems can often be left unattended for weeks. How long a tank lasts depends on its size, the number and size of plants and the weather, so size the tank for the time you will be away.
Can I use compost or soil instead of hydroponics?
Yes. AutoPot says its systems work as a hydroponic system or as a traditional soil irrigation system, and MEGAPot modules work with coco, perlite, clay pebbles, rockwool or soil.
Do I need a tap or mains water?
No. You fill the tank by hand or from your own supply, and gravity takes the water to the pots.
Can I add more pots later?
Yes. AutoPot extension modules add pots to a 1Pot, 1Pot XL or Easy2Grow system, and MEGAPot systems can be extended at any time, up to 32 pots on the 16L to 56L systems.
Need a hand?
See the full Irrigation & Watering range, or browse AutoPot, MEGAPot and SuperTank. Visit us at Unit 2 Black Lake, West Bromwich, B70 0PJ (Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 3pm), call 0121 553 7872 or WhatsApp our experts. Free UK delivery on orders of £94.99 or more, price match and Click & Collect.