Caring for houseplants can be a rewarding experience as it not only beautifies your home but also provides stress relief during watering sessions. However, as your plant collection grows, finding time to water each plant individually can become a challenge. Overthinking watering schedules before vacations can also add to the stress, as finding a plant sitter and writing detailed instructions becomes necessary. To streamline the process, many people turn to indoor automatic watering systems to make hands-free watering a reality.
In a recent experiment, two indoor automatic watering systems were tested: the Sancruz IC205S and the Onsast AUTO01. The Sancruz IC205S features a traditional design with a central unit integrating a timer, internal water pump, and battery backup. It uses a jet pump to pull water up from the reservoir and includes a humidity sensor for potential watering based on plant needs. The Onsast AUTO01, on the other hand, has an external submersible pump that pushes water to the plants. It offers more watering settings and features adjustable drippers for customization.
Installing the indoor watering systems was relatively straightforward, with the main challenge being adjusting the drippers to suit the needs of each plant. The Sancruz system was easier to adjust, as it had only one pump speed and nonadjustable drippers. On the other hand, the Onsast system required more adjustments, especially when dealing with multiple drippers and balancing the water supply line. Despite these challenges, both systems were able to effectively water the plants and maintain soil moisture levels.
Programming the timers on both systems differed in complexity, with the Sancruz having a more intuitive interface for setting watering schedules. The Onsast system required decoding a series of numbers to determine the watering intervals and frequencies, which could be confusing at times. Despite these differences, both systems were able to deliver water to the plants as per the programmed schedules, ensuring that the plants remained hydrated and healthy.
Overall, while both the Sancruz and Onsast indoor automatic watering systems have their pros and cons, they offer a convenient solution for those with a large houseplant collection or those who struggle to keep up with watering schedules. Understanding the water needs of your plants and taking the time to adjust and optimize the settings can help ensure that these systems effectively keep your houseplants alive and well-watered. For budget reasons, it may be best to use these systems for plants that are most vulnerable to drying out, especially during vacations.
