The Puddle-Free Plant Guide: Tips to Save your Floors and your Plants

Ah, the age old question: how to water indoor plants without making a mess.

Nothing makes a plant parent (or their partner!) want to ditch their indoor jungle quicker than a rogue puddle creeping across their floor... especially when dirt and fertiliser are involved! Whether it’s leaving the carpet damp and mouldy, staining your polished concrete, or causing floorboards to rot, water is the sworn enemy of all types of flooring. Even outdoor pavers and decking are prone to stains.

But don’t worry, this guide will save your floors, your plants, and your sanity. It IS possible to keep your watering game on-point while avoiding puddles and the time consuming hassle of cleaning them up.

1. The Case for Letting Water Drip (Yes, You Want This to Happen!)

If water isn’t dripping out of the bottom of your plant pot, your deepest plant roots are being left dry. Why? Because that little drip is your assurance that every single root—even the ones chilling at the bottom—has had a drink. When roots don’t get water, they get die off. Crispy roots = crispy plants.

Underwatering:

This is sneaky. Your plant might look fine for a while, but over time, it’ll go from 'perky perfection' to 'sad stick'. Seeing that drip is non-negotiable if you want lush, thriving plants. So, yes, aim for the drip. Anything less and you're underwatering. But I can hear you screaming, 'But what about the mess!?' We’ll deal with that in a second.

Overwatering:

This number one plant killer is stealthy. If that water doesn't have holes to drain out of, it's got to be pooling in the base of your plant pot making those plant roots nice and soggy. Plant pests love this scenario (read our plant pest blog here). There's a reason why the plant care tags on the vast majority of houseplants preface 'well-draining soil' as a major requirement.

2. Flushing Your Soil: The Plant Spa Treatment

Did you know that your plants routinely need a good flush? This is because over time salts and minerals from water and fertilisers build up in the soil, creating a suboptimal ecosystem for roots. Flushing the soil—aka watering until water flows freely out the bottom—washes away all the harmful stuff. Think of it as hitting the reset button.

Flushing your plants also prevents issues like root burn, as salts can literally fry your plant’s roots. Additionally, it keeps the soil from becoming too compacted, which makes it easier for roots to breathe (ever noticed a gap between your soil and the pot? It's not called the 'gap of death' for no reason). Regular flushing = happy roots = happy plants. 

But again, how do we flush without turning our home into a swampy marsh? Hang tight; we’re getting there!

3. The Sink, Shower, or Lawn Dilemma

Many plant parents solve the mess problem by moving their plants to the sink, bath/shower, or even the lawn for a good soak. Sure, it works! So let’s discuss the pros and cons:

Relocation Pros:

• Zero puddles on your floor—the dirty mess in your sink/shower/lawn is much easier to clean up afterwards than your flooring.

• It’s easy to let water drain completely without worry, all while you get on with your day.

Relocation Cons:

• Plants are heavy, especially bigger ones. Your back will remind you the next day.

• Drips still happen. That  journey back to your plant’s home... a slight tip to the side will see your plant expel water that you thought was long gone.

• Forgetfulness is real. Raise your hand if you’ve left a plant in the shower for days. (Guilty.) This may be slightly too close to home for ADHD types... sorry.

• Moving plants around is a serious time sponge. Between lugging them to another spot, waiting for them to drain, and hauling them back, you can easily lose a chunk of your day.

• Moving plants can also cause damage. Squeezing through doorways can tear leaves or break delicate stems. Placing plants outdoors can be even more damaging due to the risk of being blown over or sunburnt leaves if you happen to get side tracked before bringing them back inside. (Guilty again.)

So, while relocating plants from their usual position for watering may work in a pinch, it’s not exactly a convenient long term solution. And let’s be honest, most of us don’t have the time or energy for plant relocations every watering day.

4. Meet PerkyPod: Your Puddle-Free Plant Solution

If you’re over the puddles, the hauling, and the mess, let us introduce you to our innovative plant pot, PerkyPod. This little genius is here to make your life easier—and your plants happier.

Why PerkyPod is a game-changer:

• It is the world's first self-draining plant pot and designed by an Aussie mum who's an engineer. Patent-pending and the winner of the 2024 Australian Good Design Award for Homewares!

• It has a built-in drainage and water catchment drawer that collects all that dripping water. No more puddles, no more mess.

• The foolproof system means the risk of over or underwatering is gone.

• You can flush your plant’s soil right where it lives. Say goodbye to that onerous plant-hauling workout.

• You’ll never have to guess if you’ve watered enough. When the drawer has water in it, you know your plant’s roots got their drink.

• The catchment drawer is easy to empty whenever you have time, so you’re not stuck dealing with standing water. Plant pests will go bug your neighbours instead (pun intended).

• Optional hidden wheels mean you can even experiment with different positions  for added ease!

PerkyPod makes it simple to water your plants properly without the hassle. Your plants get the care they need, and your floors stay dry. Win-win.

So, there you have it: the secret to watering your plants without flooding your home. Embrace the drip, flush that soil, and let PerkyPod do the heavy lifting (literally). Your plants—and your floors—will thank you.