Santino ASTI 9.2 Inch Self Watering Planter Menthol/White for Indoor Plants - Premium Quality Modern Plastic Pot w/Water Level Indicator for All House Herbs, Plants, African Violets and Dahlias

I buy a LOT of pots. I also live in an apartment, so watering my plants is a considerable amount of work. I primarily own Lechuza and Algreen self-watering style pots that great time savers, but they are expensive. I decided to buy a Santino pot because it was about half the price. I only have to water every 1 to 3 weeks with my self-watering pots. My fast growing herbs typically need watering once a week while my slower growing plants are okay for 2 to 3 weeks.Pros:- Cheaper: Really this is the only pro vs Lechuza and Algreen, but it is an important one!!Cons:- Style: Less aesthetically appealing (at least the leaf sticker comes off)- Water reservoir: water has to drain through to soil to get to the reservoir, unlike the Lechuza and Algreen that have a separate opening to add water (so the top soil stays dry). This is an important issue for plants like basil that are susceptible to root rot.- Water level gauge: hard to see on the Santino vs Lechuza and Algreen that have a far more visible water level indicator.- Pon: fancy gravel substance provided with Lechuza pots that is supposed to “aerate the roots.” I have no idea if this is true, but I bought a bag anyway to use in my Algreen and Santino pots that do not come with this stuff.There are some definite advantages of a Lechuza or Algreen pot, but the Santino is a reasonable less expensive alternative.

I have ten Santino planters in three different styles and six different colors. Most of the colors are true to the DESCRIPTIONS, but one in particular is VERY DIFFERENT! The pot described as PURPLE is really FUSCHIA—a hot pink. The RED pot looks more BURGUNDY on my monitor but is really true RED. One of the most attractive is called JADE or MINT.I’m not inexperienced with plants but as I grow older and less mobile ANYTHING that makes my life easier is welcomed. Santino pots take a little getting used to, but once you get to know the different types and how to use these pots properly, you’ll wonder why it took somebody so long to invent such useful, attractive, and cost effective pots.I’ve included photos of three different types. Note again that only two have the small windows that show the water level. The rounded jade pot shows the window with a reservoir that is about half full. The ‘Ares’ pot in mint shows a reservoir that is empty. The ‘vase’ shaped pots DO NOT HAVE A RESERVOIR WINDOW.The pots come with directions that explain exactly how to assemble and use these pots. Most of the pots should come with an instruction sheet that shows how much liquid each pot size holds. I use a measuring cup to water my plants and pour the water directly into the pot WITHOUT taking it apart. The only one where there is a little guesswork is the ‘vase’ shaped pot (gold in my photo). I spent less than $4 on a good plant care meter which measures moisture, light and pH levels so I could give each plant what it needs to flourish.I’ve read a lot of reviews that complain about having to take apart the pot in order to check the water level. It CAN BE DONE using a thin tool, but doing so defeats the purpose of Santino pots.That being said, even with the reservoir windows I still use the meter because some plants are unforgiving if allowed to dry out, while others love it.I shake my head whenever I read advertisements for plants blaring “HARD TO KILL” or EASY TO GROW. Plants are somewhat like pets or even children. No two are exactly alike and they ALL require some care—some need a lot of TLC, while others enjoy more ‘alone’ time.I just started growing houseplants after a period where I knew I couldn’t give them the attention they deserve. All of my plants have just been transplanted from the growers pots to Santino pots. I plan to update my review from time to time.

✓ The product arrived on time and in perfect condition. No damages at all.✓ Material: PLASTIC. Not ceramic. Please read the product description carefully and see if this planter will suit your plant's needs.✓ Quality: Could have been better. The inner and outer pots are made plastic which is fairly thin in my opinion. In order to facilitate a good drainage inside the planter, I layered the bottom of the planter with gravels (Also, the instruction sticker that came along with this planter showed the same process). While this is a good idea for the health of almost all indoor plants, it does increase the weight of the planter substantially. On top of this gravel layer. I added my normal potting mix and planted a pothos plant. While this planter will definitely hold all this weight when kept on a flat surface, I'm not sure it will hold up if I hang the planter. I haven't tried that yet but I'm very skeptical about doing so. Also, if I add water to the self watering part, it will add an additional weight.✓ Is this planter Self watering? Yes. You'll have to lift the inner planter, pour some water into the outer planter and put the inner planter back in position. Sounds simple but lifting the inner planter when it is full of gravel and soil can be a little tricky. Please be cautious while doing so.✓ This planter has a self watering level indicator.✓ Dimensions. Outer planter= 7" high and 7.9" in diameter. Inner planter space = 5" high and 7.9" in diameter.✓ I've attached pictures of how this planter looks in my room and also each steps of how I layered this planter.Update after one month:✓ Considering the large planter volume of this product, I switched plants! I repotted a Dumbcane plant to this planter and it has started thriving. Also, I'm using this planter indoors It is great! The dual pot system means that this planter doesn't make any mess on my tables. Looks great too! Changed my rating to 5 stars!!Update: 11/18/2019 - After 10 months of use.✓ My dieffenbachia is still thriving! Not only is it thriving but recently it's started giving out tiny plantlets! Can't wait to gift them to my friends.✓ Planter is still intact. It has not declined in quality. Changed it's position but still looks great!

The media could not be loaded.  Would highly recommend this pot! It is sturdy enough for a plant to be in it, great value, very light weight. Very pretty and simply designed. Some reviews complain about the water window being too dark and not being able to see the water.... If it looks dark, it requires more water at the bottom because the water isn't quite at the level of the window! ... Because you can definitely see it clearly when the water level is at the window level. My peace Lily is thriving! New leaves and lilies constantly coming up. Can go weeks without having to add water. And a peace Lily loves moisture so this pot is perfect!!! The video will show the water level showing clearly, along with all the new growth, enjoy!

Well, this planter has improved my basil growing ability by 100%! This is the very first time I’ve kept a basil plant alive longer than a few weeks. I always seem to over/under water them, but this solved my issue.It’s definitely flimsy however, so I’m extra careful when moving it. Other than that, I’m pretty pleased.

The false bottom is a well designed feature . Plants are expensive and this ty of planter will contribute to its well being.Did think the plastic was a bit thin. The grey color is a light grey.

So disappointed 😞 Not only was it flimsy but it arrived broken. For $45 I was expecting higher quality of plastic and Amazon to take more care then shoving a broken plastic pot into the box and still shipping it to me. The broken pieces weren’t even in the box.

Lovely pot and not that fragile, but packaged without any padding or protection. No surprise that it was broken. Literally just had a thin strip of plastic wrap over part. I recommend ordering more than you need and returning the rest. I am returning and reordering.