Provence Self Watering Planters – 4-Herb Window Boxes Planters with Water Level Indicator – Windowsill Planter – Modern Pot Design – Practical and Easy to Use, Grey, Dark Green (PRO-4)

Sturdy compact

Start from the bottom and go up when putting together

The base of this unit is filled with water and there is a floating measuring stick in a plastic tube to show when the water is full and when it is going down. I was going away for a week and my plants were thriving, but when I put them in this base, the soil was soaked. I had been told by a farmer to let them get very dry not too wet. So I soaked them before leaving and left them out on the counter and in the window while I was gone. Unfortunately, the humidity was extremely dry and my once thriving parsley plant was crispy and wilted. I immediately fed it and put it into the water base hoping to see improvement. My rosemary was least affected by the dry soil, and my thyme plant, which had been coming back from a past issue, which I thought was root rot, so I replanted it, had been sprouting new leaves slowly. Those leaves were still on the stems but dry. I put it in the base with water, and added food, and it is slowly looking a tiny bit better. I thought the water would have slowly seeped into these planter cups when needed and not soak the soil, so I was disappointed when I saw they would just be sitting in a pool of water until it went down. I had to take it since I was leaving in 2 days and I wanted the plants not to die. They did not die, yet. But they looked parched because I took the soaked planters out of the water and left them to gradually dry out, not thinking it would be so bad. Maybe it was not directly due to the planter, but i did not want the soil to be so soggy and possibly create mold or root rot.

Very very very small. Not big enough to put herbs bought at the nursery in. The water gauge doesn’t fit the opening and no instructions in the box!

Stores water for over a week, seems to be a good value for the price. Would buy again.

Would highly recommend adding a air pump/air stones so the water doesn’t go stagnant. I also added a light on a timer and a pump to recirculate water and water plants before roots reach the water. I’ve had strawberries growing inside in it for a few years now. Highly concerning buying another one to grow some key lime bushes inside

Note: I’m a gardener who gets his hands dirty, not some paid reviewer who pimps stuffInitial impressions were (probably) wrong1) Seems pricey, but may not be in hindsight. Everything is plastic any more, it's hard to find any other material. Finding a comparable item, with same/similar features, has been difficult if not impossible, so price may not be bad after all.2) Seemed flimsy (I almost returned when I first opened box because of this), but it is not when properly put together. I was pleasantly surprised with how sturdy it is once assembled correctly.Dislikes1) At the time of this writing all units being sold on Amazon are either damaged or opened returns. I would really like to be able to purchase new, not kinda-sorta-but-not-really new.2) One piece missing [T junction], likely due to prior issue (not essential, but still wanted, solved with creative redneck engineering)3) Planter is not hydroponic in any way, shape or form (hyrdoponic = no soil). For my own purposes I don’t really care, but it is misleading for packaging to suggest otherwise.Likes1) I can add water directly to reservoir or just water it in from above and let water percolate down2) Reservoir can be closed to keep mosquitoes out3) Reservoir water level gauge is great, I can check the water level from my kitchen window4) Depending on how you prune, planter could hold multiple plants5) Not at all top heavy6) Not that hard to put together (some reviewers must have never played with legos as children)7) I’ve had it for several months now, it is working out quite well (see photo)Summary: Definitely better than I thought it would be when I first unpackaged it; still seems a bit pricey, but to be truthful I can’t find anything else of comparable value, with these features, relative to cost, so perhaps not; I am planning to purchase several more in near future (once used/damaged boxes run out).

If you are a beginner to growing and need something foolproof, this is for you. Just add dirt, seeds and water and watch your herbs grow. Fits perfectly on the windowsill and since it is self-watering you just need to make sure the water is filled. Simple to do as there is a measure to notify you when the water level is too low. Can't wait to have herbs for cooking.