Plant Pal Classic with a black roof and Sprout holding the wicking rope, on dark green

How Plant Pal Works

Plant Pal looks simple, and that's the point. No app. No batteries. No timers or settings to fuss with. Just a little house, a thirsty rope, and a smiling Sprout standing watch over your plant.

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The Mayor's new Plant Pal at work on a potted plant, with Sprout holding the rope

Meet Capillary Action

It's the same bit of physics that pulls water up the stem of every plant on Earth. Dip the corner of a paper towel in a puddle and watch the water creep upward. That's it.

Water molecules are clingy. They stick to each other, and to the rope's fibers even more. Drop a wicking rope into the reservoir and the water pulls itself along, one tiny tug at a time, into your plant's soil. No pump required.

Plant Pal Pro and Plant Pal Classic watering an anthurium and a yucca, on dark green

You Set the Flow Rate

Plant Pal is demand-driven: your plant draws water as the soil dries. You decide how fast.

Want a slower drink? Use one rope, placed near the surface of the soil.
Got a thirstier plant? Use two ropes, or push the rope deeper.

It's a dial, not a switch. The setup guide lists the right depth for dozens of plants.

Find your plant's depth

What's in the Box

Everything in the Plant Pal Classic box: house, reservoir, wicking rope, hooks and Sprout

The House

Hangs on the side of your pot and keeps the water covered. Lift the roof to refill.

Water Reservoir

The see-through tank inside the house, so you can check the level as you walk by.

Wicking Rope

Runs up through the chimneys and into the soil. Swap in a fresh one about every three months.

Hooks

Two clips slide over the rim of the pot you already own. No repotting.

Sprout

Holds the rope in place and cheers your plant on. Pick your favorite green.

Setup Guide

Five-minute setup and the right rope depth for dozens of plants. Also online.

Questions

A wicking rope runs from the reservoir inside the house into your plant's soil. Capillary action draws water along the rope as the soil dries, the same way a paper towel soaks up a spill. No pump, batteries or app.

Size. The Classic holds enough water for up to 10 days and suits most everyday houseplants. The Pro holds more, up to 20 days, for bigger or thirstier plants and longer trips. Both work the same way and come with Sprout.

Up to 10 days for the Classic and up to 20 for the Pro. A thirsty fern drinks faster than a pothos, and plants drink faster in summer and in warm, dry rooms. Check the water level once a week and top it up when it's about a quarter full.

Plant Pal hangs on the rim of the pot you already own with two hooks, so there's nothing to repot. Not sure about your pot? Email a photo to PlantPalSolutions@gmail.com and we'll help.

The house with its roof, a clear water reservoir, a wicking rope, two hooks, Sprout and the printed setup guide.

No. Plant Pal has no batteries, pump, timer or app. Just water and a rope.

It takes about five minutes and no tools. Soak the rope, hook the house onto your pot, run the rope into the soil, fill the reservoir and put the roof on. The Setup Guide has a video and the right rope depth for dozens of plants.

Plant Pal delivers water as the soil dries, which keeps it evenly moist. If the soil stays soggy, pull the rope up a little or switch from two ropes to one.

Tropicals, herbs, vining plants and most leafy houseplants. It is not for succulents or cacti, which need to dry out completely.

About every three months, to keep water flowing at its best. Rope refills are $4.99.

Fill the reservoir right before you leave. The Classic lasts up to 10 days and the Pro up to 20, depending on your plant and room. For longer trips, the Pro is the better pick.

Shipping is a flat $10 anywhere in the US, and free on orders over $99. Orders ship from Naperville, Illinois, within 3 business days, and you'll get tracking by email.

At The Growing Place garden centers in Naperville and Aurora, Illinois. See Find a Store for addresses and directions.