By Loosestrife2
United States 
Top Down or Bottom Up? A friend of mine recently gave me a potted Aspidastra as a gift and I placed the plant in a bowl intended to catch the water draining out of the bottom of the pot. I watered the plant as I always do with potted ones from the top and she said that it is much better to place the water in the catch bowl in order to let the plant soak it up from the bottom rather than from the top. Being a gift from her I did not critique what she advised me to do in her presence. Since she is not here, I will...my reasoning is that watering from the bottom will allow too much stagnant water to remain in the bowl causing root rot and sulfide buildup from bacteria, whereas watering from top down will only result in a minimal amount of drainage water to accumulate in the bowl not causing the afore to mentioned problems. I would like to know your opinion. Top down or bottom up?
2 Oct, 2016
Answers
Watering from the bottom is fine as long as you drain off any surplus when the compost is all wet and don't allow the pot to stand in water afterwards.. Aspidistras seem to thrive on neglect - they were a favourite houseplant for the rarely used "best" front rooms of the Victorians.
2 Oct, 2016
Aspidistra like a fair amount of aeration around its roots, so I wouldn't leave water at the base of the pot for any longer than it takes for the soil surface to start to glisten. Then I would let it drain completely before putting it in any sort of bowl or saucer. As for which way to water, watering from the bottom is more effective, and more economical of nutrients, than watering from the top. On the other hand, it can cause problems if the water used contains calcium or sodium salts--like where I live--or large amounts of iron or manganese sulfates.
2 Oct, 2016
I believe watering from the top down is best for your plants as you've been doing. Bottom up never gets sufficient water to the fine surface roots because your plants must fight against gravity. Too much work. The roots must also breathe so never let your plants sit in a bowl of water. They will drown, rot & give up an awful stench. Use a watering can designed to deliver water to the roots and keep the foliage dry - the ones with a long narrow neck.
3 Oct, 2016
There you are then - you pays your money and takes your choice as they say in the North of England.. Making sure no water is left standing in the saucer is the main thing.
3 Oct, 2016
It's from the top down then! Thank you all for your great answers and this I do from the "bottom" of my heart:)
3 Oct, 2016
Lol ;)
3 Oct, 2016
Hi Loosestrife, most of the plants that I have in pots, I water from the top, but I don't have pots under them to catch the water, as standing water, as you say can cause problems, the only plants I would water from below, would be any that can be damaged by getting the crown, or he leaves wet, and I would remove the water when the soil at the surface appeared to be wet, Derek.
2 Oct, 2016