Frequently Asked Questions

There are no stupid questions! We are committed to helping our customers understand and enjoy using our products. Our products really work — we know because we use them! Below are the most common questions we are asked, but if your question hasn't been answered, don't hesitate to contact us.

  1. Can you use the Plant Nanny® Products indoors and outdoors?
  2. I was inserting my stake and it didn't want to go in any further, so I pushed really hard and it broke at the bottom. Help!
  3. How long will a Plant Nanny® water my plant?
  4. I attached a plastic bottle to the adaptor, tipped it into the inserted stake, and it emptied completely right away — why?
  5. My Nanny seems to be releasing more water than the plant needs — excess water is coming out of the bottom of the pot — why?
  6. Can you switch the reservoirs and stakes of different products?
  7. What about beer bottles, will they work?
  8. I found a glass ball at home, can I use that with a stake?
  9. Can I put fertilizer or dye into the water reservoir?
  10. If I have a large container garden or window box, can I just use one Plant Nanny® to water it?
  11. What happens if I break my stake, but not the glass globe - do I have to buy a whole new set?
  12. My glass globe is dirty inside - how can I clean it?
  13. I have a Plant Light Table and the bulbs burned out, where can I buy more?
  14. Are you the thing on the TV?

Can you use all of the Plant Nanny® Products indoors and outdoors?

Yes, but remember not to leave glass globes out in the weather if there is the possibility they will freeze. If they freeze, you can bet that they will break.

I was inserting my stake and it didn't want to go in any further, so I pushed really hard and it broke at the bottom. Help!

Remember, you are inserting the stake close to the root mass. If you hit a spot where the Nanny just stops, you've probably hit a root. If you continue pushing it in, chances are good that it will break — after all, it is ceramic. Move the Nanny or convince the root to move. Bets, anyone?

How long will a Plant Nanny® water my plant?

Wait, what happened to the easy questions?! How long depends upon four major factors: 1) the soil composition (very light soil is not designed to hold water well); 2) the soil needs to be stable before you introduce additional water (which means it should be well-watered and allowed a little time to absorb that water); 3) the type of plant (some are just naturally thirstier than others — kind of like people); and 4) the air temperature and humidity.

If you need a ballpark idea because you are going on vacation, do a test run. I had eight container plants on my deck last year and nannied all of them on the same day — no two used the water exactly the same, but most were within a day or two of each other.

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I attached a plastic bottle to the adaptor, tipped it into the inserted stake, and it emptied completely right away — why?

Unfortunately the threads on all plastic water and soda bottles are not the same. Even though most will screw on, some do not create a complete seal. Without a complete seal, the water simply pours out (you will see bubbles going up in the bottle as this occurs) . If you want to check a bottle first, attach the adaptor, fill the bottle, put your finger over the hole in the adaptor so that no water will escape, and tilt the bottle over a sink at a strong angle -- and wait. If any water, even one drop, escapes between the bottle and the adaptor, this bottle will not work. If you try this, be patient, it might take a minute or so for the drop to appear.

There has been strong growth over the last few years in bottled water so we are running into this problem more frequently. From talking with customers and from recent testing we do know that the following bottles work: Water bottles — Dasani, Deja Blue, AquaFina, SmartWater, and Sam's Choice flavored water (1-liter); Soda Bottles — Pepsi® and their soda products (Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, and Mug); Dr. Pepper® and their soda products (7-UP, Canada Dry, Orange Crush, A&W flavors, and Sunkist flavors).

Bottles that have been tested and do not work: All Coca-Cola® soda products, Ozark Water, and Nestle Water.

Please email us at help@plantnannycompany.com if you have any additions or comments from your personal experience that we can share with other customers.

We are working on a washer for the adaptors that will come with these stakes in the future, believing that will eliminate this problem — but for the time being the only solution is to find a bottle that creates a tight seal with the adaptor.

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My Nanny seems to be releasing more water than the plant needs — excess water is coming out of the bottom of the pot — why?

First, always water a plant thoroughly before inserting the stake and adding a water reservoir (globe, plastic bottle, wine bottle). You want the soil to be stable and it makes stake insertion much easier. When you add the water reservoir, the water should just sit and wait until the soil and roots near it begin to dry. The rate at which the plant will use the water in the reservoir is dependent upon the type of plant, the outside temperature, the humidity, and most importantly, the composition of the soil. If the soil contains of a lot of light material and as such is not designed to hold water, the water will run through fairly quickly. Your options to remedy this situation are to either 1) re-pot with a denser soil, or, 2) allow it to drain (onto the ground or into another pot that doesn't have a drain hole) and fertilize it more frequently (not through the nanny stake though!) to compensate for the minerals that are being washed out more quickly than normal.

Can you switch the reservoirs and stakes of different products?

No, all of the stakes were designed for their specific water reservoir's size and weight. The one exception is the 12 oz Globe and the Plant Nanny® Single — both use the same stake.

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What about beer bottles, will they work?

Yes, a longneck beer bottle will fit in the 6.75 or 7.5 inch Wine Bottle Stakes. It is possible that some bottles may fit into the Add-A-Bottle stakes (without the adaptor)-- the thing to keep in mind is that whenever you are using a heavier glass reservoir such as beer or wine bottle, make sure you fully insert the stake into the soil so that none of the stake is above the soil line. If the top isn't flush the weight of the glass and water could break the upper lip.

I found a glass ball at home, can I use that with a stake?

Not sure! We have had customers tell us that they found their own watering reservoirs by creatively using something in their home. You can try different items -- just make sure that the item sits in the stake far enough to ensure it is stable, that the stake is fully inserted into the soil, and that you use a stake that is large enough to withstand the weight of the reservoir when it is full of water.

Can I put fertilizer or dye into the water reservoir?

NO! Adding anything can clog the pores of the stake.

If I have a large container garden or window box, can I just use one Plant Nanny® to water it?

Since the Nanny waters the area around the stake, multiple plants with multiple root masses in one container will need more than one Nanny. For example, in a 36" window box you might want to start with two Nannies a foot apart and then watch to see how all of the plants are doing. If the plants furthest from the Nanny aren't as lush, this particular group of plants may need three Nannies spaced out.

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What happens if I break my stake, but not the glass globe — do I have to buy a whole new set?

I'm afraid so. However, if it is a 12 oz globe you can purchase an individual Plant Nanny Single® — both products use the same stake. The Single comes with an adaptor that you can use with a standard plastic bottle (up to one liter) in place of the globe when you need vacation watering for that particular plant.

My glass globe is dirty inside — how can I clean it?

Put a couple of ounces of water in it and add some play sand. Shake, shake, shake — and before you know it, it will look brand new again!

I have a Plant Light Table and the bulbs burned out, where can I buy more?

The light system was designed specifically for the light furniture products that we sell. You can buy them directly from us. Click here for more information and who to contact.

Are you the thing on the TV?

No. Not even close. The water delivery system is totally different; the Plant Nanny® was developed to create healthier plants by watering them exactly where they need it.

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