Why the AQUAvalve’s design naturally creates a wet/dry cycle that plants love
A common misconception about the AutoPot System is that it eliminates dry backs completely — that once you fill your reservoir, the pots stay saturated from start to finish. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The AQUAvalve, the heart of every AutoPot system, uses a double float and vacuum-seal design that naturally builds in a wet/dry cycle. It still allows for substrate drying period, just not as deep or drastic as the dry backs seen with timed irrigation or hand-watering. This design gives your plants continuous access to water without sacrificing oxygen in the root zone — the true secret behind AutoPot’s success.
How the AQUAvalve Cycle Works
At first glance, the system seems simple: gravity feeds water to your trays, and the plants take what they need. But the real magic happens inside the AQUAvalve. Its vacuum-sealed chamber and float assembly work together to create a precise rhythm of wet, uptake, dry back and refill.
Before we get into the details, here’s a short video we made with a clear AQUAvalve showing how it cycles…
Now, let’s further breakdown the steps of an AQUAvalve cycle…
1. Tray Fills, Then Stops
As water flows from the reservoir, the AQUAvalve shuts off automatically once the tray reaches roughly ¾ inch deep. No more water enters until the plants have used what’s available.
2. Tray Empties Before Refill
The plants draw down the standing water at their own pace. Once the tray is empty, the valve stays closed temporarily — creating a short pause before the next refill and allowing for vital oxygen exchange in the root zone.
3. Slight Dry Back in the Substrate
Even with no standing water, the plant keeps pulling moisture from the substrate. This generates a natural water tension that holds a thin film of water to the AQUAvalve’s outlet. As the substrate dries, that tension finally breaks, letting air enter and releasing the valve’s vacuum seal. The AQUAvalve then reopens and refills the tray.
That sequence creates an essential substrate drying period — a moment when roots experience slightly reduced moisture and increased oxygen before the next watering cycle begins.
Oxygen in the Root Zone: Why It Matters
Growers often say that plants love air in the root zone and that constant dry backs are the key. But with AutoPot, oxygenation happens continuously — even when the substrate feels moist.
This plant-led rhythm gives roots what they want most: consistent access to water and nutrients without losing contact with oxygen.
AutoPot: Perfect Balance by Design
The AutoPot System doesn’t eliminate dry backs, we just handled them in a different way. Every fill-and-drain cycle provides a built-in pause that mimics nature’s own balance between moisture and aeration.
That’s why growers consistently report larger, healthier plants with explosive root growth when using AQUAvalve-based systems. It’s the perfect blend of high water availability and controlled dry back — ensuring plants stay hydrated, oxygenated, and thriving from seed to harvest.
TL;DR
AutoPot systems use gravity and the AQUAvalve to create a self-regulating wet/dry cycle — no pumps, no timers, no guesswork. Each cycle includes a natural substrate drying period period that keeps roots healthy, balanced, and full of life.
The result? Bigger yields, healthier plants, and true plant-driven performance — exactly what a self watering system should deliver.
