Choosing the 5 Best Watering Can: Plastic Watering Can & Stainless Steel Watering Can Buying Guide

Water is essential for keeping your plants happy. Even if you make use of a garden hose or a more technical irrigation system, every gardener should still have a good watering can to cover those smaller-scale areas. Here’s how to choose the best watering can for what you need.

The Best Watering Can Is …

If you’re looking to make a quick purchase and don’t have the time to skim through reviews, then the watering can to go for is the Ultimate Innovations Collapsible Space Saving Watering Can.

This may sound a little gadget-y at first, especially for those who prefer traditional designs. However, this watering can has been made extremely well, with high quality materials and sturdy workmanship.

What really sets it apart from the others on the market is its collapsible design – it pretty much folds away once empty, which makes storage a breeze, but works just as well, if not better than, the more conventional designs out there.

Best Watering Can Reviews

Fasmov Plastic Watering Can 1-Gallon

Features:

• Made from high quality plastic
• Has a capacity of 1-gallon/4 liters
• Has a comfortable and well-positioned handle
• Designed for both indoor and outdoor use

What We Like

If you’re looking for something basic and easy to use, then this watering can is it. It’s sturdy and well-made, with a consistent spray that provides plants with just the right volume of water.

The handle of this watering can is also conveniently placed to ensure that the watering can doesn’t feel too heavy, even when full.

What Could Be Improved?

The main downside to this watering can is that there is a slight bow at the bottom. This isn’t severe enough to cause the watering can to fall over when full, but does still give it a bit of a wobble.

SunnyTong Galvanized Steel Watering Can 1-Gallon

Features:

• Made from painted galvanized steel and zinc
• Has a capacity of 1-gallon/4 liters
• Has two handles, with the top handle being adjustable
• Has a removable spout for easy cleaning
• Designed for both indoor and outdoor use

What We Like

This is one of the more chic and stylish watering cans out there, and it works as well as it looks. It’s lightweight and easy to use, and the removable spout is handy not only for cleaning, but also when you need to pour instead of spray.

Two handles give you better control when watering, with the top handle moveable so that it doesn’t get in the way when filling.

What Could Be Improved?

With wear and tear over time, leaks can sometimes occur at the joint where the spout connects to the watering can.

However, this watering can comes with a special glue that can be used to fix any leaks that do arise.

Gege Plastic Watering Can Stainless Steel with Small Mist Spray Bottle

Features:

• Made from strong recycled plastic with a long, stainless steel, detachable spout
• Comes with a spray bottle for misting houseplants
• Printed with measurement marks for maximum accuracy and control
• Has a capacity of 1 liter
• Designed for indoor use

What We Like

This small and compact watering can is perfect for houseplants, with its long spout ensuring that any hanging plants can also be watered well.

The clear plastic makes it easy to see when top-ups are needed, and the measurement marks mean that you can use this to feed your houseplants too. The accompanying spray bottle produces a very fine mist that humidity-loving plants will appreciate.

What Could Be Improved?

You wouldn’t think that directions would be needed for a watering can, but this product would benefit from having some better instructions included.

It needs to be put together in a certain way in order for the product to not leak, so it may take some trial and error to figure this out.

Ultimate Innovations Collapsible Space Saving Watering Can

Features:

• Has a unique collapsible body and folding spout, allowing for easy storage
• Has a capacity of 1.5-gallons
• Easily detachable rosette
• Designed for both indoor and outdoor use

What We Like

This is truly a one-of-a-kind watering can – its innovative, collapsible design makes storage so convenient.

The way in which you can fold up the spout and close the lid once you have filled the watering can also saves you from splashing water out of the can as you carry it to your plants, while the rosette produces a steady and consistent spray when in use.

What Could Be Improved?

There aren’t really any downsides to this watering can – it works just as described. Some may find that its capacity is too small for large areas, but most love its unique design so much that they end up purchasing an extra one.

Cesun Metal Watering Can

Features:

• Made from galvanized steel
• Has a detachable rose
• Has two handles, with the top handle being moveable
• Has a capacity of 1-gallon

What We Like

This is a very comfortable watering can to use – it’s lightweight but sturdy, and will likely last for several years. The detachable rose easily screws back on when needed, and all connections are tight, meaning no leaks.

What Could Be Improved?

Although its official capacity is 1-gallon, you will likely find that this watering can actually holds about half that. This may make the watering can too small for large spaces, as you will find yourself constantly having to refill it.

Watering Can Buying Guide

The Benefits of a Watering Can

A watering can is essential for keeping plants well-watered, but if you already have a functioning garden hose, then you’re probably wondering whether or not you actually need another watering tool.

Well, chances are, a watering can is something that would really benefit your plants. Here’s how:

• It’s the best way to water seeds and seedlings, since the spray is gentle enough to prevent small and delicate plants from dislodging.
• A watering can will allow you to access areas of your garden that your hose cannot reach.
• It isn’t convenient to bring a garden hose into the house, making a watering can a must for people with houseplants.

Plastic vs. Metal

The first thing that you’ll notice when browsing the many watering cans out there is that most tend to either be made from plastic or metal.

Plastic is the most popular, simply for the reason that it’s sturdy and versatile, while also being available in a wide range of designs and colors.

Unlike metal, plastic watering cans won’t rust – this can be a problem with metal watering cans, as the rusting process can end up leaching toxins into the water, which would then contaminate your plants. However, plastic can end up breaking down with sun exposure, so look for a UV-stabilized plastic if this is the material you’re planning on choosing.

Plastic watering cans are also usually more lightweight than metal alternatives, making them easier to fill and carry around a garden.

On the other hand, metal watering cans have such a quaint, vintage quality to them that many fall in love with. If you go for one made from galvanized steel, it’ll hold up against rust caused by water, although will still be susceptible to rusting from alkaline soils.

Metal lasts for much longer than plastic, but can be slightly heavier, especially when full.

In addition to steel, you’ll find metal watering cans made from:

• Copper
• Brass
• Tin

Copper and brass, although susceptible to rust, work well, while tin watering cans are mainly used for decorative purposes.

Choosing the Right Size

It’s important to pick the right size of watering can. Anything too big will be cumbersome to fill and carry around, but anything too small will need to be filled more frequently, which can be frustrating.

If you plan on using your watering can for raised beds and large spaces, look for one that can hold a couple of gallons of water.

Alternatively, if you’ve only got a few pots to water, you can go with something smaller – a capacity of between one and two gallons would be perfect for you. Of course, if your plants are mostly succulent that don’t need much water, then something even smaller could work just fine, while being lighter and easier for you to carry.

Indoor watering cans, which will be discussed further down, are much smaller. These are usually designed to hold about a quarter of a gallon of water.

The amount of storage space you have will also influence the size of watering can you should buy. If you have a small balcony garden and will need to store your watering can indoors, then anything too big will get in the way.

The Length of the Spout

This isn’t something that many consider when shopping for a new watering can, but spout length can make a huge difference to how well your watering can works.

Some watering cans have much longer spouts than others. These are extremely useful when it comes to watering hanging plants and deep pots, as well as plants that need water delivered underneath thick foliage – a short spout wouldn’t be able to reach those areas.

Short spouts have their place too, especially when it comes to overhead watering, but they’re not as versatile as longer-spout versions.

Watering cans with longer spouts also tend to look more visually appealing when left out.

Handle Positioning

Ideally, you would be able to hold a watering can before purchasing it, to ensure that the handles are placed in a comfortable position. However, if you’re ordering online, this won’t be possible, but you can still take a look at where the handle is positioned to determine whether or not this will be convenient for you.

If you find it frustrating to fill your existing watering can because the handle keeps getting in the way of your water tap, then this is something else to consider. Look for a watering can that either has movable handles, or one that can be filled from the side or the back.

Some watering cans will also come with a double handle. This offers extra stability, especially for children and the elderly.

Sprinkler Attachments

Every watering can will have what is called a rosette or a rose on the end of its spout. This determines the spray of water that comes out from the can.

Some watering cans will be designed to deliver a very light, fine spray, which is perfect for delicate plants and seedlings. Others will produce a much stronger and more powerful spray of water, which is exactly what bigger plants need. A stronger spray also helps to prevent blockages.

You will also find removable rose attachments, meaning that the water can pour out in a single stream, rather than as a spray. This is great for focusing the water in one area, or for watering larger plants and trees.

If all options sound like they would be useful to you, then look for a watering can with an adjustable rosette. This will allow you to easily switch between gentle and strong sprays, making the watering can much more versatile.

Measurement Marks

Some watering cans will have measurement marks printed on the side.

If you plan on only using your watering can to provide water to your plants, then it won’t matter quite as much whether or not you purchase a model with measurement marks.

However, if you plan on using different water-soluble feeds and fertilizers in your watering can, the marks can be very useful in ensuring that you mix up the right concentrations each time.

Shape and Balance

There may be an elegantly-designed watering can that initially catches your eye, but you need to make sure that the shape of your chosen watering can allows it to remain stable and balanced, even when full.

The last thing you want is for water to come bouncing out of the spout while you’re carrying your watering can around your garden, and this is something that will be directly influenced by its shape.

You should also look for a shape that keeps the watering can still, even when full, when you have placed it onto a surface.

Indoor Watering Cans

If houseplants are your focus, then you have a few extra options.

There’s nothing wrong with using an outdoor watering can on your houseplants, but there are also a number of watering cans out there specifically designed for indoor use .

Not only will these be smaller than outdoor watering cans, therefore also making them easier to store, but they are usually designed to be much more visually appealing, meaning that they will blend into the rest of your decor if you leave your watering can sitting around your house.

Some indoor watering cans will also come with a plant mister. This allows you to mist the foliage and raise the humidity levels around your plant, which many houseplants benefit from.

If you’ve got both indoor and outdoor plants, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to two watering cans, as indoor and outdoor plants both have different needs in terms of water.

If you want to make your own watering can let’s watch this video:

Conclusion

Whether you’ve got rows of flowerpots on your patio or a large vegetable garden to tend to, watering cans are useful for just about every type of gardener.

While finding the best watering can for your needs can be a little challenging, just make sure that you prioritize size, quality, and convenience of use – this will ensure that the model you pick meets all of your main requirements.

Last update on 2024-06-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API