What Is A Garden Watering Bell And How Effective Is It?

Many garden implements you come across are modern-day versions of tools that have been used for centuries. Such is the case with the garden watering bell, also known as a thumb watering jug. What is it, you ask? A watering bell is a simple clay jug with small holes in the base and a hole at the top, just large enough to be covered with your thumb. It's quite an effective tool, and allows you to gently water young seedlings and tender plants by releasing a fine sprinkle of water.

Surprisingly, these devices have been around since the 13th century and were widely used in Europe and the U.K. until the 1700s. Since then, they have made their way to North America. While watering bells largely fell out of popularity as the metal watering can began to come into fashion, these clever devices are far from extinct. 

Centuries ago, these clever devices were commonly made from clay in the shape of a bell or a pear. They were wide at the base, with a slim tapered neck at the top. Some even had handles. The jugs were filled by placing them in a basin or bucket of water, or submerging them into a pond outdoors. Once full, the hole at the top was covered by the person's thumb, and this stopped the water from coming out of the holes in the bottom. When the thumb was removed, the water would start to flow in a steady sprinkle from those small holes. 

If you're curious as to why this works, understand that placing your thumb over the hole at the top eliminates the airflow into the jug, which, thanks to surface tension, stops the flow of water. As you move your thumb, air enters the jug and gravity takes over, allowing the water to flow gently again. This is the same reason you can hold your thumb over a drinking straw full of water to prevent the liquid from pouring out.

So, would watering bells be useful for modern-day gardeners? Believe it or not, this tool has made a comeback, and can make a great gift for gardening friends, or even for yourself. They could be very handy for people who have limited space for growing plants, and don't want to lug around a large and heavy watering can. They could even be a must-have gardening tool, for some. Because watering bells are so gentle, they are also perfect for delicate plants that could be damaged or crushed by the deluge of water from other watering cans or jugs. 

As a bonus, a watering bell is attractive enough to keep near your container garden or indoor plant display, creating a great conversation starter and a functional decor piece. Finally, if you've now decided to ditch your heavy watering can for one of these cute watering bells, you can easily find some brilliant ways to repurpose that old watering can you no longer use.