Ill say it like this IMO autos hate water .. they dont want to sit in water soaked soil for very long at all. they Like alot of little water feeds. this is why I use the cup.. its kind of a pain but the reward is worth it... my soil dries out in 12 hours and i mean like sandy dry it looks orange and not black .. time for another cup.... wet dry wet dry wet dry this is what autos like .. nothing is wasted and no water runs out the pots. the plant drink and eat everything your poor in..