The self-watering feature prevents overwatering and underwatering as long as the drainage plug on the bottom of the planter is removed. This is because the water level will always drop to the top of the overflow drain. Your plant will then absorb the water as needed. If you're worried about underwatering and/or if it's hard to tell if the plant is dry, then we recommend watering frequently to avoid any chance of underwatering. That ensures there is always water available in the reservoir. Just make sure the drainage plug is removed so that the water does not overfill the reservoir, potentially causing watering-logging and root rot.