Using containers to grow plants is a great way to save space in a small garden or to create a garden in an otherwise unproductive space, such as a patio or apartment balcony. However, pots can dry out quickly---and need frequent watering to survive. Often it is not possible to monitor your potted plants as well as you would like, so building a self-watering planter can be a time saver for you and a lifesaver for your plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Put one bucket inside the other. Measure the amount of inside bucket (A) protruding from top of outside bucket (B) to determine the amount of space under A when stacked. That is the reservoir depth---usually about 3 inches.
2. Adjust the reservoir depth using small blocks or stones to support A higher, if necessary. Mark that depth on the outside of B, and drill an overflow hole 1 inch below the mark using a ½ inch drill bit.
3. Measure height of 3-inch pot and cut to same height as reservoir depth. Drill a hole with ¼ inch bit near the top on each of two sides to serve as attachment points, and several more spaced at 1-inch intervals around the lower half to allow water to pass through pot.
4. Remove A from B---turn over and set the 3-inch pot upside down, centered on bottom of A. Mark position of pot-attachment holes on bottom of A, then draw around perimeter of pot with permanent marker--using it as a guide.
5. Remove pot and draw a second line inside and parallel--½ inch from the first. Use a jigsaw to carefully cut out the section outlined by that inside line.
6. Use ¼ inch bit to drill holes at the two marked spots just outside the line made by tracing around the pot, then change to spade bit or hole saw bit to drill a 1-inch hole in the bottom of A---at outside edge.
7. Attach pot beneath bucket A using two nylon zip fasteners through corresponding holes in bottom of A and in top of pot.
8. Place bucket A inside bucket B (where it should stop at depth of flowerpot beneath A).
9. Slice a diagonal section from one end of PVC pipe to prevent water flow blockage---insert that end through 1-inch hole from inside A, and lower until it touches bottom. Hold other end of pipe against bucket wall and carefully drill a hole--using ¼ inch bit---on either side near top of bucket. Insert nylon zip fastener through holes and around pipe to secure.
10. Pack potting soil into pot through opening in bottom of bucket A, then continue adding soil until entire bucket is filled, and then add plant. According to HowToGardenGuide.com, "...these planters do best with some mixture of peat or compost, along with a generous mix of vermiculite or perlite to improve the drainage."
11. Fill reservoir by pouring water into pipe until it begins to spill from overflow hole drilled in side of bucket B.
Tags: 1-inch hole, bucket inside, holes bottom, inch drill, inside bucket