Grow a variety of vegetables in your container garden.
There are numerous benefits to building your own self-watering plastic container planter. With self-watering planters, there is a built-in water reservoir, so, depending on how much water your plant is taking, the container only needs to be filled once a day or even every couple of days. The cost involved in making a planter is minimal if you have all the necessary tools. Since you are not planting your vegetables in the ground, there is less likelihood of dealing with pests. Also, depending on the type of vegetable, you can grow two to six plants per container. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Set the pond basket next to your first tote. A pond basket is a fine-mesh planter allowing for the free flow of water and found at local garden centers or home improvement stores in the area where they display fountains.Draw a line around the tote to mark the height of the pond basket. Use your razor knife to cut along the line. Discard the top; you only need the bottom of the tote.
2. Turn the bottom of the tote upside down. Place the pond basket upside down in the middle of the tote bottom. Outline the top of the basket on the tote. Place the end of your plastic pipe in the bottom right corner and outline it. Use your razor knife to cut out both of these outlines.
3. Use the ¼-inch drill bit and drill holes all over the bottom of the tote. Leave the tote upside down, as it will be placed this way into the bottom of the other tote.
4. Use your razor knife to cut out the middle section of the lid. Lay the frame of the lid aside for the end of the project.
5. Place the pond basket right side up in the middle of the second tote. Put the bottom of the first tote upside down on top of the basket. Insert the plastic pipe through the hole you cut for it so that it goes down into the reservoir, and several inches should be showing above the tote for ease of inserting the hose when you need to fill the container with water.
6. Use the ¼-inch drill bit and drill an overflow drainage hole on the side of the outer tote going all the way through the inner tote, just below the top of the inner tote.
7. Fill the pond basket and the entire tote above the base with potting soil.
8. Cut a garbage bag into two portions by going down the side seams and across the bottom. Place one half over your planter and make marks on the bag where your plants need to come through. Cut out the marks on the bag and gently guide your plants through. Hold the edges of the plastic bag down, and snap the lid into place on the tote.
9. Fill the water reservoir through the plastic tube. Keep putting water in until water starts coming out the drainage hole. Water the plants in this manner throughout the growing season.
Tags: pond basket, upside down, bottom tote, razor knife, tote upside, tote upside down, your razor