DIY Self Watering Container Gardens
If you are companion planting using container gardens because you don’t have room for a large garden they give you the ability to move them around if one or two plants are not doing well. The five gallon buckets are most of the time, free from local businesses and they are more than happy to give them away.
Make sure the bucket you choose has not had chemicals, paint or tar in it. Use only food grade plastic buckets. Creating a self watering container garden doesn’t take a whole lot of work and can yield good results.
First, take the lid of the five gallon bucket and drill about twenty evenly spaced holes into it over its surface. It’s usually safer to secure the lid to the bucket during the drilling process. Next, cut the edges of the lid so that it fits neatly into the bucket.
Next, drill a 1/2 inch hole into one side of the bucket two inches up from the bottom. Cut a six inch piece of plastic tubing and fit into the hole in the bucket. If need be, use electrical tape wrapped around the tube to ensure a snug fit. Insert a screw or nail through the tube on the inside of the bucket to keep it inside the bucket.
Add a two inch layer of clay pebbles into the bottom of the bucket. This layer of clay pebbles will both serve as a wick to pull water into the soil, and will keep the roots out of standing water. Set the cut lid on top of the pebbles.
Set the bucket on top of a cinder block and place a milk jug next to the bucket where the small hose comes out.
Cut a hole in the side of the jug and insert the hose.
Fill the milk jug with water.
When the clay pebbles dry out, the wicking action will pull water from the milk jug through the tube and into the planter.
If you don’t have clay pebbles or can’t find them you can use three pieces of PVC pipe cut into two inch high sections.
Plant your chosen vegetable or fruit and check on the water levels in the milk jug every three to four days.
Below is an example of a DIY great self watering pot from: http://growit.umd.edu/YouthGardening/ContainerGardening/SelfWateringContainers.cfm They have other great images available and is well worth a look.
Image source: http://growit.umd.edu/YouthGardening/ContainerGardening/SelfWateringContainers.cfm