building a self watering container

How to make a self-watering container for the balcony. This one is quick, simple and low cost ($5).

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• gardening
• self-watering
• container
• how to

[friend2animals66]

Thank you so much for sharing your invention. I plan to use this technique in next year's backyard garden! Very good use of otherwise throw away items, love the affordability too. What can't you grow in these in the question.....corn and watermelons I would guess, but I'm new to this.

[BalconyGrow]

@friend2animals66 Yes, you can grow corn. I haven't but I know others have. I didn't do well with large vining crops. I found great success with peppers (2 or 3 plants), carrots (in deeper containers), beets, radishes, cucumbers, beans/peas, lettuce, spinach, and zucchini (1 plant). Tomatoes did good as well but not as well as ones planted in the ground but when you don't have ground to plant in this is a good alternative. Hope this helps. ~Jeri

[DesertDood]

simply brilliant! I live in the Sonoran Desert north of Tucson and east of Phoenix (Pinal County) if you live in the Mojave or Mohave ... you definitely know the challenges of growing in the desert! Thanks for posting these vids! :)

[BalconyGrow]

@DesertDood Thank you. :0)

[MrandMissConverted]

Would it be OK to pour compost tea into the water reservoir? If so, is there any particular requirement regarding timing and quantity?

[BalconyGrow]

@MrandMissConverted The compost tea can be pored into the water reservoir and the plants will take it up as needed. I usually just pored it on top when I wanted to give them a quick boost. :0)

[BalconyGrow]

For a pesticide, mince a few cloves of garlic and add to a cup of olive oil. Let sit in refrigerator for 3 or 4 days (it should smell garlicy). Strain, then add a couple tablespoons of the garlic oil and 3 or 4 drops of dish soap to a pint of water. Spray plants. Good for aphids and deterring most pests.

Good luck with your new adventure in gardening. Let me know how it goes. ~Jeri

[Firefly804]

blade knife

[SteveHarpster]

very nice thanks 4 sharing

[BalconyGrow]

@bowler8 There was already a hole in the top to relieve the pressure when using the spiggot, I should have mentioned that. But you can punch more holes in the tops if you feel the one won't be enough. Thanks for watching and sorry for the late reply. :0)

[1969626]

 Vielen Dank für diesen Tipp für den Anbau in tiefe Behälter

[BalconyGrow]

@skitime51 Yes, all the bottoms are cut off. And yes it does hold enough soil to grow a tomato, I grew three pepper plants in one this size and they did fantastic. I was quite pleased. Hope this helps and good luck in your new endeavors. :0)

[skitime51]

As a newbie, I have some questions. Do you have to cut off the spigots on the other two containers so the water can get from the containers to the soil or will the containers fit with the spigots left open. Otherwise I can't see how the water gets from the containers to the soil. Also, is the tub high enough to put in enough soil to grow tomatos

[vidx03]

thanks for the instructions. simple and effective