How To Make A Self-Watering Container Using 2 Containers

Tools
Drill
1/4" bit
3 1/2" hole saw for metal and wood
1 1/4" hole saw for metal and wood

Materials:
2 food grade 5 gallon containers - 1 for planting container and 1 for reservoir container
1/2 deli container for wicking basket
Pipe cut to the height of the container

Instructions
Use the 1/4" drill bit to drill holes in the deli container.

Attach the 3 1/2" hole saw attachment to the drill. Drill a hole in the bottom of the container. I've found drilling in a counter-clockwise direction to work best.

Attach the 1 1/4" hole saw. Drill a hole close to the edge of the container.

Attach the 1/4" drill bit. Drill holes at the bottom of the planting container.

Put the wicking basket in the middle of the reservoir container.

Place the planting container in the reservoir container aligning the wicking basket with the hole in the middle.

There will be a little space between the wicking basket and the planting container.

You can duct tape the basket to the bottom of the container, but it's not necessary.

Hold the containers up to the light. You should be able to see through the reservoir container where the planting container is. Using a 1/4" drill bit, drill a hole 1/4" in the reservoir container below where the planting container is.

Put the pipe through the planting container to reach the reservoir container. The pipe will have some wiggle room and wont' be snug. It's ok. You can duct tape if you'd like.

That's it. You're done!

For more information, please visit www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• urban
• gardening
• los
• angeles
• organic
• self-watering
• container

[clintatk]

Good job. One improvement would be to hold the bucket up at each stage to show the results of each stage. Thanks.

[CanarsieBK]

@clintatk Appreciate hte feedback.

[filthhhhhh]

Ho you doin? ;)

[CanarsieBK]

@filthhhhhh Aight.

[divineagent]

Ok so... Self watering container. What's the physics behind this? Why does this work?

[CanarsieBK]

@divineagent Thanks for the comment. There is another video that explains How A Self-Watering Container works. That should help to answer your questions.

[skales86]

The physics behind it is simply Capillary action, cohesion, adhesion, and absorption, the wicking cup that's in the reservoir absorbs the water first, the dirt above that absorbs the water from the wicking cup, and as water travels upwards this could also be looked at as "capillary action" basically the same way that water is taken into a root through osmosis and then the cells transfer it cell-to-cell up the root / plant (the wick cup is a giant artificial root.. so to speak)

[jihadacadien]

@CanarsieBK Oh I thought I had seen it before! But I thought it was the rhum making me see things ;)

[CanarsieBK]

@jihadacadien Haha. Thanks this is just an updated version of the previous how to video. I added the step of drilling the holes in the bottom of the planting container to allow for the soil to drain better.

[jihadacadien]

I love the door behind you by the way! ;) Oh and the containers are an awsome idea!