How to Make Self Watering Pots on a Budget
I love to grow my own food, but sometimes life gets the best of me, and I neglect to water my plants as I should. This year I invested in three fruit bushes, which I wanted to put in pots (due to limited garden space). I really didn't want them to die when Summer became chaotic: self watering pots was my answer!
Alas, I didn't want to spend a fortune buying self watering pots new....a quick internet search showed me they were ranging at about £30 each premade, yikes! Instead, I did some research on making them....Many tutorials I found involved buying things, which was what I was trying to avoid...
Until I came across this video suggested by a fellow gardener, which I have used as a guide to making my self watering pots! Check it out below!
Here's How to Make Self Watering Pots on a Budget
1. Gather Supplies: 1 large/medium pot with holes in the bottom, 3 small pots that will fit in the bottom of large/medium pot (but that leave enough room for your plant), PVC piping tall enough to just go over the edge of the large/medium pot, A plastic bag (I used an old chicken feed bag), some type of material (I used an old skirt cut in half)
2. Place plastic bag inside pot. Next place the three smaller pots in, with one facing right side up and the other two facing downwards.
3. PVC piping can go in nestled next to one of the small pots.
4. Get your piece of material, and lay it over everything (aside from PVC piping). Make sure to tuck it into the one small upwards facing pot so its touching the bottom. Then tuck it in on the sides of the large pot.
5. Then add soil or compost. Make sure when you are adding soil, you get it packed down into the one smaller pot that is facing upwards. Next add your plant of choice and more soil, and you're finished!
Note: You will know its working, because when you fill the PVC pipe up with water it should start to come out the bottom holes on the main pot, thus telling you its full!
All in all, I didn't spend much on these pots which I am really happy about! I bought the large pots new from B & M cheaply, and everything else I had lying around.
I encourage you to see what you can find to recycle in your shed or garage for these pots.
Please let me know in the comments what you used, if you did anything differently, and if you found this blog useful!
Can't wait to hear from you all!
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