4 Ways To Make A Self-Watering Container

One of the best parts about making self-watering containers for your garden is that it’s cheap. Most of the supplies needed are either already laying around the house or you can easily get in your neighborhood.

There are four ways that you can make a self-watering container -- using two containers with no pipe, using two containers with pipe, using a 2 liter soda bottle and using vinyl tile.

The instructions for all fourt versions are included below.

Container Within A Container and No Pipe

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

Instructions On How to Make With 2 Containers and No Pipe
• 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.
• Reattach the 1/4″ drill bit and drill holes in the bottom of the planting container to allow for drainage.
• 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 the 1 1/4″ hole saw, drill a hole 1/4″ in the reservoir container below where the planting container is.
• This is the hole where you will water the plant from.
• That’s it. You’re done!

Container Within A Container With Pipe

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 On How to Make With 2 Containers With Pipe
• 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.
• Reattach the 1/4″ drill bit and drill holes in the bottom of the planting container to allow for drainage.
• 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!

2 Liter Soda Bottle

Tools
• Drill with 2 bits. About 3/16″ and 1/8″
• Razor

Materials
• 2 liter soda bottle with the cap and label peeled off
• Sheet of black and white newspaper
• Old white t-shirt cut into three strands that are about 15″ and a knot tied about 2″ from the bottom. You could also use cotton string

Instructions On How To Make Using 2 Liter Soda Bottle
• Use your 3/16″ drill bit to drill a hole in the center of the bottle cap.
• Use your 1/8″ drill bit to drill 6-8 holes around the larger hole.
• Feed the cotton shirt/string through the larger hole in the bottle cap. The knot should rest on the inside of the cap with the longer part coming out of the top of the cap.
• Use your razor (and scissors if necessary) to cut the soda bottle. You’ll want to cut it a little less than half way from the top.
• Take the sheet of newspaper and line the inside top half of the soda bottle. This is protect the soil and roots from the sun.
• Using your finger poke a hole through the newspaper around the cap. This will serve as the entry way for the wick.
• Feed the wick through the hole and twist on the cap of the soda bottle.
• While holding the three strands of the wick begin to add your soil.
• After about 2-3 inches have been laid down, coil up a wick around the soil and cover up with another 2-3 inches. Repeat until the soda bottle is filled.
• This will help to evenly distribute the moisture.
• Cut off the excess newspaper.
• Put the planting half into the lower half and pour water onto the soil.
• Allow it to drain for about an hour.
• After it’s drained dump out the water from the reservoir container.
• Using your 1/8 inch bit drill four holes around the reservoir container to allow for air flow.
• Fill up the reservoir container with about an inch or so of water. You want the wicks to be immersed in the water, but not the cap.
• Put the planting container in the reservoir container, so that the wicks are dangling in the water.

Using Vinyl Tile

Tools
• Razor
• Scissor
• Drill with 1/4″ bit
• Duct tape

Materials
• 5 gallon bucket
• 12″x12″ vinyl tile
• 20″ copper pipe
• Plastic deli container

Instructions On How To Make Using Vinyl Tile
• Put the plastic deli container in bucket and fill up with water using a measuring cup until the water reaches the top of the deli container. This gives you the amount of water that your reservoir will hold.

  Write that amount along with the total bucket capacity, diameter and height on the bottom of the bucket. This will help you to keep records of what vegetables grew in what conditions.

• To make the insert for the self watering container. Trace the top outline of the bucket onto the vinyl tile. Inside of that circle, flip the container over and trace the bottom outline. This gives you a circle within a circle. Cut somewhere in between until the tile is able to rest on top of the deli container in the bucket.
• Trace the top circle of the deli container in the middle of the vinyl tile. Draw a “T” in the middle and then connect the lines to form a diamond. Use your razor blade to cut out the diamond.

  The tile should now be able to rest on top of the deli container. This will allow the soil to wick the water up to the roots.

• Use your drill with the 1/4″ and drill holes all around the deli container. This enables the water to come in contact with the soil in the deli container and keep the plant hydrated.
• Measure the length from the insert to the top of the bucket. Write this down with the measurements from step 1.
• Trace the circumference of the pipe on the outer edge of the tile insert. Cut out the hole for the pipe.
• Put the deli container in the bucket, put the tile over it and insert the pipe. If it doesn’t fit perfect, fix it up and secure it with duct tape. Hold the bucket up to the light and mark a point that is just below the insert. Drill a 1/4″ at that point. This will make sure that you don’t overfill the bucket because it will spill out of the hole.

More on Self-Watering Containers:
• How Self-Watering Containers Work
• How To Plant In A Self-Watering Container
• How To Water A Self-Watering Container