How to Build: Self Watering 5 Gallon Buckets

With self-watering 5-gallon buckets, you'll never have to worry about how much water to give your plants. These sub-irrigated buckets hold water in a reservoir and enable the soil to absorb water as it's needed.

VIDEO CHAPTERS 📖
00:00 Introduction to Self-Watering Buckets
00:32 How Self-Watering Buckets Work
02:10 Materials to Build a Self Watering Bucket
03:55 How to Build a Self Watering 5 Gallon Bucket
09:46 Filling the Bucket with Perlite and Potting Soil
10:27 Transplanting into the Self Watering Bucket
11:13 How to Prime a Self Watering Bucket with Water

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STEP-BY-STEP ARTICLE 💻

WEBSITE 🌎

[Thebearcave]

Tip: Cutting the fill pipe at an angle to keep the pipe off the bottom will suffice; no holes needed. Tip 2: Making the handles opposite each other (before screwing the buckets together) will help you carry the planter if needed. Thanks for sharing, great job.

[wells]

I've viewed this video 6 x because you explained everything with a visual and a hands-on demonstration from beginning to end. So many videos are good, but required too many parts! Your technique is motivating for those who want to grow fantastic tomatoes with limited space. Now that I've made th list of all needed, Home Depot is next. Thank you for a down-to-earth video that does not intimidate with material overload. I'll let you know how mine turns out.

[Atouk]

I'm a dirt farmer and grow in bags. I used 5 gallon buckets for years, and the plants tell you when they want water. Happy Frog potting soil works for me, but I also used MG for years, and they love that as well. All of my water for the plants runs through an RO unit first. I like your attention to detail about making sure all of the soil is thoroughly saturated. Dry spots in soil tend to remain dry for some reason. I like the grow bags because it's impossible to over-water. When a plant is thirsty, it'll droop. Once you get the hang of growing, you just know when it's time to water by sticking your finger into the soil. Easy.

[nurfuerverrueckte]

I have watched many diy self watering bucket videos and already built two others but this tutorial is the best in my opinion.

[juliabates]

for those of us in mosquito territory: you might want to add screens/filters to the pipes to prevent larvae from colonizing the standing water.

[MissionaryForMexico]

He left out one aspect that should have been addressed. You should also paint the bucket portion that is going to hold water. Paint it black this will prevent any ultra violet light from entering water, this will prevent mold and mildew. I would paint the outter lower blue bucket about six inches in height, all the way around the bucket. Using black spray paint. You did a great job sir, it will grow many different varieties of food. I use similar system. I was given 50 five gallon buckets that came from Home Depot! Growing in five gallon buckets is efficient, portable, and convinient!

[harrypressman]

I've watched so many videos on this subject that it'll make your head spin. Yours by far, is the best one I've seen. Angle cutting the
fill tube is the only thing I'll add. Well explained especially about the start of saturating the soil. Thank you so much.

[inferbee]

"Self wicking buckets" are awesome. Thanks !

[jeremy]

"Self wicking buckets" are awesome. Been using a similar version for 3 years. Found a different design that uses only 1 bucket. Currently over wintering 3 year old pepper plants in my basements. Definitely saves water.

[FirstNameLastName-gwup]

Thank you for this and thank you for being straightforward. Sometimes people talk a lot of fluff before they get to the meat of things and that is so annoying to me.

[IzzySpeaks]

I used cat liter buckets for my design. Best part is you don't need to use screws to hold the inner bucket up. When slipped together the space between the two is perfect. Instead of perlite I used brown scotchbrites with a dot of hot glue to hold the bits down. When setting water capacity, pour 1-2 gallons in the bottom bucket, use a magic marker to mark the water level, dump and the drill your drain tube.

[thailandmikeworld]

I guess I’m going to home depot today. Thank you thank you! Will keep you posted

[satuurn]

This was an awesome how-to for dummies. I'll be making some of these early spring. Thanks!

[thailandmikeworld]

Thanks for the video! Making my way to Home Depot today. Thank you for downloadable supplies sheet ! Will keep you posted

[nicodemuscg]

I built a few of these in the past. I used a small fishing bobber with a few straws attached to make a level indicator to put down the fill tube.
You can also daisy chain them and use float valves and such to make watering automatic.
Great tutorial!

[fernandorivera]

This was on my recommended list for some reason but after watching it, I want to try this and grow my mom's favorite flowers

[Dannzegos]

Great video, I've tried bucket gardening in the past, but this is what I was lacking, the self-watering portion. Thank you!

[dropshotking]

Hell yeah bud you get a LIKE outa me!! This is dope!! My mom has been texting me all week harassing's me to help her make something for indoor pepper and hot dam YOU GOT PEPPERS here. BRILLIANT

[pjarma]

Your a genius Sir! I was wondering how I could automate the monotonous watering regime..thank you so much!

[CathyGoes]

Thank you very much for the video. Such a practical build. I live in Tucson, AZ so it's time to start putting together the garden for the year. Going to start seedlings in about a week here.