Super easy DIY self-watering planter from any container

📰 Diagram, instructions & supplies:

How to create your own self-watering planter. Turn any container into a self-watering planter. Very easy to follow instructions. No one is able to explain this in a simple way but the process is very easy to follow!

Materials you'll need:
1- Planter / Container that you want to make self-watering (must be deep enough and not have any drainage holes); recommendations for containers are available at the link above.
2- PVC Pipe
3- Divider/False Bottom
Option 1: Hardware Cloth
Option 2: Rubber feed bowl
4- Garbage Bag
5- 2 solo cups
6- Potting soil
7- Plants/Flowers

Tools:
Hacksaw or pipe cutter
Drill
Shovel
Hose

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🌷Helping you create a vibrant, manageable 4-season landscape that is uniquely you.🌷

I’m Amy and I help DIY beginner landscaping gardeners design impressively beautiful gardens that bring color to your landscape all four seasons, show off your personality and suit your lifestyle.

[sertimins]

you should make a Styrofoam stick same length as the watering pipe and let it float inside. if it disappear, water went dry.

[terriestress]

Hat video had to be the best tutorial for self watering containers I've watched so far. If you explain all your gardening tutorials like that...then I'm in! 🎉🎉
Thanks for taking the time to explain plainly to us novice gardeners!

[JameeWoodard]

🤯🤯🤯 how is this not the number one video on YouTube. It is the easiest video ever!!

[aricar]

Thank you for creating this video with such a simple solution. Good engineering shouldn't be complicated, and your excellent tutorial is straight to the point. Brava!

[crazysquirrel]

Would like to point out that you CAN use one with drainage holes in it. Just line the inside of the planter with a commercial grade trash bag first. Make sure you do not have a sharp point on that PVC pipe. Just 4 'v' notches is all you need to let water in. And you can drill some 1/2" holes (at 90 degrees from each other) about 2: up along that pipe to nearly the top. Allows more air to the roots that way.

Also, to keep mosquitoes out of your planter, place a nylon knee high over the top of that pipe and secure with zip tire or good rubber band.
Allows air in and you can water through it.

Placing landscape fabric on top of that hardware cloth will help prevent soil from falling through into the water. It also will allow more air to the roots vs black plastic bag.
Roots need air too.

Instead of packing that cup you can use some sponges. They wick up pretty well.
Or stuff in some cotton wash clothes or cotton socks.

Soil is ok, but the others will work too.

About the drain hole - you might want to glue some 20 mesh metal (stainless is preferred) screen on the inside over the hole to keep bugs out.

Nice setup you have though.

[Caddywoman]

I use Perlite as a wicking medium. A hard packed dirt does not let much water flow through. As an example...Perlite lets more water through than concrete. I exaggerated this to show a comparison. Also, I use a weed block fabric at the bottom to keep the roots out of the reservoir. But, having said all that, you are so right about so many videos making this look sooo difficult.

[sandy-mrgj]

I did the self wicking method one year in totes for tomatoes - the best crop ever. One thing left out of video is leaving some air space above the water line - crucial for the plants - about an inch or little more but that wouldn't be possible with the garbage bag method. I just used fine screen and soil stayed in place without bag. Still, very helpful video for newbies. Just wanted to share my own experience.

[ceem]

I agree, you’re self watering system works great! Thank you for sharing improved valuable videos ❤

[DK-qxlv]

I love seeing the different types of wicking containers, but you really simplified it.
Thank you

[doogiehowser]

i just love simple solutions that cost a fraction of the price a store bought one costs, improvisation is almost a lost skill and people have become reliant on mass produced products which in turn ends up adding to our refuse problem , so yes i have a great respect for people like this lady who think up easy diy alternatives like this which utilises thinks we already have in our possession

[bwilks]

Wow. This is the best version I’ve seen. I actually didn’t walk away scratching my head. Thank you 🙏

[sweetsue]

Girl….👊🏻 We have multiple containers on our senior community grounds, maintained by the residents of the building, and sometimes it’s a lot to ask someone to keep up with the watering. Sometimes life gets in the way. I’ve been looking for a good solution, and this one wins the prize. I was planning a trip to Tractor supply next week, as a matter of fact. I’ll add some of those feed trays to my list, and contemplate creative ways to modify the containers we already have. We might be able to create reservoirs in perlite-filled trays to settle those established containers into. Hmmm…..you got me thinking.

Ahhh…..solutions at every turn. You gotta love YouTube. 💕

[debk]

People do make this look very difficult. Thank you for simplifying it. Now I get it. TY TY!

[ddub]

I have looked at three or four other videos but this one beats them all. I sort of got the concept in the construct but I didn’t get the why of it and you do that beautifully. I’m so glad I found this process before I planted my whiskey barrel planters this year. Thanks again!

[MrsIceT]

To support your false bottom at the right height, you could also use additional cups with the bottom cut out (so they don't float).

[shingj]

This is the most comprehensible of this method and good presentation! 
Right on time, tomorrow is going to be warm in the Chicago area, I can work on the containers in my patio. Thanks for sharing.

[grannypantsification]

So excited to have found you! I’ve been searching for a self watering window box. Now I can make my own without spending nearly $200! 💕

[dagn]

wow just wow, how do you not have a million subscribers, you're really something special, so wholesome and informative, just an overall joy to watch, can't wait to make one of those :)

[dmac]

I just went through 3 prior videos making this system look so complicated. I knew there had to be an easier way-and there you were! Thanks so much, looking forward to viewing your other content.

[MisterJeffy]

Brilliant, I've been looking for a way to isolate part of my balcony rail planter to prevent the always-thirsty Creeping Jenny from turning brown. Now I know how to rig a miniature self-watering insert. Thanks!