Do Self Watering Planters Really Work?
Using sound judgment to be more self-reliant.
Self watering planters make growing any potted plant easier. In this post, we’ll explain how they work and answer some common questions. We’ll also show you how to make them, and share tips for using the planters. Don’t have time to make your own? We also list some popular ready made planter options. Let’s get started!
Yes – but you have to use them correctly.
A “self watering” container doesn’t actually water itself. It is a watering system using planters that contain a reservoir of water at the bottom. This reservoir connects to the area where the plant is with a soil “foot” or a fabric “wick”.
With a soil foot system, the plants send roots down into the foot, and draw up as much water as needed. In a wick system, water is drawn up the wick via capillary action into the soil of the main pot. Either way, if there’s water in the reservoir, the plants have access to water. This allows you water less frequently and still have healthy plants.
When you first fill your planter, make sure the soil is evenly moist. Water from above until plants have a chance to establish a strong root system. With larger containers (especially outside), adding mulch prevents the soil surface from drying out too quickly. This improves planter performance.
After your plant is settled in, simply add water as needed to keep the water level in the reservoir topped off and you should be good to go.
I’m a fan! Self watering planters are good for a wide variety of plants – from a vigorously growing tomato plant in a patio garden to petite house plants. Just find the right size and style for your expected plant growth, and you’re set. With a growing interest in urban agriculture, these pots offer a great “first gardening experience” for new growers.
There’s no chance of accidentally drowning a plant, unlike with closed pots or containers that sit in a drip tray. If you accidentally add too much water, it comes out the overflow drain. (You may want to add a drip tray if you have a habit of adding too much water, or set your container outside when you water.)
Maybe. If you want to use a wicking self-watering container, it’s not a great fit, because they rely on keeping the soil moist. If you want to use a soil foot type, that will work. Just make sure to let it dry out between waterings. It’s also helpful to limit the size of the soil foot to reduce soil moisture. (See below.)
I prefer the soil foot design, so that’s what we’ll cover here. To make your own self watering planter, you need:
I found a used storage bin at the thrift store for $3. After the holidays is also a great time to look for deals on containers. You need a container with a lid, or two identical containers to nest one inside the other. Remember, our goal is a built in reservoir under the soil that the plant is in, with a soil foot down into the reservoir.
For the soil foot, we used an old nursery pot with drainage holes, trimmed so that about an inch stuck out above the bottom of the plant chamber. Whatever you choose, make sure it has holes so the water gets in.
Our watering pipe is a 2″ diameter PVC pipe. If you prefer not to use PVC, substitute your tube of choice. The tube diameter needs to be wide enough for you to pour water in.
The video below demonstrates assembly. If video doesn’t load, make sure you are not running an adblocker.
Some plants have more issues with disease problems if the soil is too wet, including root vegetables like carrots and tubers, like potatoes. Succulents kept in wet soil will develop root rot in short order. You can still use a self-watering planter with these plants, but there are a few things you should keep in mind.
From smallest to largest, here are some of the top rated self-watering containers from Amazon.
Lucca Self-Watering Planter, 12-Inch
I have a couple of these planters. They’re light and easy to move, plus you can see the water level via the overflow port. The twelve inch size is great for smaller flowers, herbs or veggies.
Self-Watering Wood Barrel Planter 17” W x 14″ H
Big enough for a tomato plant, this barrel planter is functional as well as attractive. It has a plastic base and tongue and groove construction to extend the life of the planter.
Vegetable Planter Box with Trellis
Large enough for several mid sized plants or a combination of short and vining plants. This would make a great patio planter for those with a protected growing area. It includes wheels, so you can relocate if needed without lifting.
CedarCraft Self-Watering Elevated Cedar Planter (23″ X 49″ X 30″)
For those who prefer a raised bed growing system, this CedarCraft self-watering planter is naturally rot resistant and minimizes back and knee strain. It has a 6 gallon reservoir with water level indicator.
Whichever planter you choose, remember that plants like to have at least as much area to grow below ground as above ground. It’s easy to stuff a container too full, and then end up with overcrowded plants as they mature. Our garden planner kit has recommended spacings for common garden vegetables.
I love self watering containers. We used purchased containers for years, but our homemade version is a fraction of the cost and is working just fine. The Swiss chard we planted in it is taking off. With our winds, self watering containers are the best option to keep plants for drying out. They also help keep my houseplants alive when it goes a wee bit too long between waterings. (I confess, we have plants all over the house and I sometimes forget the ones tucked in the out of the way corners.
Do you use container gardening? If so, I’d love to here your stories or tips about what works best for you.
We have over 100 gardening articles on the site, listed and sorted by category on the Common Sense Gardening page. They include:
Great tutorial, Laurie! And your son did an awesome job making the self waterer. Thanks for ALL your instructional posts!
Thank you, Diane. I’ll let my construction and camera crew know. This week we’ll be putting a tutorial up for repairing loose backs on wooden kitchen chairs, with my youngest (Duncan) in front of the camera. Two of our chairs were getting pretty wiggly, so I told the boys they might as well record the repairs in case someone else would find it useful.
I don’t have much luck with container gardening but I think using this system my plants will have a good chance. They thank you in advance 🙂
I have tried so many different containers over the years – ones I bought, and ones that were gifted to me. Out of everything, the self watering containers work the best by far. They’re a game changer.
I’m gonna play devil’s advocate here, please bear with me. I love container gardening, but I’m just wondering about something. As the sun heats up a plastic container, do you think it’s possible that chemicals from the plastic could leach into the soil, and then be taken up by the plants? I’ve been thinking about stuff like this since I was diagnosed with leukemia, and no one can tell me what caused it. Just curious about anyone else’s thoughts on this.
I won’t say it’s impossible, but it’s unlikely. Storage totes are typically made of polyethylene. If we look at a Material Safety Data Sheet for polyethylene, specifically Section 10. Stability and Reactivity, we see:
Stability and Reactivity: The product is stable. Avoid temperatures above 300 degree C (570 F).
Conditions of Instability: No additional remark.
Incompatibility with Various Substances: May react or be incompatible with oxidizing materials.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hazardous decomposition products are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, dense smoke, and various hydrocarbons.
Hazardous Polymerization: Under normal conditions of storage and use, hazardous polymerization will not occur.
And sections 11 Toxicological Information:
Toxicity to Animals: Very low toxicity to humans or animals.
Chronic Effects on Humans: CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS – Not listed as a carcinogen by OSHA, NTP or IARC.
Other Toxic Effects on Humans: Not considered to be dangerous to humans.
Now we need to come up with a better way to recycle these items when they reach the end of their useful lives.
Regarding the leukemia, allopathic medicine rarely has an answer for “why”, and most alternative healing therapies look at detoxifying and other general remedies. (Also not addressing a specific “why”.) I came across something recently that a friend recommended that got me thinking. It’s called New German Medicine, and it’s based on the work of a German doctor who starting looking at life events in himself and his patients that acted as a trigger for what we normally call “disease”. (He developed cancer after the death of his son, and that’s what triggered his initial interest.) He found specific patterns of illness associated with specific events or feelings, and these patterns were very consistent. I don’t know if this would be something you’d care to look into more, but I know that the correlation associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was a match for me. (I was hit when my husband lost his job, and it’s typically associated with feeling helpless.) Here’s an article about leukemia in a NGM context: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0783/4779/files/GNM_SBS_Leukemia_4p.pdf
Maybe you’ll see something of your situation in it, maybe not, but I always find it interesting to explore new ideas. It’s the first healing modality that I’ve encountered that addresses “why” on so many different diseases.
OK: but “oxidizing materials” are simply materials that give off oxygen. (Oxidizing materials are liquids or solids that readily give off oxygen). So, PLANTS are considered oxidizing materials, which this specifically says may be incompatible with:
“Incompatibility with Various Substances: May react or be incompatible with oxidizing materials.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hazardous decomposition products are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide”
So, PLANTS should not be in contact with plastics.
I have had the same concern ever since getting into health issues and the materials that most products we use are made from, particularly those made from petroleum and the plastics industry, in particular.
Just another food for thought: You TRUST any information given by the government to be totally factual and true? MSDS information my not be complete in order for governmental agencies to use those products. Otherwise, they would have to go totally organic and use no chemicals.
Yes, I know I may sound like a bit of a “whacko”, but after all, this blog and others similar are bent toward not completely trusting all standard, conventional information that pertains to good health, using organic, natural and less traditional, older methods of doing things. Plastics just simply do not fit into that criteria.
And, Thank you Cathy, for voicing a concern I have had for a long time regarding the use of any type of plastics in anything we use.
Yes, plants give off oxygen – but not from their roots, from their leaves. As explained on the National Science Foundation website:
Plants only perform photosynthesis in the green parts, like leaves and stems, but all plant cells need oxygen to respire. Cells in the leaves get plenty of oxygen from photosynthesis, but cells in the roots often need to get oxygen from the environment to stay alive. Even though roots are buried, they can absorb oxygen from the small air spaces in soil.
I’m not saying it’s impossible for the plastic to react with the plants, or with the mycorrhizal fungi or bacteria in the soil, but I do think the containers would take more damage from sun exposure than they would take from underground activities.
Ideally, my preference is to put plants directly in the soil as part of a long term permaculture planting with diverse flora and fauna polyculture – but that’s not always possible.
To the best of my knowledge, there isn’t another material option that is well suited to home crafting a self-watering container, but if you are aware of something, I’d love to hear about it.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Click here to learn more about “Never Buy Bread Again”, my bread book for beginning bakers.
***
Featured on THE PREPPER WEBSITE.
Copyright © 2019 Common Sense Home
Do Self Watering Planters Really Work?
Research & References of Do Self Watering Planters Really Work?|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source