How to make a self-watering container

Gardens provide a great opportunity for homeowners to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits which can be used for food and also for medical purposes. Plants as living things require soil for stability and nourishment and water in order to make their own food. This means as a garden owner you need to come up with mechanisms of watering your garden especially if you spend considerable amounts of time away from your home.

Below are steps on how to make a self-watering container.

 

Things you need

One large pot

One irrigation pipe and a float

One porous membrane

Absorbent compost

One hacksaw

One sharp knife

Some leca

 

Step Two – Prepare your large pot

The first thing you need to do is to inspect your large pots for any holes. The pot can be made of any material namely ceramic, plastic or even fiber glass. You need to place the large pot rim down on a membrane material. This will allow you to make a template therefore proceed to cut it into a circle.

Fill your large pot with three quarters of leca and you need to place the cut out circular membrane over it. Check to ensure that it fits well.

 

Step Three – Fit the pipe

Once you have finished preparing your pot and placing the circular membrane, proceed by placing the pipe into the pot and this should be done at the edge. You need to mark the point where it will stay on the membrane.

You need to remove the membrane and finally cut a slit where you will insert the pipe. You need to ensure that it is snug fit and it should sit a couple inches above the large pot’s rim. If the length is too long, you can use the hack saw to reduce its length.

 

Step Four – Place the float

After fitting the pipe, you need to place the float. To accomplish this, start by placing the membrane into the pot and proceed to push the pipe down into the leca. The float needs to be placed in the pipe and should sit one centimeter below the rim of the large pot.

If the float is unable to stay below the rim, you need to trim it to the appropriate size in order to accomplish this step. Finish by attaching the cap to the pipe.

 

Step Five – Add water

Start by placing soil over the membrane and ensure it reaches just below the pot’s rim. Proceed to pour water into the pipe. In order for the float to move, you will need to be patient and continue pouring water until it comes to the top. You need to allow the float to sink and then proceed to re-water so that it is able to sit between the maximum and the minimum mark on the pipe’s cap.

Once you have accomplished this, the plants will start to absorb the water they only need from the reservoir.

That’s how you make a self-watering container.