✅ IMPORTANT LINKS: Amazon Affiliate Links below for the products I use - As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 👉 Water Level Gauges: geni.us/AXictB (Amazon) 👉 Microfibre Cloth: geni.us/ZgU4 (Amazon) 👉 Self-Watering Wicking Wick Cord: geni.us/lIdKj75 (Amazon) 👉 Nursery pots : geni.us/WdHVSD (Amazon) 👉 Ikea Muskot Pot: geni.us/xGApX 👉 MotherLife Plant Spectrum Grow light - Use code "THELECAQUEEN" for $10 off Validate code here: www.mother.life/en/shop/privi... 👉 Soltech Vita Grow Bulb - Use code "FABULOUS" for 15% off soltech.com/ 👉 Sansi Grow bulbs - geni.us/39AUG8 (Amazon)
How did I not realise you can buy Water Level Gauges on their own?! All this time I've been peaking through the slight gap between the nursery pot and outer pot or lifting them. I've been doing pretty much the same but I purchased wicking cord and use PVC pipe cut to the height I want.
Hi Nora, I’ve done exactly what you’ve shown here for about 10 of my plants growing in leca. I love it and it certainly takes the guesswork out of watering. I actually bought my meters online at about $1.20 & $1.80 each and used some ceramic pots I already had on hand. So all in all a very inexpensive set up, you’ve gotta love that.
Just a suggestion: when you cut your microfiber cloth, if you want a long piece just cut the fabric continuously. Meaning once you get to the end of a row, turn at a right angle and keep cutting around and around and you’ll have one long piece. Just like when we were kids and we made garland out of paper 😊
I love my IKEA pots, but yes they do chip easily. really, really like this idea for self watering pots thank you so much for sharing Nora it’s appreciated. Been looking at them for changing some of my plants into semi- hydro and they are just too expensive for what they are. 🌱💚
Listen, I believe that this works and recently bought one of Hilton Carter's self watering pots from Target, but I just don't think it will work FOR ME... And I'm going on vacation for 2 weeks in June and would love to get this set up for most of my plants and not be at the mercy of a plant sitter.
Just brilliant Nora!! And...my hubby will be VERY happy with this cost saving DIY. Who knows...he might even help me make them😆 Thanks for the breakdown too...REALLY helpful 👏🏼 You're really really spoiling us now❤
May also make a home made water indicator, instead of spending more money. Measure the height of your water reservoir. This done done by using a wine bottle cork, skewer, and colored tape. Drill a small hole in the center of the cork lengthwise, glue the skewer inside the hole in the cork, place colored tape om the skewer (opposite the cork end) in two spots. The first tape line is at the very top of the skewer, measure down from the top of the skewer the same height as your water reservoir and place the 2nd tape line. Float the cork apparatus in the water/filling tube. When the skewer floats high, the water is full, when the skewer floats low the water is low. The desired float is between the 2 tape lines.
How can I seal the bottom of a pot I've removed the drain plug from? I've lost the plugs but I *love* the way my peace lily looks in it (it's a deco pot now too because it's too large)
Nora! I absolutely love you! You are my favorite RU-vid Content Creator! As Americans would say, you deserve an Emmy🏆! I can’t thank you enough for this video. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for showing how to make making self-watering pots on the cheap, Nora. You are fantastic 👍🙏😍 How often do you flush the pot and put in new nutrient solution?
Same as for my other plants....when I get to it😂. Seriously though, I try to do it at least once a month but, life! If you can do it once every fortnight, that would be great.
This is so clever. I never would have figured all this out. I will definaitly have to give this a try. Thank you for the clear instructions on all your videos! It is super helpfull!
You’re very creative Nora! Didn’t know what to use as risers before. Do you use the center or top of the pot (one you cut) for more risers or can you only use the bottom part? Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. For the risers I generally use the bottom of the pot as it is a bit narrower. The width of the riser depends on the width of the nursery pot that will sit on top of it. You want the nursery pot to be able to sit nicely on top of the riser and be supported. I hope this helps.
Thank you. Ideally you want the indicator to sit right at the bottom of the cache pot so it can give you a good indication (no pun intended) of the amount left in the reservoir.
Thank you so much for the amount of work you put into your videos Nora! It's been SO helpful. ❤ I'm chronically ill and trying to find a easier way to water and care for all of my plants which end up very neglected, but I don't want to lose them when they bring me that tiny glimmer of joy, and I still want to be the one who cares for them. I'm thinking that leca might be the way to go - even if it's just with cuttings for now! I have three questions about this video (I know that's a lot, there's absolutely no pressure to reply!): 1) How is self watering with soil different to self watering with leca? Self watering with soil usually gets really soggy and waterlogged for me, so leca seems like it might be better? 2) I've noticed that sometimes you use a wick, and other times you just put the pot straight into the reservoir - is there any difference or benefit either way? 3) Depending on whether the you use a wick or not, where should the water metre sit? My apologies for all the questions! You're by far the best person I've found explaining leca, and you've got my head buzzing with ideas and excitement! Love that you're in Australia too - I can actually get the same things as you! 🥲❤
Great ideas! I’m on this. I think I’ll try yogurt containers instead of plant pots for the shelf anyway. They are free. I’ve been slowly replacing my pots with self watering, but I really want to continue to use my ceramic pots. They are so much nicer, so this should be the perfect solution. Thank You!
Hey Nora thanks for the tip. I just bought a huge Variegated Frydek and I want to put her in Lecha with a self watering system. I like the idea with the Microfiber strips. I will be buying the water level gauge tomorrow. I’m transplanting my plants into clear pot too. With Lecha I find it interesting to watch the roots grow. Did you mention to soak the Lecha a while preferably 2-24hrs. before using to establish a constant moist system? If so I apologize. Great video.
Thank you Miss Nora for all your beautiful and amazing video you are the queen of lace you have a blessed and amazing Easter holiday you and your family
Hi Nora How do you calculate how deep to position the water level Indicator so when it show max it is actually the top part of the raised insert that the clear pot is seated on, or is it better to align it with the bottom so you will know the reservoir is completely empty?
Where are you purchasing your Leca balls Nora and other plant 🪴 lovers? I live in Eltham Victoria Australia 🇦🇺 and the solution to feed them. I am propagating many cuttings for indoors and the garden in lovely mirrored half round see through containers I have hung up on my pantry as it gets the morning sun along with my window ledge and little space between the sink and pantry wall. Everything is loving 🥰 it there including the elderberry cuttings taken and zygocactus too. I have 4 hanging up filled with different succulents which grow downward and maidenhair amongst the other little cuttings I have been given. It makes it a calming area to to kitchen chores etc. I bought those mirrored containers from Temu. Free delivery 🚚 from AU$20.00 awesome on refunds I haven’t been asked to post the items back just send photos of proof. Excellent customer support so far fingers crossed 🤞
I've been using leca balls as a riser. I place them to the depth required and put the nursery pot on top. I do this partly to increase the humidity. Do you have an opinion on this? I'm new to the whole leca thing.
Hello Nora! Love this video! I recently started my Leca journey and so far I’m having a lot of luck. One question I have for you is where do you get your clear nursery pots? I’ve looked everywhere and can’t seem to find good quality products.
@@TheLecaQueen you’re welcome!! I use Pon but it’s tricky finding bigger pots and I have a million cache pots and nursery pots laying around so it’s time to put them to use! Ha ha.
I do this! All of my smaller to medium size plants in leca are in a self watering system. I use slices of pvc pipes as risers as they are stronger and won't bend or buckle from the weight of the pot with leca above. I also discovered some plastic pots from Bunnings that have a rounded outer top lip that allow them to basically sit over the edge of the outer pot and it leaves around 2 inches of free space underneath in the outer pot to use as a self watering pot. I have my PPP growing in a big 20cm pot in that system and it's growing really well.
I have five beautiful plants. I can’t stand the gnats! My daughter passed away and I just don’t want the plants to die. They are all Peace Lillies. I have not given them nutrition! Yet. They are three months old. I used to love plants but after I moved I gave them away when I move. Now I have new plants and I love them but the gnats I don’t know what to do. I have a bug light (2) but that’s not getting rid of them fast enough. Help!!!!
