Super easy DIY self-watering planter from any container 

Still have a question? I probably answered it in this follow-up video! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3WWgj8Tg5n0.html

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

🤯🤯🤯 how is this not the number one video on RU-vid. It is the easiest video ever!!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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

Thank you for sharing. It is a really easy method to make the self watering containers. They are really expensive where we live and I needed an idea for my seedlings. It was perfect for us to make and use. Douglas from Trinidad W.I.

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

This is the best video I have watched showing how to make this. Brava!!! thank you so so much!

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! 💕

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 :)

I have been watching these videos, about making these wicking pots, and I had no idea how to do it until now. Ty very much for sharing

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.

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).

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

Good job of simplifying the steps! Can't wait to make some. thank you!

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

That second method seems really doable. Thanks for explaining this!

You are the best!!!! Thank you for such a great and simple explanation. I finally understand what I need for do. Thank you thank you, thank you!!

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 RU-vid. 💕

I enjoy your ingenuity--and definitely your blueprint. Thank you.

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.

THE BEST AND EASIEST INSTRUCTIONS EVER!!!! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!

Thank you for sharing! I'm slow as trying new things and research them forever it seems like, but I have been wanting to make these for years. I have been watching intermittently all kinds of videos. They all seem simple to you think you are going to start one. Then you don't have what they used etc...But what I realized, is that I didn't understand the whole process fully. So I have been nervous to try my own thing. Thank you for explaining it all so well. I feel like I can finally do it now and know it should work...LOL!

This is exactly what I was looking to make. Thank you.

What a great tutorial! That actually really did seem much easier when you explained it. I watched a few other videos but wasn't immediately understanding why there needed to be a hole near the top of the reservoir for the water to come out, but you made it very clear! I was thinking maybe lining the reservoir with 4 additional solo cups would make it level in place of the PVC idea since if you'll already have cups lying around. I tend to overwater my plants so I'm hoping this will stop me!

My watermelons 🍉 this year are going to love this!!! I didn’t do right by them last year by letting them dry out so many times.

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!

Tyvm Amy, you’ve been helpful I’m def gonna try and make some of those next season.

Great video, thanks for showing step-by-step instructions.

Well done. Easy to understand and some good ideas. Thank you.

Finally I understand it now. Great explanation, Thank you!

This is gonna be perfect for my plants at my air bnb! Thank you!

Thanks, that's my 1st spring project!

This is most practical that I have seen that is supported with explanations. Thx.

I'm impressed; thanks for the education.

This is excellent! You could use a layer of leca or clay pebbles or pumice/lava rock as your wicking material and then add a couple inches more of the lava rock, then add your potting medium.

Your video was excellent and educational .

Great idea!! Thank you!

Wonderful explanation of this job

This was so informative and helpful! Thanks so much :)

I really liked the idea of building false bottom using PVC pipe and hardware cloth. This not only creates a water chamber, but also helps achieve air pruning of the roots due to an air gap between the soil and water. Dig more holes, using 3" hole saw , on the 4 sides of the pot and you have a perfect air pruning self watering pot. I am going to try this idea on half barrel planters that I intend to make by cutting off 55 gallon plastic drum barrels in half and I am sure this will really turn out good. Thanks a lot , Pretty Purple Door, for sharing your brilliant idea.

This inspired me to convert 5 (so far) plastic planters from Costco to self watering. The lower maintenance the better!

excellent simple planter

So neat !! so easy !! great share . .thank you !!

thank u!!! Istruggle to understand this concept until you provided this informative video!!!

You made it so simple, fantastic!! You are amazing!!

That was an amazing idea!!

wow. you made this so easy!

Brilliant!!! With frequent travels, I am always facing the challenge of keeping my plants adequately watered. Your second idea is the simplest solution I have ever seen. I might glue a wide mouth funnel to catch enough rainwater when Mother Narure permits it. Thanks for inspiring me.

Very smart. Thanks for the tip.

Awesome....exactly what I needed. Thanks

I like both ideas but when you showed the 2nd one I was blown away!!!! lol I’ll be doing that one!

I like both your ideas very much. I put broken terracotta and styrofoam in the bottom of my planters and I have in that size pot I have about three holes in it. I also use that pipe, I bury it the length of my roses roots to where I can add nutrients and water from it and my roses do a lot better that way than just watering from the ground. I am going to try your method because I really like it 👍 thank you very much. God bless you and your family. 🙏❤️🤗 I am a new sub to your channel. Anything to do with plants I love.🌹🌹

Super simple... perfect thanks!

That is great, I can possibly use this idea with the sandponics beds that I am planning to create.

Excellent! Thank you so much. 👏👏👏🙏🏽❤️

Great video! Thank you!

Your first sentence described my thoughts right away. Thank you

Thank you this video is the best I’ve seen 🦋

Thanks!

I built it it works perfectly I'm going on vacation it holds 1 gallon good for 3-4 weeks

Great ideas!! Thanks

Great ideas thank you!

very nice..keep on sharing

Thank you so much for taking the scary out of it! Can't wait to have one.

I seen a few videos and nothing was difficult, they were as easy as your video, TFS :)

Awesome, thanks for sharing 🥰

Awesome!!! Thank you!!!

This is great!

the drawing diagram was very helpful compared to other people who try to explain this method thank u

Thanks a lot! Very clear explanations

Thank you! You made this much easier to follow😂

Thank you so much for your video!

This was useful. Thank you

Great video. Much thankx ✊🏿🔥

Love it, just what I was looking for, thank you! I definitely subbed your channel

Awesome so easy tyfs😁❤👏🏾

I also liked and subscribed ☺...I'm going to watch some more of your videos

Great video thanks

thank you...

You rock girl......got your ducks all in a row !!!!!

I have plastic bags at te bottom of my containers, it holds the moisture at the level I need without going stagnant. I live in Arkansa, the heat here wil make the water stagnant. Great vidio for cooler climates!!😊

Great video

This video earned my subscription! Dope!

V nicely explained

v clever easiest one and best design i've seen sofar ok I'm impressed.... so simple

Being a former diesel mechanic, I made a sight glass to see the water level out pop bottle. Probably overkill, but you can easily tell when you are getting low. I used a glass Coke bottle, which I got from the Hispanic foods aisle at Wal-mart. A mason jar would work great also.

Thank you.

I twerked your idea using a plastic saucer for the shelf.cutting a hole in middle for a yogurt container and side hole for pipe. Thanks!!!!!

Great Job! I can’t drill a drain hole, so I’m going to use an old fashioned dip stick.

Love it

excellent

stupendous

Love this! Great tutorial, though I recommend weed stop fabric instead of plastic. I also like sand better than soil as the wicking medium. This is the best demonstration of wicking container process I have seen. Subscribing and sharing. 😊