How to Make a Self Water Planter

Gardening is a wonderful hobby, but it can be challenging to keep plants watered consistently. One option for busy gardeners is a self-water planter, which makes watering automatic and easy. Here's how to make your own.

Tools and Materials Needed

You'll need a few items to make a self-water planter, including:

A plastic planter with drainage holes

A plastic cup (or similar container) for the water reservoir

A piece of cotton rope or string, about 12-24 inches long

A drill with a small bit

A pair of scissors

Instructions

Follow these steps to make your self-water planter:

Drill a small hole in the bottom of the plastic cup or container you'll use as the water reservoir.

Cut the cotton rope or string to the desired length, leaving a bit of slack so it can reach from the bottom of the water reservoir to the bottom of the planter with a bit to spare.

Thread one end of the rope through the hole in the bottom of the water reservoir, pulling it through until there's just a small tail sticking out.

Place the water reservoir in the bottom of the planter, ensuring that the string tail hangs out of the hole in the bottom of the planter.

Fill the planter with soil and plant your desired plants, positioning them around the string tail.

Fill the water reservoir with water, allowing the string to dangle into the water.

The string will act as a wick, drawing water up into the soil as needed. As the water in the reservoir is used up, more will be drawn up into the planter from the reservoir.

Tips for Using Your Self Water Planter

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when using your self-water planter:

Choose a planter size and water reservoir size that are appropriate for the plants you'll be growing. Some plants need more water than others!

Be sure to check the water level in the reservoir regularly to make sure it doesn't run dry, especially in hot weather.

If the plant starts to look wilted or dry even though the water reservoir has water, check that the string tail is properly inserted into the soil and hasn't been pulled out by a curious pet.

Some gardeners prefer to add a bit of fertilizer to the water in the reservoir to help nourish the plants.

With a bit of effort and these simple instructions, you can create a self-water planter that will keep your plants looking gorgeous all season long. Happy gardening!