Making a self watering planter

Instructions for making a self watering planter which features a water reservoir below, a plant/soil section above, a corner fill pipe and an overflow hole with tube to reduce algae growth.  A column of soil will penetrate to the bottom to wick fluid up.  Prebuilt planters cost $30 and will hold three gallons of water.  If you already have the tools, 3 totes will cost about $35. 6 totes will cost less than $65. These planters will hold about 9 gallons of water.

materials

18 gallon opaque storage tote $5

4” drain pipe, four lengths about 10”  $10 for 10’ section--enough for 3 planters

1 ¼” PVC pipe 18” long  $6 for 10’ section--enough for 6 totes

zip ties

4 inches black tubing ½”

mesh window screen 6x6”

tools

drill with bits

jigsaw with blade for plastic

marking pen

heavy duty scissors

round file or paring knife

measure for platform:  stand the four tubes in the bottom of the tote.  measure across the tops length and width.  

Lid prep--mark the lid of the tote.  mark and cut a 3” hole that will go over one of the support pipes.  This will permit the placement of soil to wick fluid up to the growing medium & plants.  drill ¼” holes in tote cover about 1.5-2” apart.  

Cut out the platform (better a bit large vs small)  Keep the lid frame.

drill two holes across from each other at the ends of each 4” drain pipe length.  zip tie each pipe to the platform.  zip tie one of the pipes under the big hole in the platform.  zip tie the mesh window screen to the bottom of that pipe.

Drop the assembly into the tote box  at the corner with the big hole make a cut out for the fill pipe using heavy duty scissors.  make a cutout in the lid frame for the fill pipe.  Drill ¼” or larger holes in one end of the fill pipe and put that end of the pipe into the cutouts.  

Drill a ½” hole just below the platform on the broad side of the tote.  use the round file or paring knife to widen the hole to fit the black tube.  push about ½” of the tube into the hole.  you’re done with the construction.  Now for how you use it:

fill the tube that goes to the bottom of the tote with peat moss, compressing a bit.  Peat moss is my growing medium.  I add some Perlite to lighten the medium and lime (Soil Sweet) to improve the pH for tomatoes, eggplants etc.  ½ cup of bone meal to push the tomatoes to fruiting.  If planting from seed I let the seed germinate in a different container, then transplant to the planter.  adding fertilizer to the soil mix helps.  The official Earth box instructions say to pour a strip of fertilizer a few inches away from the plant and cover the soil with plastic.  After transplanting, I water with a little B1 added to reduce transplant shock.  I’ve been told that burying banana peel bits near the plant helps reduce aphid infestations, which I've seen esp with eggplant.  Worth a try.

Then add water to the planter using the fill tube.  It will probably take 9 gallons or so.  Covering the growing medium with plastic will reduce evaporation & increase intervals between watering.