Introduction
My plants were always dying on me. It didn’t matter if I’d bought a beautiful little pothos from my local nursery, or if I’d cultivated some gorgeous succulents from seed. They just didn’t last for more than a few weeks in my apartment. I tried to water them when they looked thirsty, but that was always too late! Eventually, I learned about self-watering pots: planters with an internal reservoir that slowly waters the plants as they need it. And now? My plants are thriving, and you can learn to do the same thing!
Know When to Water
When it comes to knowing when to water your plants, there are many variables that will affect the process. First, you need to consider the plant itself. Is this a fern? A cactus? Something else? These plants have vastly different watering needs and can only be properly cared for if you know how they prefer their soil to be kept.
Secondly, you should check the weather forecast for your area in order to plan appropriately. Plants grow best in warm climates with plenty of sunlight; therefore, if it looks like rain is coming after several days of sunny weather then make sure no matter what kind of soil mix or container type you use (more on those later) that each plant has adequate drainage so that its roots don’t get soggy as they’re made up mostly of water anyway!
Thirdly., don’t forget about wind!”
What size water reservoir do you need?
Next, you’ll have to decide how big your reservoir should be. The size of your reservoir will depend on a few things:
- the size of the plant you want to grow in the pot; for example, a large plant would need more water than a small one
- how often you want to water it; if you want to water once every week or two weeks (depending on how quickly your soil dries out), then you can get away with using a smaller reservoir and top up every once in awhile when necessary
- how long each watering session should be; if each session lasts 10 minutes, then an hour-long reservoir will do the trick
How to make a DIY Self Watering Pot Planter
- You need:
- a pot, or a container of your choice
- How to make a DIY Self Watering Pot Planter:
- Start by putting the drainage system into your pot. You can use multiple pots or drill holes in the bottom of one large one. Place gravel at the bottom and then place 3-4 inches of soil on top of it. This will help provide drainage for water to flow out from underneath when you pour water into your planter.
To start, know when and how to water plants.
You should always know when and how to water your plants. You should also know how much water to give them, and how often it is recommended that you provide this moisture. For example, some plants require more frequent watering than others; succulents need only three or four small waterings each week, while other plants may need daily attention for two weeks at a time.
There are several ways to tell if your plant needs more water:
- If the soil is dry at the top of the pot, it’s probably time for another watering. If you’re using a self-watering container like I did here (more on that later), then no matter what else happens with your plant’s soil level—even if it stays completely saturated—you’ll never have any issues with over-watering because excess liquid will be absorbed by their roots along with all those nutrients they need! This makes them ideal candidates for indoor growing spaces where space might be limited but still plenty of sunlight available throughout most days.”
Conclusion
This is a great way to start your DIY journey and then build on the skill set. It’s easy enough for beginners and also can be done with kids who will love seeing their projects come to life!