Making self watering planters.
I already fixed the greenhouse, now I have to make the planters. I need to rush, otherwise I’ll miss the planting season. Here we go.
These are the materials used for one planter: five 2×6’s, three 1×4’s, some tools, 6 mil plastic film, 4″ perforated drain pipe.
Some music too. I am a Gen X hooked on heavy metal and most 80’s and 90’s music. I can’t work without music so imagine some ACDC, Black Sabbath and Metallica playing in the background while I am working on this.
Here are some pictures of the building process.
The wood part is done, Now I have to put it where I want it to be in my yard, right besides the greenhouse. Because this is going to be a self watering or wicking planter, it will have a plastic liner to contain the water. To avoid the liner being eventually punctured by anything in the ground, I cut a piece of old carpet leftover from when I did my basement, to the size of the planter, a little larger actually, to put down under the planter itself. I will trim it after.
Now it’s time to install the plastic liner. Only staple at the top, otherwise the water will leak.
Now cut the drain pipes to size and place them inside the planter.
The one standing will be the watering port, and the small white plastic tube sticking out the front is the overflow port. It goes through the wood, the plastic liner and into the first drain pipe.
It is not shown in the pictures but I did close the ends of the drain pipes with gardening fabric to avoid soil from going inside them. After that, add soil.
Add water, if it starts leaking out the overflow port, stop. You can check the level by looking into the watering port.
I made 5 of these planters in the last few days and already planted some green beans and some tomatoes in two of them. There are three in the green house and two outside.
That’s it. The planters are done, now I just have to plant stuff in them. I think they came out ok, and by the way, there is no way I could have done all this by myself, without my helper. Here she is:
