I made these mini containers for seedlings and then made bigger ones out of 2 liter and juice bottles for the pot up before the big containers or the garden. I have instructions if anyone is interested. Kathy in West Texas
What about these free mini containers
Before medium is added
Love this! I saw this online before and made a few. I think recycling and reusing rocks!
interesting. why does one put the top part of the bottle inside the bottom part?
It's a self watering container, Vossner.
I would suggest that if you're going to site the planters outdoors in any sun, that you cover the clear plastic with something opaque. Light will pass through the clear plastic & the resultant solar (heat) gain will heat the soil to temps well beyond those where normal root function ceases.
Al
thanks Al. Very interesting. I hope I remember this thread next winter when I'm trying to grow seedlings. Kathy in W TX, I am interested in your instructions pls.
Al, I actually put them outside in trimmed to size cardboard boxes to keep the sun from cooking the roots, and make sure the box is full as crowding them also helps to regulate temps some. Their outside time is very short, esp nowadays with triple digits for the past several weeks most days and no end in sight. These are my fall planting babies, a 4 day old wild everglades seedling and a need to be repotted now mini bell pepper that has suffered some bug bites and wind damage but will be stronger for it :) If anyone is close to me in West Texas I will happily share some of the everglades babies as I got 100% germ on 25 seeds in the baggies!! Collected water bottles from the local zoo so have plenty. I have 2 foot Naga Jolokias growing in these with 2 liter bottles and gotta get them repotted as they are trying to bloom. I like the rectangle juice bottles better than two liter as they are top heavy and have to be braced in some way, but the juice bottles have a larger base and are thicker plastic. Kathy
Mini Self Watering Pots Instructions
I hate to throw stuff away so started making my own self watering pots from just about any plastic container that has a small opening that comes to a tapered point. I use water and soda bottles for my sprouted seedlings. I typically use the baggie method to start my seeds then after they sprout move them to one of these. I have also used two liter and juice bottles that are more rectangle and they have worked great to pot up in size. First I remove any labels. Then I measure the top part of the bottle to see where the tapering ends. Once I have that I cut that measured amount from the bottom of the bottle. I can then use the rest of the bottle and fill it with potting medium or trim it some if I am potting a smaller plant seed. I invert the top tapered part of the bottle and place it into the bottom part. Sometimes I tape both sides of the bottle to keep the bottom in place. You can smush the inverted top part a bit to make room for a straw to add water directly to the bottom, making it more like an EB. Once the straw is in place I tape the inverted top to the bottom to keep it together and to keep the straw in place. I mostly fill the inverted top with moistened medium and then add my sprouted seed or seedling. Then I top it off with a bit more medium and put an inch or so of water in through the straw or just water from the top. You can fill these pots using a squirt bottle inserted into the straw. I use Micky D’s straws as they are a bit larger. If the seedlings need to be kept very moist I might put a bit of plastic over to top with a few breather holes and secure with a rubber band until the seedling emerges. The neck of the inverted bottle that should have medium down the length of it acts as a wick to keep the plant properly moist but drained. I love these as I can see the roots grow and repot as needed and also see when they need more water. I repot when the plants roots are growing into the lower portion of the pot if not before. Using uniformly shaped bottles ease the repotting process. I used several A and W Root Beer bottles that were larger at the top and it was harder to get the plants to slide out when they were repotted. I also used a dime taped to a stick to help push out the plant when I repotted them. The pics are not great but you get the general idea. The smaller plant is a 4-day-old everglades tomato seedling and the larger plant is a min orange bell that will be repotted this weekend. I used it to show the root system thru the bottle. I have been hardening it off and it has suffered some bug and wind damage, please disregard its battered leaves.
While in Co with my hubby for a welding job, my garden was pulverized by hail and then it flooded. I am in a wheelchair and had little to do on the side of the mountains so I made about a 100 of these mini containers. Sure was nice when I got home to have them premade since I lost over 250 plants and had to start everything all over again :( At least it gave me something to do other than cry....
thank you very much, I am saving for future use. By your pics, I gather the water reservoir is approx. 1" high, yes?
How often do you water using this method? I know you said when level is down but in your exper. is that about 1 weekly, more, less?
sorry to hear about your garden disaster. I am impressed w/ your resolve. Me, I would still be crying.
I keep oscillating fans on my plants 24/7 because of the wind they will have to endure once outside. I dont keep much water in them, about a 1/2' or so at the most unless the plant is really big, because I assume the water might sour some. I am a newbie so there might be better ways to do this. I have to water about every 6-7 days, more often as the plant gets bigger, and more often initially with a spray bottle until the seedlings get a better root system as the fans are very drying. Have never lost a baby to dampening off in these.
Some have asked about the medium I used. I used the jiffy mix organic seed starter initially, then when repot the first time a mix of a handful MG organic soil, exotic compost that is basically dirt due to age, pine bark, a few alfalfa pellets, and pine pellets that swell when watered and are found cheapest at the local feed stores for horse stalls or as cat litter. So far this has worked for me. I water the older plants in the larger containers, like gallon size and up, once every few weeks with gallons 2 tbls epsom salt mixed with a weak compost tea from the wild rabbit we raised last year from a pink. When we have baby pigs I use the left over pig milk, mix it with water and use it in place of the compost tea mix. I also use duck spit water and eggshells, toasted and ground up as a to dressing but under a think layer of mulch. I just ran out of the jiffy mix and will look for another seed starting mix as that one seems to compact more than I care for. Tried mixing it with Coir half and half and the plants did not like that as well as straight jiffy mix, but it did seem to drain better. Clear as mud :) Ask away, and flame away. I am a lifelong Texan and can take it. Kathy
What is the planting medium you have in these containers?
I love this idea! Thanks so very much for sharing this. I hate having to water every day and sometimes twice a day. Love the fact that you can also see the roots.
GayLynn
For the babies I used Jiffy mix organic seed starter mix that works ok but does seem to compact a bit and then tried it mixed half and half with coir and the peppers and toms did not grow as well in it. I think it stayed too moist on the bottom and too dry on the top with the fans. I will use another brand next round of babies to see it it makes a difference. When i start them I boil the water,add a chammomile tea bag for every gallon, and use that to moisten the soil and then every other time i water. For the larger ones I am organic and use a mix of things not well received or recommended by many on this forum but I am happy with the results.` I did not test my soil because it changes with every planting depending on what is available. I had a lovely container garden until hail took it out but things are back, amazingly fast, that did not die. I am experimenting with different ratios of pine mulch and pine pellets that swell when wet, got a busted bags for a buck, after reading this forum but any amount made the containers drain faster including the 2 liter ones. Seeing the water flow with the different blends is also interesting. Last year i used just 5 year old compost and no fertilizer at all and while the peppers grew to 4 feet or so I am hopeful with the better drainage and more knowledge they will get even bigger. I put the same compost in a container with a plant and the water sits on top forever compared to the others. Really an eye opener. I have learned very much here and have incorporated much of what I learned and made it into a system that works better for me than the noneducated me did last year. I am on an extremely limited budget with a busted leg that wont heal so have to make use of more available resources at little or no cost. Time I have plenty of. Thanks for the insights all esp Al who brought up the downfall of these pots if put outside. Kathy