Don’t buy a self-watering pot, make one!
It sounds like a gardener’s dream come true – a self watering container for your outdoor plants. You will see them for sale at the garden center, but that means brand new pots when you may already have good ones at home. You can convert an existing pot into a self-watering one for just a few dollars in supplies.
Self-described floral evangelist, Ashleigh Rose tells how.
Find more inspiration from Ashleigh on Instagram, @monalisafair.
Ashleigh Rose began working with flowers in the back of her grandmother’s flower shop on Main Street in Bountiful, Utah. Under her grandmother’s tutelage, she learned how to design flowers, forage for natural elements in the outdoors and care for cut flowers plus how to make anything beautiful. Ashleigh is a painter, sculptor, photographer, mother, best wife ever and last but not least — an evangelist of flowers! She wants to share her knowledge and help others appreciate the divine creations that are flowers. Find Ashley at @monalisafair on Instagram.
Hi! I am interested in making the self-watering planters that Ashleigh presented on Studio 5, and I have a few questions. I checked on her instagram page and she isn’t allowing DMs. The pots that I bought are pretty standard plastic pots from Lowes. On the inside bottom of the pot there is a slightly raised seam line. This would prevent the interior pvc pipe filled with first to lay flush to the bottom. I worry that the dirt in the PVC pipe would wash out. Would you ever seal the bottom of the pvc pipe containing dirt with more of the insulated foam board because of the drilled holes on the pipe allowing water to enter? Also was the insulted foam board used 1/2 inch thick? And were the sizes of the pvc pipe 4 inches and 1 inch in diameter? Thank you!
Hi Kara, I’m glad you reached out in the comment section here! I will check my DM settings to be sure we can converse further on Instagram. I have never needed to seal the bottom of the dirt filled wicking tube, however if you feel the PVC tube will not be flush with the bottom of the pot you may close it with some of the foam board.
Yes, the foam board used is the 1/2 inch thick.
And you are correct that in the Studio5 segment the large wicking tube was 4″ and the fill pipe was 1″. You can use two wicking tubes and make them 2″ each if you cannot find 4″ pipe, it will work exactly the same. Please be sure to comment with your Instagram handle so I can find you and be sure to answer any more questions! Thanks!