5 Gallon DIY Self Watering Planter

[Alexander]

Want to share this with everyone as a neat upcycled 5 gallon water jug into a self watering planter that has a capacity of about 2 gallons of water. Also as a bit of garden art.

I made a short series on tiktok showing build process. Really easy to do.




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Overview

Build overview

Paint and fill pipe

Bit of art and end product

As long as protected from freezing these jugs last me about 4 years.

 

[Alexander]

Basically, chop off the top at the area shown in the pics. Then you flip the top and place it on the bottom. Add a piece of PVC tube to the handle as a fill tube. Have a drainage hole set about 3-4 inches from the bottom. Then fill with potting soil and plant.

Chop the top, grinder with a cutoff wheel works great.




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Perforated the top with holes.




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Flip the top, and place it in bottom as shown. Secure with a zip tie thru 1/2 inch drainage holes at the level shown by red dot.




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Add pvc fill port thru handle area




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Make sure to paint with a good spray paint that adheres to plastic, if you leave it clear algae growth will kill it, and the plastic will degrade much faster in the sun.




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[pepperpicante]

I like this!

 

[Lester Moor]

Probably a dumb question but...are the roots growing into the water at the bottom? Any aration down there?

 

[Alexander]

Probably a dumb question but...are the roots growing into the water at the bottom? Any aration down there?

it holds about 2 1/2 -3 gallons of soil/coco, and about a gallon or so of water. this is a self wicking pot design so that watering is not constantly necessary. it will grow a decent sized weed plant..

given enough grow time the roots will certainly reach down into the resevoir