From the page: The water jug still holds plenty of life
Idea 1
Self-watering planter in minutes
Self-watering planters have existed since the hanging gardens of antiquity and have become a favorite of people who travel or forget to water. The magic lies in capillarity: water rises through the moist substrate as if climbing a straw, keeping the plant hydrated from the bottom up, in just the right amount.
What you need
- A clean 2 to 5-liter water jug
- Craft knife or strong scissors
- A heated nail or a wooden stick
- Electrical tape or sandpaper to smooth the edges
- Potting soil and a seedling (basil, parsley or pothos work well)
- A piece of cotton string (optional, to improve the water rise)
How to make it
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1
Cut the jug two fingers above the middle, creating a bottom part (the reservoir) and a top part with the neck and cap — this division is what allows you to separate the water from the soil.
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2
Make 2 or 3 small holes in the cap with the heated nail or the stick, so the water rises slowly through capillarity without soaking the substrate.
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3
Thread a piece of cotton string through the holes, leaving ends on both sides, if you want to speed up the water rise — cotton is an excellent conductor of moisture.
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4
Fit the top part, inverted, into the bottom one, with the neck facing down, and smooth the edges with sandpaper or tape so you don't hurt the plant or your hands.
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5
Fill with soil and plant the seedling, watering from the top the first time to settle the substrate.
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6
Pour water through the reservoir opening until it's nearly half full — the plant will pull what it needs, when it needs it.
Finishing touches
Paint the jug with spray paint or cover it with burlap to turn it into a decorative piece. It looks great in pairs of different sizes on the kitchen windowsill, with the herbs always at hand.
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