Project: Self-watering container

In continuation of our gardening project, we have this self-watering container.

What is a self watering container? A self-watering container is a container that can be watered by filling up a water reservoir at it's base. When the dirt is dry, the plants will automatically soak up or "wick up" water from the bottom up, and sometimes, depending on how much water your container can hold and how well you mulch the top, it doesn't have to be watered for several days! Now that's what I'm talkin about!

It's a simple project done on the cheap. With the junk around the house... this was actually FREE!

Here's the principle:

You need a bucket. With a tiny hole drilled into the side for drainage. We don't want water to waterlog the soil. (This hole is just below the soil barrier)

A piece of plastic cut to fit inside the bucket. A hole in the center for a cheap plastic cup. Cheap plastic cup full of holes. This cup will eventually be the "wicking tube" It's the part where the soil is submerged in water and pulls the water upward. (Also, there is a hole cut in one of the corners of this plastic "floor" for the watering pipe to go through.

The watering pipe. A cheap PVC pipe cut to length. It's a few inches taller than the full height of the bucket. Also angle cut the bottom end, just in case there's dirt blockages. More holes drilled into this end. Better safe than sorry.

The lid. Why a lid? Why not just let the rain into the soil from above? Reason is waterlogging. No need to "drown" the roots. It's smart enough to pull whatever water there is from the resevoir below. So, this becomes a closed system. The lid also prevents wind/rain from blowing/washing away the nutrients. And bugs and slugs. It keeps them out.

Here it is, assembled.

Persephanie helping dad mulch. We used a 50/50 mix of potting soil and compost. This should provide the plant enough nutrients to keep it alive this time.. we hope.

Tomato plant planted and soil pre-watered.

Big Beef tomatoes on the left container, Red and Green bell peppers in the right.

Hope this works!
Now, to find a solution to water this thing automatically!! Then this will be the ultimate set-and-forget garden!! Mwuhahahaha!

Project: Gardening

Lina's been having her green thumb itching. So, we've decided to try and kill two birds with one stone by (attempting) to grow vegeatables. Re-Experiment with gardening and save some grocery money while we're at it. I say "re-experiment" because we had once tried it before.. and failed. All our plants either died or were saved from the brink of death by mom.

We have brown thumbs.

Why and how we failed last time:
1) Location, Location, Location.
2) Soil
3) Not watering. Duh! We have lifestyles that distract from gardening responsibilities. Plus, we're just forgetful.

Now, writing this list.. it seems we not only failed, we failed MISERABLY. Because, those are the only 3 things that any plant life needs. And we didn't provide any of it. Sad. Really really sad.

This time it's different. We're doing our homework.

Our Goal.

So to fix this, we tackled each of the 3 failed points.
1) We're putting this garden in a spot that will have at least 6 hours of sunlight.
2) Not just random soil. But, this time we're using a 50/50 mix of organic potting soil and compost. This should really be enough nutrient for any vegetable.
3) This is my favorite solution... the Self-Watering container. I found this idea on the internet. People had been DIY-ing a simple and cheap solution to minimum watering for plants. (inspired by the Earthbox). This DIY is almost free! As compared to Earthbox which I found locally for $100! I was sold on "minimum watering" and "cheap".

I'm excited about this project.. updates to follow.