How to Make a Self-Watering Garden Planter

Watering plants is a simple and necessary step to ensure that they continue to thrive. Unfortunately, remembering to water the plants in the garden is not so simple. To prevent the hassle of frequent watering and the dead plants that result from forgetting to water, plant your garden in self-watering planters that you can make yourself.

Things Needed:

• 2 clean 5-gallon buckets


• Small disposable plastic food container, around 3 to 4 cup capacity


• Electric drill


• 1/4 inch drill bit


• 1-1/4 inch hole saw bit


• 3-1/4 inch hole saw bit


• Pencil


• Potting soil

1. Drill a pattern of holes around the sides of the food storage container with the drill and 1/4 inch drill bit. Leave a 1-inch space between the holes. This will be the wicking basket.


2. Turn one of the 5-gallon buckets upside down, and drill a hole in the center of its bottom using the drill and 3-1/4 inch hole saw bit.


3. Change back to the 1/4 inch drill bit and drill holes in the bottom of the bucket around the center hole. Leave at least a 1/2 inch space between the holes. These holes will allow for drainage of the planting container.


4. Place the food storage container in the bottom of the 5-gallon bucket without holes so that it is sitting right side up.


5. Turn the 5-gallon bucket with the drilled holes right side up. Place it inside the other bucket. It will sit on top of the food storage container. The large hole in the bottom of the bucket should be directly over the opening of the food storage container. 


6. Hold the buckets up to a light so that you can see the bottom of the inner 5-gallon bucket through the side of the outer bucket. Make a pencil mark on the outer 5-gallon bucket to indicate the bottom of the bucket inside.


7. Use the 1-1/4 inch hole saw bit to drill a hole into the outside bucket right under the pencil mark. This is where you will add water to the outer bucket.


8. Fill the inner bucket with potting soil, and add plants.