This planter has a built-in water reservoir, and a custom drainage hole to prevent over-watering. A fantastic pot to start container gardening for beginners. It is ideal for vegetables, herbs, tomatoes, strawberries, and flowers – any plant that enjoys moist soil. I even have a blueberry bush in one of these. \r
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1 year follow up video (what changes would I make?): \r
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*Instructions for self-watering planter*\r
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Materials I Used:\r
14” Torino Round Black Bronze Plastic Planter (no drainage holes)\r
Bend-A-Drain 4” Polypropylene Flexible Perforated Drain Pipe (purchased as 12 length, cut 2 section)\r
Plastic shopping bag/grocery sack\r
String/twine\r
12” ABS tube\r
Handful of small rocks\r
Natures Care Organic Potting Mix (about 1/2 bag)\r
Espoma Organic Garden Lime (about 1/2 lb.)\r
Vigoro Tomato and Vegetable Garden Plant Food Plus Calcium (about 1/4 cup)\r
Bonnie herb plants (in order of placement: Purple Basil, German Thyme, Sweet Basil, Curly Parsley, Garlic Chives)\r
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Tools:\r
Scissors\r
Dremel with cutting blade\r
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Directions:\r
1. Assemble water reservoir: expand drain pipe into circular shape (3/4 circle), cut pieces from the grocery bag to cover the ends to prevent the potting mix from filling the pipe, tie those onto the ends of the pipe with string. Cut hole in drainage pipe for watering tube, insert tube.\r
2. Using dremel, cut a drainage hole into the side of the planter. Mine is about 1” x 1/3” large, and is lower than the top edge of the drain pipe by 1/2.\r
3. Insert water reservoir in pot, positioning watering tube along the side of the pot. Place rocks on top of the drain pipe in front of the hole. This prevents the potting mix from running out of the hole when you water.\r
4. Pack potting mix into the gap between the ends of the drain pipe. This is the wicking column, where potting mix can wick water up into the rest of the pot from the water reservoir. \r
5. Fill pot within 4” of the top, then evenly spread garden lime or dolomite. \r
6. Fill pot and plant plants, leaving a space free of plants for fertilizer pocket.\r
7. Bury fertilizer in a pocket accessible to all the plants, cover with 1-2” of potting mix.\r
8. Cover with preferred mulch. If using a plastic mulch cover, potting mix should be slightly taller than the top of the planter so rain sheds off the plastic.\r
9. Water regularly into watering tube until excess comes out of the drainage hole. \r
10. Enjoy!