Wick Watering for Container Plants

Tip: Recycled Self Watering Container for Indoor Plants

June 7, 2012

This easy recycled planter would be a great summer craft for kids but is also a very effective way to keep your houseplants from drying out. Recycled self watering planter with a jade tree houseplant.

Materials:

2 liter bottle
string
drill
knife and/or scissors

Instructions:

Cut the top off a 2 liter bottle, a little over halfway up. Cutting a 2 liter bottle in half.

Drill a small hole in the cap, large enough to thread some twine through. Drilling a hole through a bottle cap.

Thread twine through cap and tie a knot on the inside to prevent it from slipping through. Cut the twine off with several inches on each end. Run string wick through hold in cap to water plants.

Run string wick through hold in cap to water plants.

Fill the top of the bottle with potting soil and fill the bottom with clean water. Dip the string into the water to submerge it and set the top in place.

This self watering container is great for indoor plants that don't have a large root structure, or for starting seeds. I use this planter for a jade but I think it would work really well for an African violet also. When the roots reach the edge, I will trim them back and add soil around them so the light doesn't damage the roots.

By Jess from Hillsboro, OR

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Videos

Video: Recycled Self Watering Container for Indoor Plants

July 20, 2014

This is a great way to make a self watering container using recycled materials. Learn how to make one in this short video.

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6 Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

Question: Using Wicks for Watering Plants?

ebotie

June 27, 2018

Thank you for the detailed explanation on using wicks for watering plants when away. I live the the United Kingdom and I have had a lot of frustration trying to get a suitable material to use as a wick with my used/saved milk jugs which I intend to use as my water reservoir.

Please could you be kind to recommend where I can get these or alternative materials and how to use them.
Thank you.

Answers

Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts

June 28, 20180 found this helpful

A length of thick cotton string would work well.

Pghgirl40
Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks

June 28, 20180 found this helpful

They sell wicks online like on Amazon:

www.amazon.com/.../B005KL3OCK (Affiliate Link)

This site has homemade solutions, which was my go to as I don't like to buy new when I have something I can give a second or third or fourth life to.

homeguides.sfgate.com/homemade-wick-watering-system-potted...

It worked, but I stopped using it I thought it gave off a musty/mildewey smell from the wet shirts. Perhaps I was doing something wrong. For me, I just went back to a regular watering...which works for me.

Hope you find a system that works for you!

cybergrannie
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks

June 28, 20180 found this helpful

I do not know how elaborate a self-watering system you plan to make and that in itself, may determine the type of wick material you will need.

In the past, I have used a simple wick system when I was going to be a away for a few days and had some houseplants that needed attention but mine was never intended for long term use.
I just used a bucket of water (placed a little higher than plants) in the center of my shower and placed potted plants close by and ran weighted (I used heavy nuts/bolts to weigh down one end) thick white shoe laces to each plant.

The nut/bolt held down the string in the water and I just used anything handy to make the string stay in the potted plant.
If I was away longer than expected, my son would replace the water in the bucket (or turn on the shower) and it worked for me.
I expect you plan to use this for a longer period of time so you will need more wick material.
One thing to remember; Cotton is a commonly recommended wicking material, but some warn that natural materials, like cotton, may rot or contract fungus easily. Wicking materials less likely to encounter this problem include nylon and acrylic.
The very best thing that I found was clothes line. You can purchase it almost anywhere (I feel sure they have clothes line in the UK) or order it online from several different sources. You may have to do a little searching but you can buy clothes line rope in cotton, nylon or polyester. Cotton or nylon are good but not so sure about polyester as it may not soak up the water as well as other material.

www.amazon.com/.../?ie=UTF8&keywords=rope+clothesline... (Affiliate Link)
Here is an ad for wicking on Amazon.
www.amazon.com/.../ref=pd_day0_86_2?tag=thrif06-20 (Affiliate Link)
The following may work okay but it does not have good reviews.
www.amazon.com/.../ref=dp_olp_0?tag=thrif06-20 (Affiliate Link)
When I was younger we used whatever was available and since we had kerosene heaters we always had wicks available and after some thought, I found a link for even this (and it is thick and may be even better).
www.amazon.com/.../ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?tag=thrif06... (Affiliate Link)