The benefits of container gardens is that they are very water-efficient. Plants receive their water from the water reservoir below the soil so they can get as much water as they need and no water is wasted through evaporation. Since plants are free to take as much water as the want, they are never stressed for water which results in better tasting fruits and vegetables. In addition, with the water reservoir there is no need to constantly water your plants and it’s easy to leave your plants when on vacation, particularly if you set your hose on a timer.
(By the way, our first container garden contained tomatoes and I had to leave for 3 weeks. Even with no access to a hose, I figured out a way to water the tomatoes while I was out of town. Comment or message me if you’d like to know how I did it).
Now, there are many different designs on how to make container gardens. My husband first made one using mesh baskets which he had to cut up and place upside down in a container…and sometimes after all that work, it wouldn’t work as the container would collapse. He found a better solution using corrugated drain pipe and he was really excited as it was very easy to build compared to his previous container gardens.
The total price of the materials will be over $50, but you’ll have plenty of extra flex pipe and corrugated drain pipe for additional container gardens.
Here are the materials he used:
Commander 27-Gallon Tote
http://www.lowes.com/pd_44066-61896-44066___?productId=3551290&pl=1&Ntt=commander+tote
FLEX-Drain Corrugated Pipe with Filter Sock 4″ x 25′
http://www.lowes.com/pd_259814-62059-51510_0__?productId=1239339&Ntt=
10′ Orbit Polyethylene Riser Flex Pipe
http://www.lowes.com/pd_194543-74985-37153D_0__?productId=3132081&Ntt=
Apollo 3/4″ Polyethylene Drip Irrigation Elbow
http://www.lowes.com/pd_194590-61002-AIME34___?productId=50030694&pl=1&Ntt=apollo+3%2F4%26%2334%3B+polyethylene+drip+irrigation+elbow
Apollo 3/4″ PVC Drip Irrigation Female Adapter
http://www.lowes.com/pd_129318-61002-AIFFHT34___?productId=50030682&pl=1&Ntt=apollo+3%2F4%26%2334%3B+pvc+drip+irrigation+female+adapter
Miracle-Gro 64 qt. Moisture Control Potting Mix
http://www.lowes.com/pd_235180-446-76164300___?productId=3473889&pl=1&Ntt=miracle-gro+potting+soil
OUTTAKES VIDEO:
MUSIC:
Morning Mood by Grieg
(This song was downloaded from YouTube’s Audio Library.)
46 Comments
thanks so much for taking the time to link everything in the description! So helpful!
Can you connect the buckets together?
Great design, I think i will use this concept this summer.
Now I've seen other videos and people tend to add sand first b/c sand does a good job at wicking up water. What are your thoughts?
I may also add a little bit of coconut coir and bio char into the mix to reduce the amount of water that's necessary. Have you done this since the video?
Thanks Nick
You didn't cover the multi hose connections, say for connecting 5 containers together.
Are you aware of the safety of this plastic material coming in contact with wet soil? I mean, does the soil or standing water leach BPA or any other chemicals from the container? I would think you'd want a food grade plastic, or at least something that won't break down from all the acids in the soil.
So do you never have to water the top once the roots get to the bottom?
I made some out of the same totes 🙂 I drilled the outside of the containers about 5 inches high with about four drilled out spots. That way the water sits on the bottom all the time to upwick but it still drains enough to not flood. I wanted it that way because the black plastic outsides heat up a lot and it gives me a little more compost in the system because I pack them overly tight. I use a 2" pvc pipe with holes drilled in the sides to apply fertigation "liquid fertlizer". I have done this with old coolers in the past that people threw away but am now on the lookout for much larger containers. Heck would think you could do something like this with a kids swimming pool even…
bonnie plants and miracle grow.. you guys are some awesome gardeners.. must know a lot.. lmmfao
how do you "finish" both ends of the ADS flex drain pipe? so they retain the water once they are filled?
Excellent 'How-to video,' brother. I'm betting you're either active-duty or former-active military, as many of the skills and techniques I learned in the field were taught to me in exactly the same way you communicated in the video. I watched a dozen different vids on how to make a self-irrigating container garden, and yours is easily the best. You should consider doing more 'How-to' videos of this nature. Thank you.
P.S. Thank you for including the Lowe's part numbers, and I enjoyed your use of the Grieg piece. Good choice.
So, how does the water not pour straight out of the overflow pipe?
Great work man! What do you think about putting first layer of perlite over the hose maybe like 2 inch to act like sponge – moisture control?
I'm going to ask what everyone wants to know How long can these plants go without watering using this method?
For people in the third world. All you need to do is poke a 7 mm overflow hole or holes 6-8 inches from the level of your soil. Everything below the hole is water reserve. Regular soil can be used but I prefer coconut husk upto the level of the overflow hole because it holds water better than soil. You also bury half inch PVC pipe from the bottom upto few inches above the soil so that by dipping a stick in the pvc you will know the level of the water. I use this method for the roof top garden for ages now. Plants can surive in the scorching heat even I put the container beside my GI roof. The goal is to keep it simple. I use rice /fish washings and vegetable peels and other kitchen waste as fertilizer.
Aren't you suppose to put a liner in over that. ie weed mesh? Garden Australia show you how
Good
Liked the G-shock in the video. Cool watch!
Aren't you going to end up with 4" of mud at the bottom of your box? I like how you covered the pipe in fabric to keep the dirt out but I feel a better separation of water and soil is needed. Maybe 5" of gravel and then a fabric layer between gravel and soil?
Shouldnt you be using BPA free plastics so there is no leaching of chemicals?
I think this is the best design for self watering plants.. i get rid of extra layer we put above the water.. Excellentwork… keep it up !
Did they really put mint in that container with the other stuff 🤔
I believe the plastic will leach chemicals into the plants when it gets hot, unless it’s food grade plastic.
can you elaborate on why the drain hole and tube are necessary; I’m dumb.. thanks
You mean you put the soil straight in the water?That makes a muddy in the bottom around that pipe,don't you thinkso ?
Ill bet these folks spend $$ buying bottled water in BPA free bottles but think it's OK to put Chinese made sewer pipe into their growing system.
Oh chippy
I think you should have made drainage hole a bit higher, so the container would contain more water
Looks expensive lol
question, why is the mesh needed for the flex pipe?
Excellent explanation. Clever design. What do you call the collapsible tube with the sock on it? I want to make one of these to see how it works!
any updated videos? thanks
Much better design than other grow boxes where you cut the lid and a bunch of pieces of pipe to hold it up, creating a reservoir. This is way faster and definitely more efficient!
Great video ; how often do I have to spread water in the bucket and also how many minutes each time ?
It was a bit too fast
Is that a schnauzer I spotted!??
Genius
I'm so doing this at my mobile home. Been looking for cool diy solutions
how should timer be set?
Hello there! Love your video! I just wrote down your list of items to try an make one myself ❣️
I have a question: you stated in your description that when you left for 3 weeks on a vacation you had no access to a hose…. So, I'd very much like to know how you watered them? 🤔
Thank you so much!
#ThisGreenThumbIsANewbie
#StartedGrowingFromSeedImAProudPlantMama
How often do you have to refill the reservoir if you don't have a timer?
What the heck are you doing with the camera? It’s making me dizzy! Just leave it alone.
I really like the Design you built! Have you ever tried to saw directly to the substrate? is the moisture sufficient for germination without additional watern? Greetings from germany!
Any tips on how to clean up after your wife"s potty mouth. Blashpeming God is never cool.
Super helpful! Thank you!
are theses safe for edible foods and plants
Had you thought about daisy chaining the drains together and Feeds the next? Then just one hose and a timer