• Self-watering systems save time and water.Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
  
  Even busy gardeners manage to grow healthy, well-watered plants by creating their own plant-watering systems. These systems repurpose household items and use no electricity or fuel, making them eco-friendly and cost-effective. Turn existing potted and in-ground plants into self-watering plants without disturbing established root systems.
  
  

Drip Irrigation

• Drip irrigation adapts easily to a large- or small-scale garden as well as in-ground or potted plants. For any of these situations, simply drill 8 to 10 holes in the bottom of a clean, empty milk jug, soda or water bottle of any size. Bury the bottom half of the container about 4 inches from the base of the plant you want to water. Fill the container with water and screw on the cap. The water will drip from the bottom of the container directly into the soil, providing a moist, nutritious atmosphere for your plants. Simply refill the containers every week or so.
  
  

Self-Watering Herbs

• Start a self-watering herb garden with 20-ounce water or soda bottles. Cut the bottles apart where the curve of the bottle straightens out into the middle. Recycle the caps; you don't need them.
  
  Turn the top of each bottle upside-down and place a small square of window screen down inside. Slit the window screen and slide a 10-inch piece of woven oil lamp wick through the slit. Leave about an inch of wick above the screen and allow the rest to dangle below.
  
  Fill the bottom half of the bottle with water. Set the top into the bottom and fill the top of the bottle with soil and seeds or a seedling. The water travels up the wick, into the soil, keeping your herbs moist and happy.
  
  

Quick Fix

• If you're going on vacation and don't have time to make individual watering systems, gather all your plants around a very large bowl. Cut a piece of wick long enough to stretch from each plant into the bottom of the bowl. Push one end of each wick into the soil of one of your plants and suspend the other end in the bowl. Fill the bowl with water. This should keep your plants alive and happy while you're away.