How to Make a Self-Watering Garden Planter
- 1). Drill holes in three concentric rings in the sides of the plastic food storage container to turn it into a wicking basket. Space each hole 1 inch from its neighbor. Each ring should be offset from the one next to it.
- 2). Turn one of the buckets onto its top. Exchange the ¼-inch drill bit for the 3-¼-inch spade bit. Drill a hole in the center of the bucket's base using the spade bit.
- 3). Place the ¼-inch drill bit back into the drill. Drill holes around the bottom of the bucket surrounding the 3-¼-inch hole. Space the ¼-inch holes in concentric rings around the bucket. Each ring should be offset from the previous ring. Each hole should be at least ½ inch away from its neighbor.
- 4). Take the ¼-inch drill bit out of the drill and place the 1-¼-inch spade bit in the drill in its place. Place the food storage container bottom side down in the bottom of the upright bucket that has no holes in it. Turn the upside-down bucket upright and place it into the other container on top of the food storage container.
- 5). Hold the stacked containers up to the light to locate the bottom of the inner bucket. Mark this location on the side of the outer container with a pencil.
- 6). Drill a hole in the side of the outer bucket with the spade bit just below your pencil mark. This hole will be the location that you use to add water to the container.
- 7). Fill the inner bucket with potting soil. Your container should be ready for planting.
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