Self Watering House Plant (with Water Level Indicator)

I like the idea of a self watering plant so I thought I would make one. This is the first one I made.

Step 1: Make the Water Wick

What you will need

1 Ceramic flower pot.

2 A small plastic container that will fit only 1/2 way to the bottom of the Pot. the space underneath will be the water reservoir.

3 An old cotton sock this will be the "Water Wick".

4 Plastic tube. I used an old bubble wand tube. this will be the fill tube also you need to be able to see through it for the water level indicator.

5 A plastic bottle cap just a little larger than the plastic tube.this will seal the fill tube so bugs don't get in to lay eggs in the water.

6 A plant, I had a small potted flower.

First I cut a hole in the center of the plastic container with a 3/4 spade drill bit. Next I split the top of the sock in half. I put the sock through the hole with the split end to the top and the other end long enough to touch the bottom of the pot when put together.

Step 2: Make the Fill Tube

The pot I used had a drain hole so I sealed it up with some hot glue making sure the glue over lapped the hole on both sides and tested for leaks with some water. Next I cut another hole with the spade bit at the edge of the plastic container and then made it bigger with a step drill bit until the fill tube fit snug. I then cut the fill tube to the height of the pot and drilled holes all around the base. To make the cap fit in the fill tube I heated it with a heat gun then used the end of the bubble wand handle to widen it, I put the cap in the tube then reheat it to shrink around the cap. Rotate the cap in the tube as it cools so that it will not be to tight. Lastly I put the fill tube through the hole on the side until it touched the bottom of the pot and used a zip tie through 2 small holes in the side of the container to keep it in place.

"In the last photo I had not cut the fill tube yet it was just a test fit".

Step 3: Make the Level Indicator

To make the level indicator, I filled the pot with water then took a plastic drinking straw and heated one end with a lighter then pinched it closed "be careful not to heat it to much or you will burn your fingers". Next flatten the straw at the sealed tip in the opposite direction "see the second picture" I did this so the straw will not stick to the sides of the fill tub. I put the straw in the fill tube and let it float then cut it off at the top of the fill tube "just under the line where the bottle cap fits". I then sealed the cut end the same as the other end.

Step 4: Planting & Watering

I filled the pot with some potting soil "I used seeding soil it works well for wicking water. Make sure the 2 pics of sock comes up to just under the top of the soil level and are on the sides of the pot. Now I Transplanted a a small flower I had and filled the reservoir with water / plant food mix. Lastly I put on the seal cap.

As the water gets used up the level indicator drops "I find I need to fill it about once a month"

Step 5: Growing

I put it in a spot where it got some nice afternoon sun. As you can see it grew well "I planted it in the Fall and had nice flowers all Winter". Also I added some small pebbles on top of the soil for a nice top cover.

This build was well worth the time and effort.