Upside-Down Hanging Self-Watering Earth-Filled Box!

Step 3 Make the Planters

The basics of the planter is a bucket with two holes in the bottom. One hole for the plant. One hole for the wick. When you cut the holes, cut them smaller than you think they should be. If you don't get it perfect, it's much easier to widen the hole. I used a rotary tool to cut the bigger hole and a soldering iron to make the smaller hole.

Do the following for each wastebasket/bucket (hereafter referred to as "the planter"):

• Look at the bottom of the planter.
• Cut a hole for the plant 1" in diameter in the center of the bottom of the planter. (fig. 3a)
• Cut a hole for the wick 3/8" in diameter near the first hole in the bottom of the planter. (fig. 3a)
• Based on other guides I've seen on the internet, I chose to raise the plant above the level of the hole. I suppose you could skip it. If you don't want to raise the plant from the hole like I did, skip this step. Glue a 2" length of 1" diameter PVC pipe to the inside of the plant hole so the entire length of PVC is on the inside of the bucket. Use lots of glue so it's sturdy and seal it well. (fig. 3b)
• Screw the threaded end of the 3/8" ID quick-connect male connector into the wick hole from the outside of the planter so the quick-connect end is on the outside. (fig. 3c)
• Seal this connection with hot glue or some kind of sealant.
• Get half of the wick into the 6" length of 3/8" ID hose (fig. 3d) and connect it to the outside of the planter, threading the other half of the wick into the planter through the wick hole. (fig. 3e)

Your planter should now have a bare wick sticking up 5" inside and a hose with the other half of the wick, sticking out of the bottom.

• Attach the quick-connect tee connector to the end of the hose, so the connector looks like an upside-down letter "T." For the last planter, substitute the tee connector with the quick-connect elbow.

Now to make the aeration tubes so the roots can breathe... (you can skip these steps if you like, but I think this helps the plants)

• Put a bunch of 1/4" diameter holes in the 12" length of 1-1/4" diameter PVC pipe. I used my soldering iron.
• Put a 1/2" diameter hole in the end cap
• Cover this hole with a small piece of mesh. Glue it in place on the inside of the end cap. This will help keep away the mosquitoes if the planter has standing water inside. Set this aside until you are ready to insert the plant..

Comments

[JJungJr]

This is a pretty good plan. I have made my own 'topsy turvy' planters out of 5 gal buckets . . . the plant is put through the large hole in the center, 1" in this instructable. To help keep the plant in the bucket, I took a regular kitchen sponge, any color, and cut it in half. I then cut one of the halves nearly in half again, leaving about a half inch or so connecting the two ends See photo 1. I then used this slit sponge to help support the root ball by placing it against the bottom of the bucket (on the inside) and put the stem in the center see photo 2. It also has the advantage of telling me when the planter is dry by feeling the sponge at the hole. Here are a few pics to help you visualize what I have done. I included my multi planter with green pepper on the left, cilantro in the center, cucumber on the right and tomato on the bottom.

[drwarm]

How does the dirt stay in the basket? ie why doesn't it just fall out the hole in the bottom? Is it because you make a small circle in the foam/gravel etc for the stem of the plant to go through but the rest of the dirt just sits on top? I don't really get why then you have a 1/4" hole (plant hole) for the stem to come through. Sorry it might be really obvious!

[Big Ugly Mich]

I've never done this myself, but I'm told you plant your tomatoes in it, care for them for a week or so, then flip the basket over AFTER the root ball forms so the root ball can hold the dirt in the bucket.

[velvel]

I guess the dirt stays in the basket because it "just does." The loose bits fall out when you first put the plant in and then everything else is just stuck. The dirt sticks together a lot better than sand in an hourglass. I'm sure more bits fall out over time, but nothing to jeopardize the plant.

[YotaTruck]

In his design he puts a PVC pipe "collar" around the hole the plant passes through. So things can't easily get washed out.