How to Make a Self-Irrigating Pot for Houseplants

One of the advantages of having house plants is that they can help to purify the air indoors. However, keeping house plants healthy can be challenging, as they require regular watering. To make things easier, some plant growers have developed self-irrigating pots.

These pots feature a water reservoir that automatically provides the plant with the necessary moisture.

As a result, self-irrigating pots can help keep house plants healthy and reduce the time and effort required to care for them. In addition, self-irrigating pots can help to prevent overwatering, which can lead to problems such as root rot. For these reasons, self-irrigating pots are an innovative solution for anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of having house plants without all the hassle.

Self-Irrigating Pot for House Plants

Self-irrigating pots or pots with a water reservoir have a huge advantage: you do not have to guess when to water your plant; simply water whenever you see that the water meter is at its minimum position.

The bottom of the pot has a water reserve, and water from that reserve arrives at the roots by capillarity.

The problem is that it’s hard to find appropriate self-irrigating pots in the trade: usually, they are too big or too small, and often, they are pretty expensive. Therefore, it is helpful to make such a self-irrigating pot yourself.

And you do not need to be a champion at DIY, it requires little equipment and skill. Instructions for making a self-irrigating pot are:

• First, you will need a pot with a hole in the bottom for drainage, a plastic bottle, some pieces of cloth or sponge, and some soil.
• Cut the bottle in half and ensure that the edges are smooth, so there are no sharp edges.
• Place the cloth or sponge inside the bottom half of the bottle.
• Place the bottom half of the bottle upside down in the pot, with the cloth or sponge hanging down into the hole in the bottom of the pot.
• Fill the pot with soil, and pack it firmly around the bottle.
• Fill the reservoir with water and place the plant in the pot.
• The plant will now be able to draw water up through the cloth or sponge as needed. When the reservoir is empty, simply refill it with water.

Advantages of A Self-Irrigating Pot

For many of us, keeping houseplants alive can be a real challenge. We either forget to water or drench them, leading to wilted or yellow leaves. One way to avoid this problem is to invest in a self-irrigating pot.

These pots come with a built-in reservoir that slowly releases water to the roots of the plant as needed. As a result, your plants will always have the perfect amount of moisture, and you won’t have to worry about over- or underwater them.

In addition, self-irrigating pots can help to prevent root rot, a common problem caused by too much or too little water. With a self-irrigating pot, you can finally enjoy the beauty of healthy houseplants without any hassles.

All plants need water to survive, but some require more moisture than others. The amount of water a plant needs depends on several factors, including the type of plant, the climate it is growing in, and the soil conditions. Some plants, such as cacti and succulents, are adapted to dry conditions and can withstand long periods without water.

Other plants, such as ferns and mosses, require constant moisture and will quickly die if they are allowed to dry out.

Plant roots absorb water from the soil through a process called capillarity. This will enable them to take in water even when the soil is dry. As long as some moisture is available, roots will continue to absorb water until the plant has the needed amount. This process ensures that plants always get the necessary water, even searching for it.

Less Frequent Watering

Watering is one of the most tedious and time-consuming tasks of being a plant owner. Depending on the type of plant, some need to be watered every other day, some once a week, and others even less frequently. But what if there was a way to water your plants less often?

Thanks to self-irrigating pots, you can now water your plants only once every two weeks, or even once a month in some cases.

These pots have a water reservoir that slowly releases water to the plant’s roots as needed. As a result, you can save time and effort in watering your plants, freeing up your schedule for more important things. Whether a busy professional or a busy parent, self-irrigating pots are a great way to make your life a little bit easier.

You Can Leave for A Holiday without Fear of Your Plants Dying

One of the best things about self-irrigating pots is that you can go away for extended periods without worrying about your plants dying from lack of water. Simply water your plants to the maximum level before you leave, and the pot will automatically release just the right amount of water to keep your plants alive and healthy.

This is especially useful if you’re going on a long trip or taking an extended vacation, as it takes one less thing off your to-do list. Not to mention, self-irrigating pots are also great for busy professionals or anyone who doesn’t have a lot of time for plant care. So if you’re looking for a low-maintenance way to keep your plants alive and healthy, self-irrigating pots are the way to go.

Feed

The quantity and frequency of fertilizer used in the water is determined by the plant.

The tree’s leaves don’t wilt until the air temperature dips below 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and it can tolerate some frost damage. It is also resistant to various diseases. This adds up to a significant amount of money saved over time due to less maintenance required. Its height gradually increases as it ages, reaching heights around 25 feet at maturity.

I’d advise using half the fertilizer’s recommended dilution for cacti and succulents.

• One pot without holes in the base
• The water reserve at the bottom of the pot has been expanded into clay pellets.
• Potting soil
• Coco peat (optional)
• A piece of PVC pipe
• A wooden stick
• A cork or a piece of Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene or polystyrene foam)
• A handsaw

1. Make two tubing cuts at the same height as the pot with a handsaw.
2. Make two cuts on either side of the tube’s bottom to form a V-shaped notch. Water should flow through freely, but the clay pellets should not be able to pass.
3. Place the tubes next to each other on the bottom of the pot, with notches at the bottom.
4. 5-10 cm of clay pebbles should be placed on top of the root ball.
5. Place the plant on top of the layer of clay pellets, with the root ball slightly below the rim of the container.
6. If desired, fill the container with more potting soil, but add some coco peat.
7. This is your water meter.
8. Insert a wooden stick into a piece of cork or Styrofoam so it fits without rubbing in the PVC pipe.
9. Insert the water level meter in one of the 2 PVC tubes in the pot and cut the stick flush with the upper edge of the tube.
10. This is the minimum level of the water meter.
11. Mark the wooden stick at a height that is approximately equal to the size of the layer of clay pellets.
12. Now pour water into the other tube until the marking of the water level meter arrives at the upper edge of the first tube.
13. The first time, fertilizer is not needed: the potting soil contains enough nutrients for approximately a month.
14. After that, you may add liquid fertilizer to the water with each watering.
15. Your plant is now ready to be put in place.
16. You can easily see whether the water meter (the stick with cork) is at its minimum level and you need to water the plant.

Conclusion

Self-irrigating pots are a great way to make your life easier regarding plant care. You can simply water the plants to the maximum level before you leave, and the pot will automatically release just the right amount of water to keep your plants alive and healthy.

This is especially useful if you’re going on a long trip or taking an extended vacation, as it takes one less thing off your to-do list. Not to mention, self-irrigating pots are also great for busy professionals or anyone who doesn’t have a lot of time for plant care. So if you’re looking for a low-maintenance way to keep your plants alive and healthy, self-irrigating pots are the way to go.