Plants need some tender loving and care for them to grow well and abundant and making self watering planters DIY makes it hassle-free to tend to them.
You can use common things you find at home to make an effective self-watering system that keeps out the trouble of having to water your plants regularly.
Best DIY Self Watering Ideas
#1 Upcycled Water Bottle (Simple and Cheap)
Don’t throw those water bottles you have lying at home. You can turn that supposed trash into a recycled self-watering garden system for your flowers and herb.
Cut the water bottle in half and place the top section upside down. Fill the bottom of the bottle with water, and it will be an excellent self-watering planter for your seedlings and houseplants.
Try out this project, perfect for your indoor plants when you have to go away for a vacation.
#2 Upcycled Empty Glass Bottle
If you have empty beer bottles or wine bottles at home, there’s no need to throw them away in the trash. You can also make the same self-watering planter system you did with the empty water bottles.
It may take more than scissors or a knife to cut them up, but empty glass bottles are also perfect for your seedlings and houseplants. Plus, they give that rustic effect that would be perfect for your herbs growing in the windowsill.
Check out this DIY project here.
#3 Planter Conversion Using an Empty Bottle Water
If you have some potted plants that you always forgot to water, there’s no need to buy those fancy and pricey self-watering planter conversions. You can easily make your own using those empty water bottles in the kitchen.
The bigger the water bottle or reservoir you use, the longer you don’t need to bother to check your plants if they are getting enough water. It’s a perfect and cheap setup if you are going for a week-long vacation. Check out the steps now.
#4 Self-Watering Containers using Empty Buckets
If you have large buckets sitting empty and unused in the house, it’s time to upcycle them into convenient self-watering containers for your vegetables and other plants.
You need to stack 2 empty containers with the bottom one holding water, while the other has holes in them with a hanging cotton string. The water will seep right into the string, feeding your seedlings and plants.
It’s a simple and hassle-free way to start an indoor garden setup if you have limited space. Click here to learn more.
#5 DIY Wicking Container
If you want and ingenious way of starting an indoor garden for your favorite veggies and herbs, making this DIY wicking container is simple and cheap. All you need are two empty plastic containers, a potting soil, and some seedlings.
Unlike plastic bottles, this wicking container can hold more plants and vegetables. Plus, you don’t need to concern yourself about watering them frequently. Create one from base on this video tutorial.
#6 Bottle Watering Globes with Wine Bottles
If you want to preserve your herbs and plants while you are away, take out that empty wine bottle you have in the cabinet. Fill that one with water and stick that into the soil of your potted plant at a 90-degrees angle.
This watering globe is perfect for keeping your plants moisturized without overwatering them. Smaller beer bottles also work well for this setup if you want a DIY watering globe for your smaller plants.
Check out the steps here.
#7 Self-Watering Foam Box
If you are fond of DIYs for your garden at home, this foam garden box is one of the easiest you can make. It’s a simple and cheap DIY self-watering system that you can make from unused foam boxes and pipes for a reservoir.
Plus, it gives you enough space to grow all your favorite veggies and homes so you can get them fresh for every dish you want to cook. What’s even better is the fitted reservoir that takes out the hassle of having to water your plants daily.
Check out this tutorial.
#8 Self-Watering Planters Using Mason Jars
Mason jars look pretty, but they can also be more functional than simply holding your favorite juice or fruit shake. You can transform them into cute self-watering planters for your herbs in the kitchen.
This DIY project is incredibly simple, and it will make planting seedlings much easier. You don’t require having a green thumb for a successful fresh herbs garden at home when you have this small and subtle self-watering planter.
Get the steps here.
#9 Self-Watering Water Cooler
Those water coolers you have don’t have to sit unused in the garage or the basement. You can upcycle them for a more hassle-free backyard garden. Water cooler bottles may look unimpressive, but if you make them into self-watering systems, they can be your next favorite classy planters.
It makes a perfect self-watering setup for growing tomatoes or other root crops in the backyard. Check out this tutorial to make one.
#10 Self-Water Planter Using a Milk Jug
There are probably some milk jugs waiting to be thrown in the trash if you have kids at home. But wait, because these milk jugs can be some impressive and useful planters too, but not like any pot for your seedlings.
You can cut them in half, stack them with the top portion upside down, fill the bottom part with water, and start planting your seedlings.
You can even get the kids to paint the milk jugs to make them personalized. Check out the steps here.
#11 Self-Watering System with Cotton Threads
Succulents don’t need much watering, but if you are going on a week-long vacation and no one can tend to them, this DIY setup is perfect for you. Those small succulent planters will stay moisturized without overwatering that will rot your plants.
All you need is a string of cotton thread connecting the planter to a water source. Water will seep through the thread and into the soil, keeping your plants hydrated.
Visit this for the steps.
#12 Siphon Tube Self-Watering System
This DIY project is another simple and cheap way to water your plants without much hassle. All you need is a clear tube attached to a bucket or bottle of water on one end and the other on the potted plant.
You don’t need any machinery for this one as the tube can work like a siphon, sending a small but consistent amount of water to the soil and plant. You don’t need to water the plants daily unless the reservoir needs a refill.
Check out the inspiration here.
#13 Self-Watering from Air Conditioner’s Recycled Water
You don’t have to spend tons of cash on a self-watering system for your backyard and water usage. You can recycle the water coming out from your air conditioner, which means less water consumption to keep your garden watered.
Plus, you can attach a pipe with tiny holes on it to the condensation pump so it can water the plants without you supervising it.
It might need you some tools and planning, but it’s incredibly simple and cheap to do. Make this DIY by following this tutorial.
#14 Self-Watering System from Old Barrels
If you have old wooden crates and barrels at home, there’s no need for them cramping your storage space. Get them out into the garden and make a little DIY project to turn them into useful planters.
However, this project isn’t just a simple planter for your vegetables.
It’s a self-watering system using those barrels and some pipes connected to a water reservoir. That takes out so much hassle of watering your plants daily.
Make one out of this simple tutorial.
#15 Beer Bottle Self-Watering Planter for Herbs
After a barbecue party with the family, you might be thinking of what to do with those empty beer bottles. Fortunately, you can turn them into a useful small water globe for your herb garden.
That way, you can keep your herbs and seedling watered regularly without much checking in on them unless the beer bottles need some refills. Grab the steps here.
#16 Wine Bottle Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is a fantastic way to keep the plants watered down to the roots. And you don’t need some expensive system for them, as you can use those empty wine bottles sitting at home.
Make this simple DIY by following these steps.
#17 Glass Mug Self-Watering System
If you have those tiny planters that sit perfectly well on top of your coffee mug, you can attach a cotton string at the bottom of the planter and place it on a mug filled with water.
What you get is a simple DIY self-watering planter. Make this little project with this DIY tutorial.
#18 Tin Can Self-Watering Planters
If you’re thinking of throwing away those tin tubs, don’t. You can upcycle them into self-watering planters for your succulents or herb seedlings.
Follow the steps here.
#19 Watering Systems for Tomatoes
If you need a water container for your tomatoes’ drip system, you don’t need to buy the expensive kind. You can use empty soda bottles for that.
Check out the inspiration here.
#20 Upside-Down Self-Watering Containers
Those upside-down plants need some tender loving and care too. Ensure that they have enough water by attaching a simple self-watering system using pipes attached to a water container.
Read this to know how to make this DIY project.
#21 Self-Watering System for Any Pot
Any pot can benefit from a self-watering system, and it doesn’t have to be expensive too. This DIY project is super easy using a soda bottle with holes on the sides and placed at the pot’s center.
Check out this DIY project to make this.
Whether you tend to forget watering the plants or if you’re going out of the house for several days, a self-watering planter system will ensure that your plants get enough water. These self-watering planters DIY projects are simple and cheap ways to do that.
