growtohealme's Self-Watering Pots

growtohealme;3351657 said:

*Self-Watering Method by G2HM (Special for Ohioboy)

You guys know how much I looove the self-watering method. I had the idea of reproducing my old self-watering pots into rectangle 3 gallon containers to max my space.

I scouted out well produced file storage containers (plastic) because their handles are super reinforced when I lift these ladies. Now I bought file storage containers because you need a lid where the container can sit in, but be supported by criss-crossed ridges. See picture. The container should not sit flat on the lid because you don’t want the container to actually sit too long in the water. Stagnate water is no Bueno. As you can see in this lid, there are supporting side ridges that are very sturdy.

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So I bought storage solution containers with lids and soldered holes and appropriate slits into the bottom of the container to insert microfibre fabric strips that I use for maximum absorbancy and mold free. I cover the clear containers with black material to protect the roots.

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These microfibre clothes are cheap but are super absorbant. Regular material doesn’t work, it must be special for water absorbtion. Then I place the lid under the container, upside down, where I can pour water in and have it absorbed by the strip and up to the roots near the inside bottom of the container.-

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The only way you can make this work for growing green, is that you must wait for your plant to drink up all the water/feeding that you poured into the lid FIRST before you can feed her again. The only way self-watering works is if you let the plant show you that it’s hungry is through an empty lid. “May I have some more Sire.”

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After I have melted in all the holes plenty enough to cover the entire bottom of the container; you place the microfibre strip through the middle of the container you want to put it on an incline so I used a small lid as a place holder for the strip. Because, you want the water to be absorbed by the strip and up to the early roots and consecutive root building thereafter.

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The concept is to avoid bugs, avoid over-watering, avoid bad habits and so on. Feeding plants from the bottom allows the plant to be the leader and direct me when the lid under the container is empty, then I just carefully keep refilling as I watch the clones succeed.

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WHY self-watering containers?

*I can leave my house for the 2-3 days and I know my plants won’t dry out.

*My brain doesn’t know when to stop watering. So I created this system in order to water 1 litre from the bottom and 1 litre top watering method. For some reason, my brain doesn’t understand details. I need a routine and fail-safe ideas to make this logic practical.

*When you drench you can use the run-off water caught in the lid for self-watering method and reuse all those nutrients.

*You don’t overfeed because the plant is running the show.

*No lifting pots every day, only if you have to flush. But the handles on these file containers are Schwarzenegger tested and approved…lol.

*Avoid bugs, overwatering, underwatering, distribute nutes uniformly, maximize space with rectangle containers.

*You get to use a soldering iron and that is mucho fun.

*I’m happy to report that my CBD clones are enjoying their self-watering digs.

I apologize in advance if I don't make sense. My brain is fuzzy and it's hard to explain the madness of my methods.

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