DIY Watering Systems for Container Gardens
Container gardening is the perfect option for those with a green thumb but very little outdoor space. While a container garden can provide plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowering beauty, it can be a little higher maintenance than an open soil garden. Most of that maintenance comes in the form of watering.
How Often Do Container Gardens Need Watered?
Plants growing in containers require more frequent watering than those growing in the ground simply because they are constricted by the container themselves. The water they get in the soil is only in a very small space, while plants growing underground have access to a much larger space. Also, potting soil tends to hold and retain less water than regular soil. This just means you’ll need to keep a closer eye on container gardens and water them anytime the soil is dried out.
Depending on the weather and how much direct sun a container garden gets, you may need to water once or even twice a day. Add water when the soil gets dry and cracked or when the soil just below the surface is dry to the touch.
DIY Watering Systems for Container Gardens
Most of us just don’t have the time to water a container garden frequently. So, in order to get the most out of our potted plants, installing a watering system may be necessary. Let’s look at a few different options for making your own container garden watering system.
Drip Hose Irrigation
There are many drip irrigation kits available that will allow you to run a drip hose to all of your containers. These are extremely convenient in that you can water all of your different pots just by turning on a water faucet. But these systems can also be costly. Instead, consider repurposing an old garden hose.
  1. Connect the hose to your water source. Be sure you have the other end capped.
  1. Drape the hose across your containers. You may have to bunch them up in order to reach every container.
  1. Mark the hose in each container.
  1. Using an electric drill or hammer and nail, make a hole at each mark to allow water to drip from the hose into the container.
  1. Turn on the water and water every container at once! If you have a longer hose, make sure the water pressure is enough that water is reaching the end.
Plastic Water Bottles
Old plastic water bottles make the perfect slow-waterer for container plants. This is also a great option for watering when you’re gone. This method works better if you only have a few containers, but can still do the trick for larger container gardens. You’ll just need more water bottles. You can use any size of water bottle or even a plastic milk jug so that you’ll have to fill it less frequently.
  1. Using an electric drill or hammer and small nail, make an 1/8” hole in the lid of a small water bottle or the bottom of a milk jug.
  1. Fill the bottle with water and screw the lid on tightly.
  1. Invert the bottle and slightly bury it in a small hole near the plant. If using a jug, just push the dirt up around the base of the jug where the hole is.
  1. The water will slowly drip out over time and keep the soil moist. Refill when the bottle/jug is empty.
Water Wicker
This method will allow you to water multiple containers from one water source. It uses a cotton rope to wick water from a source into the soil of your container. This may not provide enough water for those that really drink it down, so be sure to check that the soil in your container is moist enough.
  1. Cut a cotton rope into lengths that will reach from each container to a central water source.
  1. Bury a couple of inches of one end of the rope in the soil near your plants. You may use a pencil to poke the end of the rope even deeper.
  1. Place the other end of the rope in the container of water, making sure it can reach the bottom.
  1. Fill the water container and keep it full. Check to be sure there is enough water getting to your plants by checking that soil is moist just below the surface.
With the right watering system in place, your container garden can be as low maintenance as you like. Your plants will thrive without extra upkeep from you, especially during the hottest and driest parts of summer.