9 DIY Self-Watering Planter Ideas You'll Want To Try In The Garden

Self-watering planters are a useful invention often used to keep houseplants hydrated, but there's nothing stopping you from utlizing the same concepts in your garden or for your patio planters. Many people use these setups if they're forgetful plant owners or when they're planning on a vacation and will be away from home for an extended period. Self-irrigation is both convenient and practical for consistently watering gardens and patio plants, keeping them alive and well in your absence.

Many self-watering hacks keep plants alive using wicking systems, connecting the plant to a larger reservoir of water that slowly saturates the soil over time. So long as the reservoir is full, the pot waters itself, eliminating this responsibility of the plant owner. Other methods use timed watering systems, or simple seepage. Below are nine methods for self-irrigating your plants, which can be used for a variety of pots, including DIY garden planters made from common household items. They will require supplies from local hardware stores or around your home. Most of the ideas are budget-friendly, as well as being effective and safe to use on plants that like moist soil throughout the growing season and don't need to dry out between watering. 

Keep your potted plants happy and self-watered by simply connecting a bowl of water to your pot with a towel, wrapping the towel around your plant. Use a cotton or fabric towel, not paper. You may also need to tailor the towel size to that of your plants. This technique could be perfect for large planters and small pots on your patio. You can apply the same technique to indoor plants, but it might make a mess, in which case you can also use this unexpected hack in the bathtub to keep your plants watered while you're away.

IKEA's $30 RÄFFELBJÖRK vase is curved in a U-shape, its two small ends facing upwards. The RÄFFELBJÖRK happens to be the perfect shape to DIY a self-watering planter. It can hold two tiny net pots, or 3-inch plastic planters ($13.99 on Amazon for 50). Once properly connected, the pots and string cause capillary action that transports water upwards. @knotdude uses LECHUZA-PON, but you can achieve similar results with regular soil. Keep in mind that algae might grow in the base since the vase is semi-transparent and sunlight will filter through. If that's a concern, opt for an opaque vase (you can get similar ones on Amazon for $24.95).

If you purchase drinks in glass bottles with resealable lids, save the next container for your plants. The resealable lids can be made of cork, plastic, or metal — any type will do the trick. @potted_gem uses a screwdriver to bore through a cork stopper. For plastic or metal lids, an awl, punch, or soldiering iron could work. After placing it upside-down in the soil, the bottle should self-water for some time, depending on how much sun and heat your plant receives daily, potentially seeping out water for a few days to a few weeks.

You can also repurpose plastic bottles into self-watering tools. This trick can water your plants for up to a week, depending on how fast they absorb the moisture and the number of holes. Poke fewer holes for plants that don't need a lot of water, and more for thirsty species. If you have larger plants, you can place multiple plastic bottles in the soil around the pot to help evenly disperse the moisture. Algae can start to grow inside the bottles, but generally isn't harmful to plants, and might even give them a few extra nutrients.

If you don't want to worry about watering a new cutting or seedling regularly, connect a string to a tiny nursery pot and a disposable plastic cup. Place in a protected area out of direct sunlight (but with bright light), such as on a table on your veranda, keep an eye on the plastic cup, and refill as the water dissipates, so there is a constant supply for the plant. If your plant is self-propagated and didn't come in a nursery pot, you can buy a pack on Amazon for $4.99. Amazon also carries reusable plastic cups for $24.97 for a 12-pack.

Create a simple self-watering planter using Ziploc bags and capillary action by pinning a plastic baggie to the side of a pot or planter. This hack uses objects you probably already have around your home, including cotton string or twine, plastic sandwich or snack-size bags, and wooden clothespins. If you don't have clothespins, you can also pin the Ziploc or generic plastic bag to the side of the planter using chip or binder clips. We'd also recommend using slightly thicker twine than demonstrated by Ziploc's video, or opting for capillary wick cord (Amazon sells 150-foot lengths for $9.99).

Set up a self-watering planter for your vegetable garden in The Home Depot's $10.98 storage tote using just bricks, a PVC pipe, and burlap. Drilling and cutting the tote's lid allows it to be the divider between the soil and the water reservoir. If you want to make sure water can move up into the soil from the reservoir, even when the level drops, add in some wicks. You should also water the top of the soil occasionally to make sure it gets fully hydrate.

If there's a hose bibb near your outdoor planters, consider setting up a DIY raised bed watering system using ¾-inch valves and ½-inch PVC pipes (available at places like The Home Depot and Lowe's). If you need something less rigid, you can also use regular drip irrigation tubing (The Home Depot sells 50-foot lengths for $4.40), a head assembly with a pressure regulator and timer ($37.97 from The Home Depot) to make the system truly self-watering. Drip irrigation works well for planters and raised beds, as well as trees and shrubs.

If you prefer kit-style DIYs with all the pieces already included, consider Amazon's $32.99 Smart Solar Drip Irrigation Kit. This self-watering setup can sustain up to 15 plants, either in pots or even in the ground. If you fully charge it before use, the system should water for up to four weeks at a time. You can also purchase Amazon's $6.28 silicone sealant to seal the edges of the control box and keep rainwater out. A timed watering system like this is probably preferable to wicking methods for plants that need to dry out, as you have more control.