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September 24, 2018Make Your Flower Boxes Self-Watering
At Shed Windows and More we have a wonderful selection of window flower boxes. It’s simple to add a DIY self-watering system to any flower box or planter box and not have to deal with watering the flowers at your outdoor shed. With minimal cost and effort, you can create plant watering globes that work as a wonderful solution for keeping a container garden green and lush. They will even save you some trouble while you are away for a few days. You don’t need to break the bank on extravagant watering globes or plant nannies like you might see on television, and you will no longer need to ask a friend to drop by and take care of your plants while you are on vacation.
Build Your Own Watering Globes
Both environmentally sustainable and budget friendly, recycled plastic and wine bottles can be easily transformed into self-watering globes that release water as needed by the plants. Likewise, self-made waterers are in no way lower quality compared to the watering globes on sale in stores, and they are often better because of their ability to hold more water.
Self-watering globes all generally use the same concept in their construction. The container filled with water is turned upside down and inserted into the plant pot, which allows the water to pass through tiny openings. This prevents the plant pot from simply pouring it out. When the soil becomes dry it takes the right amount of water from the container. This process is a rather efficient, easy, and effective way to keep plants healthy and vibrant.
How To Make a Self Watering Globe
There are two simple ways to make your own plant waterers with materials from your recycling bin, such as empty plastic water and glass wine bottles. With these systems in place, you will ensure that your plants are never thirsty while you’re away.
Recycled Plastic Bottles:
The first self-watering possibility involves creating watering globes from plastic bottles. Plastic bottles are both versatile and easy to work with, but you can try different techniques and decide which one suits you best. Next we will explain the two options for making your own recycled watering globes from plastic bottles. You can use any old bottle, regardless of its size, for this project.
First, you can try this simple idea, which requires empty plastic bottles with caps, a candle, and an awl or nail. The first step is lighting the candle and heating the awl in the flame. This will allow you to pierce the plastic bottle much easier. Next, make several small holes around the neck of the bottle, fill it with water, and screw the cap on tightly. Then turn the plastic bottle upside down and stick it into the soil until it covers the holes once you have finished all the other steps.The other option for this idea involves removing the cap. Cover the opening of the bottle with gauze and fix it to its neck with a rubber band. This will allow it to stop the soil from entering inside the bottle. Finally, fill the bottle with water and stick the neck into the soil.
Recycled Wine Bottles:
You can also use old glass wine bottles for this project. Rather than getting rid of old glass wine bottles, they can be transformed into fancy plant waterers. All you need to do is poke holes in the screw caps, and they often look great in larger pots. First, use a hammer and awl to make small holes in the cap. Next, Fill the bottle with water all the way and place it in the pot the same way you would position plastic bottles. It’s a good idea to place the bottle between two stakes in order to make sure that your watering globe does not fall, which often happens with wine bottles due to their weight.
If a screw cap is lost or unavailable, you can always replace it with duct tape. This procedure is the same, as you will create small holes in the center of the duct tape strip. If you want to get crafty, you can decorate the bottle using spray paint or mosaic tile. No matter which option you choose, your homemade glass globe will get lots of use as an attractive and effective watering device.
If you plan to be away from home longer than a few days, try using bigger plastic or wine bottles. Add water each time before you add the bottle, and make sure to test the watering globe the day before you leave. You will want to ensure that no leakage exists and that no bubbles are rising to the top. If you notice such signs, it is likely that the mouth of the bottle has not sealed properly against the soil. To fix this, take the bottle out of the soil, fill it again with water, and insert it in the moist soil. Make sure the bottle is fixed near the edge so that it will rest against the pot. These simple ideas will effectively keep your flower box beautiful and healthy while you are not around to tend to it.
Shed Windows and More is your go to source for great DIY ideas for outdoor structures, garages, barns, everything from office sheds to garden sheds, and a whole lot more. If you are looking for windows in hard to find sizes, we are your go to source for double pane, single pane, decorative windows, and awning windows in hard to find sizes.