As someone who enjoys propagating plants, I frequently find myself in need of a small self-watering pot. The smallest self-watering pots I have found on Amazon are 12 – 2.5″ for $28.99 ($2.42 each) and 20 – 3″ for $21.99 ($1.10 each). The prices aren’t bad, but the inner pots are opaque and I can’t see the roots of the plant. Also, there are times I need larger or even smaller pot; so I make my own.
Everyone at my house knows to check with me before throwing out any clear plastic containers. If you can find two that fit together properly, you can make your own self-watering pot. The “inner pot” must sit firmly inside an outer “cache pot” with enough space at the bottom for a reservoir. I like a reservoir of 2″-4″ deep. If the inner pot doesn’t allow for drainage, holes can be added with an awl, drill, or soldering iron. You will also need wicking to draw the water up to the substrate. Nylon or polyester will work better/last longer than cotton. Cotton is organic and will eventually be prone to rotting and holding bacteria.
As you plan your pot, keep in mind how much moisture your plant can handle around its roots.
- Keeping the wick low in the inner pot will keep your substrate dryer. Do this if you have a plant that is prone to root rot.
- Looping the wick up into your substrate will make your substrate wetter. Do this for plants that prefer a moister substrate.
- The thicker the wick, the more moisture that will be drawn up into your substrate. I use thinner wicks for smaller pots and thicker wicks for larger pots.
Materials Needed
Fortunately, the materials needed to make self-watering pots for seedlings and cuttings is not expensive. I make:
- 1″ self-watering pots for 42¢ each
- 3″ self-watering pots for 53¢ each
- 1″ self-watering pots for 66¢ each
1″ Mini Self-Watering Pot
Plastic Shot Cups (Dollar Tree) $2.00/24 ct
Plastic Cordial Cups (Dollar Tree) $2.00/6 ct
3″ Self-Watering Pot
3″ Clear Nursery Pots (Amazon) $18.99/40 ct
9 oz Plastic Cups (Dollar Tree) $1.50/28 ct
4″ Self-Watering Pot
4″ Clear Nursery Pots (Amazon) $16.99/30 ct
16 oz Plastic Cups (Dollar Tree) $2.00/24 ct
Capillary Wick Cord
100′ 1/4″ Wick Cord (Amazon) $8.99/ 7.5¢/inch
30′ 1/8″ Wick Cord (Amazon) $4.95/ 1.4¢/inch
- The cut ends of wick cord will fray easily. Simply hold the end near a flame to melt the fibers together. (There is no need to actually burn the cord, just hold it close and let it melt.)
- Make sure both ends of the wick lay on the bottom of the cache pot. This will allow all of the water to be drawn up into the substrate.
- The length of your wick will vary depending on the height and width of the reservoir. I use 6″ for my 1″ pot and 8″ for the 3″ and 4″ pots.
All materials needed to make self watering pots can be purchased on Amazon.com, but Dollar Tree has better prices. It’s possible to buy everything from Dollar Tree, but you’ll need to add holes to your inner pots.
The nursery pot prices I’ve noted above are for Homenote Nursery Pots. I really like these because the holes are small enough to hold in most of the substrate. There are many less expensive brands, but they have larger holes. Greenpara Nursery Pots are also very good. Just find what works for you.
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