Self watering planter - Homemade "Earthbox"

The small trial version of the selfwatering is working fine. I didn't have to water my plant for almost 4 days and the soil is still moist.

Just on time I saw the plastic storage tote at the hardware store is on sale. It's a pure plastic and I heard that it's better food grade than the recycle one so I decided to give it a try since $4.99 is not going to be a big lost.

The question about if it's safe to grow food or not is always haunted me. I stayed up nights to do to researching but I couldn't find the right answers. Seem like most of people just pick the name they trust and go with it. There is no scientific testing or proves so I decided to go with the one I got until I can buy the real Earthbox.

The whole material costs were $4.99 + $2.40 + $0.90= $9.19

I reused the nursery pot from the plant I bought before and drill a  lot of holes around it.

I based on the bottom of the tote and cute the lid bigger than the bottom in hope it fit into 1/3 of the tote's height.

I did the same with the pot.

This is the part that required the most labors. It took me almost an hour to drill all the holes. My boyfriend helped me and he did it faster. My arms were so sore after this ;-)

I watched a lot of video about DIY selfwatering container and I decided to go with this design - drill a hole on the side by the level where the soil touched the water. And I insert a L shape pipe which can be found at the hardware store. This will be the place where I refill water.

Th pipe were cut to the height of where the lid fit into the tote.

And then I put everything together like this. At this part, you may wonder why I started with a green tote and now it turned to a blue one. Well, my boyfriend came to help and his manly hand brake the green tote ;-). Lucky that I bought two totes because they were on sale. They are the same side so I just used everything I made so far on this blue tote.

I also drill some hole at the same level with the water pipe so when I fill water, I know it filled if I see water come out from these holes. They also served as air circulation and preventing overwater - as I learned from internet.

I packed soil mixed into the pot first. I used Miracle Grow because I have plenty of them left and I mixed it with organic compose as the Earthbox website advice. 45% + 45% + 10% organic fertilizer. I usually don't use much fertilizer on my plant because I am trying to be as organic as possible and I don't really care if I will get big fruits or vegetables. But since it was an experience, I tried to follow there method.

After packed all the soil, I made a fertilizer strip as Eartbox method.

The clear tube were insert into the L shape tube for easy water filling.

After filled all the soil, I gave it a good water.

I took my Zebra tomato plant that I started two weeks ago with an upside down planter and put it into the selfwatering planter. I concerned about the bag I use for upside down method is not food safe because of its coating. The Zebra tomato will straight itself back after several in this position - I hoped. I also took the bell chili and Japanese eggplant out of the upside down planter since they didn't look so good  in where they were before. I tested different plants on this container to see which plant will grow the best. I had the zuchini and brusel sprout also on other planters to compare.

I reused the left of the lid to made the cover. You don't have to do this but it help prevent the lost of water.

I decided to drill more holes near the water tube so it would be easier to monitor the water from this side. It took a while to fill the water reservoir with my small watering can.

That's it! It took me about an hour at the hardware store to look for all the part because I loved spending time there looking at stuffs ;-). And then other less than two hour for the rest. I don't mind do it again but the plastic quality is my biggest concern. I think I will save money to buy the real Eartbox if I see this method work out for my small space. Eartbox material are UV protection and food grade so I don't have to worry about my foods got poisoned from leads.

Updated for today! I was worrying about the container will get heat up and release whatever poison which may contained so I wrapped the aluminum heat insulator around it in the hope to keep it cool down. And here is the final look ;-)

Earthbox Experience!

I laid my eye on the Earthbox planter at Amazon but it's expensive for my budget so I googled it and found out a lot of DIY video to make one. Since I already had a small box at home I decided to experience on the smaller size before making a "real" one :-).

 I used an old nursery training pot which came with my plant to make the center where the soil will contact to the water and suck it up. I also drilled some hole so at the same level between water and soil.

 After all the cutting and assembling, I filled it with mixed soil and water.

 I planted some Alpine strawberries I also planted in the hanging container to compare.
And let's wait and see. I will update the result after couple weeks.

$1.50 Hanging planter

Planting in a tiny balcony is tricky. I always have to think about arranging my plants so they can be in there best environment. That's mean a lot of research to see which plant need more sunlight, which one like to be in shade. The hanging method worked well for my small space. I always try to make thing on my own if I can and not spending any unnecessary pennies. I looked up the upside down tomato planter and I think if I can find a cylinder shape bag I can make my own upside down planter. I found this bag at the Daiso Japanese store for $1.50. I cut hole and carefully stucked the plant in side out and fill the bag with well drain soil. And here it is, a $1.50 up side down hanging planter :D. I am growing some Alpine Strawberries because I like their taste the most!

My little garden in Santa Monica

I always wanted a garden and I always tried to grow plants whereever I live. This time I moved to an apartment in Santa Monica, CA. The weather is very nice. I live on the top floor so I have sun on my balcony all day. I never grow anything in place like this before so I didn't know where to start until I saw the Compact Up Side Down Planter on Amazon for a good deal. It first started with just the planter and my wine crate. After 10 weeks and some trial and error, the hanging garden expended and growing well :-). Gardening is truly a relaxing hobbies and keep me out of trouble :D.

The Hobbit Hole Terrarium

I always wanted a Terrarium about Hobbit for my own! I kept thinking about until one day I saw a brand new Wardian Case at Good Will with a very good deal, I picked it up and started my terrarium. I didn't have much experience and I ordered some moss online. It turned out not great so I went to the local nursery to buy a different type of moss that great looking and easy to maintain. I played with Sculpy clay and made a tiny Hobbit hole with the moss behind it. I put some small plants inside.

After 3 weeks, the moss grew fast and almost cover the Hobbit Hole. The moss I bought online is still brown. I experience with different plant and keep the one that survice good in terrarium condition :-)

The Hobbit Hole at night!