27 DIY Self Watering Planters That Will Save Your Time, Water & Money

DIY self watering planters will not only provide the precise amount of water needed for your houseplant, but it will also save you time and money. Over-watering causes the death of most plants, and a self watering system will prevent over-watering (and under-watering) so plants will thrive instead of die.

A DIY self watering planter will protect your investment in the plant, save you time by doing the watering for you, and conserve water by not over-watering plants. Self watering containers will also allow you to have thriving plants without being tied down to your home for daily plant watering. Travel all you want, knowing your plants are well watered with one of these planters. Check out these lovely and ingenious self watering plants pots and build some for your plants.

If you like these ideas to be useful you may also like to read my other similar article on saving water, time and money such as: diy sprinkler systems to water your plants easily and diy drip irrigation systems to water plants frugally.

1: DIY Self Watering Container Garden

To make this diy self watering planter like this one by verticalveg you need wooden boxes, which have plastic boxes on the base. Also, with the main water container, preferably a drum, s small control box is fixed. It maintains the flow of the water to the wooden boxes. The connection between the reservoirs is maintained through the connectors and the pipes. It is simple yet effective ideas, and easy to learn too.

2: Homemade Wooden Planter

This diy self watering planter by foodretro is made from wood, so you need to get them cut either from professionals, or try doing it yourself; it won’t trouble you much. So, once you have wooden slabs, screw the side’s together and forms a box. Make the flooring, and notch the flooring to fit well. Once done, add the pond liner and reservoir pipes. At the top you can plant your desired vegetable or herb.

3: Downspout Planter

Use this ingenious idea to create a DIY self watering planter like this one by instructables for outdoors. This downspout planter uses free rainwater to enable plants to thrive, plus it makes an unattractive downspout look good.

As rainwater travels through the gutter system and down through the downspout, some of it is captured for use by the plants and create a self watering plant pots. Accessorize your home’s downspouts and keep plants self watered by creating these planting pots.

4: Foam Box Self Watering System:

In order to make this diy self watering planter by thehandygardener you will need:

• A foam box with lid
• PVC pipe
• A saw
• A pair of scissors
• Stanley knife
• Waterproof tape
• Stick

Cut the lid in a way that you can cut the inner and make the sides as frame. Cut the PVC pipe and make it the size of the box. You can to cut three pieces of PVC further in shape of connectors and insert them on the sides and lid. Later, fill it up with soil or plants whatever you feel like.

5: Homemade Sub-Irrigated Planter:

Materials require for this homemade self watering planter like this one by frugalupstate are:

• Plastic Tote
• 1 inch PVC Pipe
• 1 inch PVC Elbow Duct
• Tape

Tools that are required include:

• Scissors
• Hack Saw
• Knife Drill

This plan however requires working on smaller details, and might take duration up to one year for its completion.

6: Self Watering Garden

Having a home garden for fresh produce is appealing to many people, but the daily chore of watering is not appealing. The amount of water wasted in run-off when a garden is watered with a water hose is wasteful too.

This idea for building a self watering garden by familyhandyman will solve both problems at once. No more time spent watering plants, and no more wasted water caused from run-off. You may also like to check out DIY gutter garden ideas.

7: Self Watering Barrel Garden

A 55 gallon plastic barrel is an ideal container for garden plants. The large size and sturdy construction make it great for creating DIY self watering planters like this one treehugger by that will last for years.

Cut the barrel in half to create two planters, then follow these step by step instruction for transforming them into a self watering garden.

8: Upside Down Hanged Water System:

This system has 4 hanging planters and one water supply. Just under the planters there is a horizontal hose. You have to gather materials for planter and reservoir; also, some other materials are required to complete the system. After that, make the planters, hang them where you want to and insert plants. Once done, make the reservoir and attach them together. Get the instructions at instructables.

9: Standard Planter To DIY Self Watering Planter:

Look for a plastic container and on its base add a smaller tube type bowl with perfect lid. Makes holes in it and also make hole to attach bottle to it. Pace it inside the plastic container and within the lids attach the cage. Get the instructions at bucolicbushwick

10: DIY Self Watering Tomato Cage Planter:

Look for a 5 gallon water bottle, and make some holes in that for soil aeration. Cut the same bottle in to 2, one would serve as water reservoir and other as soil container. Put a small mud bowl inside the smaller half, and place the bottle upside down on it. Add your cage and pour in the soil. See the detail at bucolicbushwick.

11: Two Bucket DIY Self Watering Pots:

With the help of two big bucket and Styrofoam cup, which would be used as water reservoir, you can build a simple, yet effective sort of diy self watering system like this one by crestonesolarschool It would with the mechanism as inside and outside system. Once you have all the materials and the tools, you would simply require no time in assembling it. For details and further information, you can have a look here.

12: Self Watering Grow Box

Everyone has old plastic storage totes without lids. The lids are not as sturdy as the totes, so they break easily, or get lost, and it’s hard to find a use for a tote without a lids – until now.

These free plans will show you how to transform totes into self watering grow boxes like these ones by growagoodlife,  which is an ideal way to recycle old totes.

Create and ideal and flexible growing space for garden vegetables and herbs with these self watering containers.

13: Coffee Container Planter

Use these free plans for creating a DIY self watering planters like this one by makezine for only pennies. Old coffee cans and soda bottles can easily be recycled and transformed into self watering plant pots that can grow tomatoes, egg plants, peppers and more.

Plant the vegetables in one of these homemade containers, then forget about it until harvest time. It’s the easy way to garden.

14: Garden Self Watering Planter:

Look for two big containers, as one would be used as reservoir and other for planting. Also, you would need a deli container, which would be fixed inside the larger ones. By process to follow is quite simple and conventional, you can have details at networx.

15: LED Lighted Planter

This easy to create design helps plants to grow by keeping the soil at the correct moisture level and by providing extra lighting for the plant.

The WOW factor LED lights are cool to the touch and very inexpensive to use. Use these free plans to build your own LED lighted planter like this one by instructables that will make an ordinary potted plant look fabulous while it’s growing in moist soil.

16: Recycled Water Bottle

Here is a great way to recycle water bottles – use them to create attractive and functional DIY self watering planters  like this one by momtastic.

A little craft paint and yard will dress up a clear plastic water bottle so can be used to water and display a plant in any room of your home. Ideal craft project to create with kids, and to use as teaching tool for recycling.

17: Self Watering Vegetable Table

Use this fabulous idea for building a grow table that waters the plants for you. No more bending over for garden chores, no more under-watering or over-watering. These free plans for a self watering vegetable table like this one by instructables will enable you to build the perfect garden for someone who has mobility. Ideal for backyard or deck.

18: Self Watering Concrete Planter

A DIY self watering planter can be made from almost any material, including concrete. Concrete is inexpensive and can be molded to create any size or shape of planter than you desire.

This step by step tutorial will show you how to create attractive self watering planters like this one by instructables that look like high-end planters that were purchased from a boutique shop. Make extra ones, because your friends will all want one too.

19: Self Watering Garden

Plant and grow an outdoor vegetable garden that will water itself with recycled water from the air conditioning unit.

Water created from condensation that drips out of an air conditioning unit is typically wasted, but this idea puts that water to good use. Capture the air conditioning water and use to create a DIY self watering planter like this one by instructables that can help feed your family this summer.

Enough water is generated by an air conditioning unit during the summer to keep a small garden well hydrated and thriving.

20: Self Watering Planter For Salad

Check out this idea for creating a salad planter that waters itself. Attractive planter makes an ideal table center piece for an outdoor patio table. Plant and grow salad greens, then take a plate to the table and harvest the fresh greens and eat them right from the planter.

After harvesting the salad greens, re-plant the DIY self watering planter like this one by thekitchengarten with another crop of fresh vegetables, like radishes, green onions or herbs.

21: Recycled Materials

Use these free plans to learn how to take whatever materials you have on hand and recycle them into a functional and attractive DIY self watering planter like this one by littlevictorian.

An old planter, saucer and plastic soda bottle can be transformed into a self watering plant pot when you follow these instructions.

Great idea for growing healthy plants when you are away from home a lot and don’t have time for daily plant watering.

22: Self Watering Stand

PVC pipes and plastic soda bottles are used in this unique self watering plant stand design by instructables . Plastic soda bottles are the ideal size for growing a plant, plus they are free and so easy to recycle.

You can do your part to keep plastic out of the landfill, plus grow healthy fresh food with this inexpensive idea. You can expand these plans to make long garden rows and grow more fresh vegetables.

23: Self-Watering Planter From Found Dresser Drawers

Another great idea for recycling an items that might otherwise be tossed into the landfill. Use these free plans to transform an old dresser drawers into a self watering planter like this one by instructables.

Attractive, unique and functional, old dresser drawers are an ideal size for growing fresh herbs and salad greens. The dresser drawers can be stacked to create a deep planting box so potatoes can be grown in them. Dresser drawers provide several options for creating a DIY self watering planter box.

24: DIY Self-Watering Garden Hose Pot

Here is a simple idea that will get the job done. Great design for the novice DIYer and gardener.

This idea will show you how to take a soaker hose, or an old garden hose with holes, and create a round planter pot that will water itself like this one by motherearthliving.

Hose pots are easy to assemble for spring and summer garden season and dis-assemble for winter storage. The hose pot can be made as large or small as desired. Use black hose to absorb heat and warm soil so garden plants can be started earlier in the spring.

This is an ideal way to recycle old hoses that have sprung leaks, which you can probably obtain for free from friends and neighbors.

25: Easy DIY Self Watering Planter:

The DIY of this self-watering planter by gardentrappings involves making a double pot along with a water reservoir. The water system works in two folds, and protects it from excessive heat.

The steps to build diy self-watering planters are:

1: Look for two besting planters

2: Seal all the drainage holes

3: Place the pot in the place you want

4: You are ready to plant

26: DIY Self Watering Container or Earth Box:

This type of plan would help in watering your plants for a few days. You can even use the container to put in any feed or fertilizer. You can either grow herbs or flowers that are purely your wish. However, the system works effectively and you get the edge to place it indoor, if you don’t have much space in garden area.

27: Simple Self-Watering Planter:

This kind of plan for self-watering planters works with a few simple steps

• Make sure the wick is ready
• Get the pipe and the drain hole done
• Place and fill the wick
• Place the water pipe and add the works
• Add soil and plant
• Add water and you are done

Get the instructions instructables.