DIY Two Bucket Sub-Irrigated Planter

[muskymojo]

muskymojo,
In my top photo above,I took a 1 gallon container,cut it down to approximately 4", and drilled holes in it.
I then put it inside a 3.5 gal (white) and put the green 5 gallon bucket on top. Works like a charm.
I've also used 5 or 6 empty beer/soda cans...which are about 4.5 "tall.
CM

Yes, that is basically what I'm thinking.

Mine were about 3" and I drilled the 2 1/2" over flow once I have the pots where I want them I will water them with larger plastic garbage can with siphon hoses in each bucket - I am thinking of adding some fish and lily pad for asthetics and fertilzer inside the can

That sounds like a great idea. I just don't want to get that elaborate until I know self watering buckets, in general, work good for me.
Also, wouldn't all the buckets have to be perfectly level for that to work? I would think the lowest bucket would just constantly pour water from the overflow holes. I want to put them along my fence in my backyard, and my yard has a slight slope.

I like the fish idea! It would probably work in full shade.

 

[Chili Monsta]

LD,
Thats kinda where I'm headed.
I've got 100' of surgical tubing,and an 18 Gal tote to serve as a reservoir for a group/cell of 8-10 containers.

My approach is based on assorted information I've gathered from the GB/EB threads from several gardening blogs.

After digesting the data I've concluded that a good rule of thumb for the bucket reservoir should be 1 Qt. water per each Gal. of soil/mix.
Additionally,some of the successful EB users determined that one can expect a mature/fruit laden tomato plant to wick a gallon or more of water a day in hot weather.

Eight days ago, we had a late frost(33 degrees) that forced me to bring all my seedlings into the house, and killed more than half the green beans I had planted.
Since then I've transplanted 35 or so...and yesterday it reached 90 degrees and today I'm worrying about sunburn.

Only time will tell what works for each of us.

 

[LUCKYDOG]

CM - we are definitly on the same page! you could acutally balance the two totes at another level with a siphon so they will be equal in water - just need some sort of valve to turn water on when the totes get below a certain level and turn off - but that maybe going a little to far and my intervention should be factored in

 

[LUCKYDOG]

I have found a pdf if anyone is interested about a automatic watering system build - Here its called 2010_PetesAutomaticWaterProject.pdf and it is 3.23Mb download