Hoya talk forum: Tutorial: Making your own self watering pots
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Views: 96, Replies: 31 » Jump to the end |
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| As requested and promised her is my method for making self watering pots using Terra Cotta pots (clay pots) supplies needed: 1 6 inch plain ole Terra Cotta pot 1 4 inch plain ole Terra Cotta pot Tube of clear caulk piece of sandpaper can of clear spray paint optional spray paints and art deco paints/brushes/sponges  Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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Next you will want to take the piece of sandpaper and remove the finish inside the 6 inch pot. If you are planning on decorating the outside you will want to do the same to the outside as well. Then using a papertowel that is barely damp wipe it down to remove all the dust.    It is now ready to spray paint the inside with the clear paint, use a light coat and go walk around the garden will it dries. Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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While it dries take a few other pictures. Check out these caterpillars chomping away on my Pipevine.  They are the cats from the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly......scared the dickens out of me when I first seen them  Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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| After the first coat has dried you can give the inside a second clear coat of spray paint and let it dry. Go take some more pictures.  This is Sarge.....always has to come outside with me for a few minutes and try to find a lizard or two to chase. Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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OK.....now you can leave it as is or decorate it further.....I chose to decorate the outside of this one. So I turned it over and using some matallic gold spray paint. I spray painted the outside of it.Giving it two coats and allowing it to dry between each. Once dry I did a little art work around the rim......bear in mind, I am no artist.  Then sealed that with a clear coat of spray paint. Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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| Now take the 4 inch pot that has been sitting off to the side that you have done nothing to and using the sand paper rough up the outside bottom rim and wipe off the dust. Then using the caulk put a thick bead of caulk on the rim. Now looking into the 6inch pot line up the hole for both of the pots and press them together making sure they are centered.  Now picking it up by the outside of the 6 inch pot place it where it can dry for a few days. After the caulk dries it is ready to be planted into. You can test your pot first by filling it with water BETWEEN the two pots. If it doesnt drip at the bottom than you got enough caulk and a good seal between the pots. Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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| The wicking action is achieved thru the 4 inch pot. It allows for the soil in the pot to stay damp that the water loving plants love. Here's one of the first plant's I planted into one of my home made pots. It has been in this pot for two years now.    Well thats how I make my self watering pots. I started making them when a few years ago I was unable to find any, and since they worked out so well have been making and using them since. Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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| Super job, Regina. Great presentation! Thanks for taking the time to help some of us. I saw where Dom asked if anybody wanted about 300 clay pots so maybe he will change his mind. I'm going to try it for sure. |
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| Thank you for showing how to make your self watering pots.Much easier than the way I tried to make a few times.I will be making one to try out. Cindy |
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What a great idea! and a wonderfully presented tutorial too  I am for sure going to try this  Thank you!  |
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| Quick question Regina. You dont seal the 2 lined up holes at the bottom of the pots? Presumably there is no need to do so as the water is leaching from the gap inbetween the pots thu the sides of the inside clay pot and wont run out thru the bottom hole? I |
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| Beautiful demo Regina. I love your pots! Doug |
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Thanks everyone  Dom....no the holes in the bottom are not sealed up.If you find your pots leak you can put a bead around the inside of the holes in hopes of sealing the leak. If you need for any reason to treat your plants with BATS or wish to fertilize them with a light liquid fertilizer any additional liquid will drain from that hole so you don't want to seal it shut and end up drowning your plant in the 4 inch pot. If you have larger plants and don't think a 4 inch pot is big enough then just go to larger size pots....ie...8 & 6 in. or 10 & 8 in. You can also use the terra cotta azalia pots if you want shorter pots.  Also you will need to check the water level between the pots every 3-5 days and 'top it off'. In the summer esp. winter they don't go thru the water so fast.  Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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wow, what a great idea. Thank you for sharing, and for putting together a informative and clear tuorial  |
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It was my pleasure to share how I make them. I'm a bit on the frugal and thrifty side and enjoy making my own unique and crafty projects.  Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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Cool! So the 4" pot is never watered? The only moisture the roots get is 'through' the walls of the pot? What's the advantage?....am I missing something?  Leap. The net will appear. |
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| handy for those of us with water loving hoyas that we forget to water regularly... |
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| exactly.....the soil in the 4 inch pots stay just damp enough for the hoya's that love a moist environment. Perfect for those that have large collections or finicky plants and can't remember which plant where needs to be watered everyday or so. The outside pot just needs to be filled every 3-5 days. Removed alot of the guess work for me. Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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| Plus....the extra water in the 'lining' provides humidity.... GREAT idea. I think I will try it for my multifloras/javanicas and see what happens.... Leap. The net will appear. |
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| multifloras/javanicas where the first hoya's I tried the pots with and had immediate improvement with new growth and blooming. From there my next hoya was praetorii, and it's done great as well,sets peduncles at every leaf axel. Went on to trying a tanna island in one and I'm constantly having to untangle the vines from other plants and rewrap them onto it's own hoop because it grows like crazy! Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. - Chinese proverb |
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