Here’s a way to water your plants when you are away for a couple of days. Make these DIY water bottle watering tools.
Use a 2 Liter Bottle to Water Plants
Here’s a helpful gardening idea my father came up with. He is an avid gardener & enjoys reaping the rewards of his hard work. This year, however, Indiana is suffering from a drought. It’s not convenient or conservative enough to water the plants as often as he would like, so Papa came up with a creative solution.
Supplies You’ll Need
- 2-liter bottle – If you don’t have a 2-liter bottle, you can use a milk jug, a tall water bottle, or any other container with a lid
- thumbtack – I have used a tiny drill bit before, and it was far too broad. A thumbtack will give you a little tiny hole, which is what you are going for
How to Make a Self-Watering Bottle for Plants
Empty and rinse out an old soda bottle
Push a thumbtack into one or two spots on the bottom of the empty bottle
Dig a little depression near your plant that you want to be watered. Be sure it is close enough so the roots will be watered.
Place the bottle into the depression and fill it with water
Close the lid
How long will a 2-liter bottle water a plant for?
The size of your container and how many holes you have punctured will determine the length of time it can hold water. A milk jug with a couple of pin holes will probably last close to five days or longer.
I had four thumbtack holes in the bottom of my bottle, and the water lasted two days. For longer-lasting water, I suggest only making two holes.
Here’s My Dad’s Old Method of Watering Garden Plants
When my dad noticed a surplus of McDonald’s Sweet Teacups in the garage, he had an idea for his thirsty garden.
Why not create a mound in the middle of the plants, poke a few pinholes into the bottom of the cups, and fill the cups with water? With the lids placed onto the cups, the water doesn’t evaporate, slowly watering the plant.
Sure enough, the idea is working. He’s checked the soil around the plant and compared it to the soil one foot away, and there’s a big difference in moisture. The only improvement he says he would make is using a slender Tupperware container. The lids from the McDonald’s cups tend to weaken from too much use.
I love this idea so much that I’ll try it with my garden. I know the kids will love their cup-filling job.
~Melissa – KidFriendlyThingsToDo.Com – A site providing kid-friendly ideas, crafts, and recipes
