I really appreciate you including the non-plastic alternative! Sticks and peat moss is a great idea. As for an alternative to plastic buckets, would something like a repurposed untreated wood pallet work? If you have the tools available to cut them up to size and assemble them, of course. The inside could be lined with a light fabric, like burlap or even something like an old cotton shirt if needed. Just a thought. Edit: typo
Thanks for the suggestion! In the past I have used pallets with plastic liner to set fabric grow pots in and they worked with the plastic liner, but they also deteriorated pretty quickly out in the elements, so I wasn't too happy with them. I think they only lasted a year before they started falling apart. I like your thinking about repurposing things though. Thank you! 🙂
At some point when the roots reach the water reservoir, dont the roots rot and then the plant dies? Especially with organic matter ceeating gases that are toxic to the plant?
Awesome job, Pro Tip: Slits instead of holes in the buckets and they will never clog. Also avoid watering from the top with this system. Yes it will work but you are just flushing your nutrients and will not have the best harvest.
I do it with soil, mama and do the halfway or 1/3 up the way drainage but just fill it completely as not to waste soil space that holds extra water but also more space for roots to grow but the soil usually has worms that create extra paths within the soil. What temperatures do you have in winter and how does garlic do for you? Thanks (would be nice to try a bucket like yours and the one I told you with a jalapeño in tandem to see what works great
We have very mild winters. It doesn’t go below freezing every year but we usually have at least a few nights when it’s predicted to frost or potentially freeze. Some years we will get a few freezes. Last year we didn’t. Nights will typically drop into the 50s and 40s during the coldest couple of months, but a lot of nights it’s only in the 60s. Garlic has done fairly well for me but it’s because I put the bulbs in my refrigerator for 10 -12 weeks before I plant to vernalize them.
First, I love your videos and wish you had time to post more. Question, I am having difficulty understanding the purpose of the plastic bottles in the bottom of the bucket. Can you please explain. I have seen videos with just the pvc tube in a gallon jug but not sure about all the bottles. Thanks from Central East Coast Fl, Port Orange
Thanks! I wish I had more time to post videos too! I have so many ideas and even a lot of stuff recorded that I've been too busy to edit yet... The purpose of the plastic bottles is to hold most of the soil up out of the water. A little of the soil goes down into the water and wicks it up to where it can spread to the rest of the soil, but not all of the soil can be in the water, or it would be saturated with water. If the soil was just in the bottom of the bucket with no airspace in between, then it would be totally waterlogged and the plant roots would ultimately get no air and rot. I have seen various other things used in the bottom of wicking pots - like a big colander turned upside down, or soda cans, or a big piece of tubing. Regardless of what is used, something has to hold most of the soil above the water so there is some oxygen in there. I liked the re-used water bottles because they are free and are food grade. I hope this makes sense.
Yes I've seen where they put the pipe into the gallon container it then pours out of holes into the 5 gallon bucket and fills the small water bottles any excess pours out of the 5 gallon container through the hole. I'm getting ready to try this
So interesting! I wonder if you could use rocks instead of plastic bottles? I have grow bags for my Toms but might try these buckets for my squash and peppers
Yes, I think rocks would be great to use. The only drawback would be that they are heavy if you wanted to move the container around. Otherwise, I think they would be perfect! 👍😊
I noticed your pvc pipe is placed between the bottles but have you ever placed it into the water jug? Also, where did you get the Spanish moss? Thanks!
Hi. No, I’ve never put the pipe into the water jug. I think it would be harder to fill the bucket if the pipe was in the water jug, but maybe not. I collect the Spanish moss from my yard. We have lots of it. 😊
@@floridavegetablegardeningthanks! I live in north Tx and have no moss here but I too am looking for other type containers besides plastic. I’m saving to purchase the higher raised beds because the buckets are ‘work’ and my family doesn’t like the white color so I painted them. Your videos are easy to understand and I hope you can make a few more as time and life permits. 👍🌻🌿
That is a concern I have too. I only use food grade plastic buckets and drinking water bottles, so given that I am already drinking water out of the bottles (and presumably eating food that gets stored in food grade plastic buckets), I wouldn’t think it’s any worse for me to consume something that was grown in these containers. However, in general, it doesn’t seem especially healthy that we store food and water in plastic containers, even if they’re food grade. This is the main reason I mentioned at the end of the video that I would like to find alternatives to using plastic for these types of self-watering containers. I would love to hear about safer (affordable) alternatives that can function as well for this same purpose, but I have not heard of anything yet. One person suggested using rocks in the container instead water bottles and I think that is a good idea if you have a cheap (or free) source of natural rocks. However, that only replaces the water bottles and not the bucket. I keep trying to figure out some way to use a grow bag for a container and some other natural material to set it in that holds water, but I haven’t really come up with any solid ideas yet. If you have any suggestions for an alternative to plastic, please feel free to share.
I have grown zucchini in one of these containers and it worked out ok but zucchini plants get so big I usually prefer to grow them in the ground. It’s been a few years since I grew zucchini in a bucket but if I recall correctly, I think I wasn’t completely happy with the results. For one thing the zucchini plant starts falling over the side of the bucket when it gets big so it would be helpful to have a way to stake it up or have something to lean it on.
That sounds interesting. In what way are you using the straw? Do you mean that you just plant directly into straw as your container? Or are you using it as part of some type of wicking system? I've heard of people planting directly into straw, but have never heard any personal experiences with it. I'm not sure where to buy straw in my area, but maybe I should attempt to hunt some down and try it. Thanks! 🙂
Right around the 6:55 mark I showed that I added 2 cups of an organic fertilizer. That’s is all that is needed for pretty much the whole growing season. Sometimes I will add a little fertilizer near the end of the growing season if the leaves start to get pale or the fruits are getting smaller but that’s usually only for peppers since they can live for several seasons. If add additional fertilizer at a later time then I usually just sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of the same organic fertilizer around the top of the pot and lightly scratch it into the top layer of soil. Occasionally I might fertilize with some liquid fish and seaweed emulsion mixed in water, but I don’t always do that and I don’t do it often.
You are an excellent teacher. Thank you for this information. Shalom
Thank you! 😊
You had a good script and delivered it nicely. Appreciate the clarity, lack of repetition and redundancy.
Thank you! 😊
The best video of wicking pot I have watched. Keep the good work.
I really appreciate you including the non-plastic alternative! Sticks and peat moss is a great idea.
As for an alternative to plastic buckets, would something like a repurposed untreated wood pallet work? If you have the tools available to cut them up to size and assemble them, of course. The inside could be lined with a light fabric, like burlap or even something like an old cotton shirt if needed. Just a thought.
Edit: typo
Thanks for the suggestion! In the past I have used pallets with plastic liner to set fabric grow pots in and they worked with the plastic liner, but they also deteriorated pretty quickly out in the elements, so I wasn't too happy with them. I think they only lasted a year before they started falling apart. I like your thinking about repurposing things though. Thank you! 🙂
Great teaching video! Love this method more than others I've watched. Thanks so much.
Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it! 😊💜
Thanks for your channel from Plant City, Fl. Keep up the great work.
Thank you! 😊
Checkout protein tubs, also used my Leon.
You could use sections of water hose instead of pipe. I always have scrap hose lying round.
Very helpful...thanks for sharing!
At some point when the roots reach the water reservoir, dont the roots rot and then the plant dies? Especially with organic matter ceeating gases that are toxic to the plant?
Awesome job, Pro Tip: Slits instead of holes in the buckets and they will never clog. Also avoid watering from the top with this system. Yes it will work but you are just flushing your nutrients and will not have the best harvest.
I do it with soil, mama and do the halfway or 1/3 up the way drainage but just fill it completely as not to waste soil space that holds extra water but also more space for roots to grow but the soil usually has worms that create extra paths within the soil. What temperatures do you have in winter and how does garlic do for you? Thanks (would be nice to try a bucket like yours and the one I told you with a jalapeño in tandem to see what works great
We have very mild winters. It doesn’t go below freezing every year but we usually have at least a few nights when it’s predicted to frost or potentially freeze. Some years we will get a few freezes. Last year we didn’t. Nights will typically drop into the 50s and 40s during the coldest couple of months, but a lot of nights it’s only in the 60s. Garlic has done fairly well for me but it’s because I put the bulbs in my refrigerator for 10 -12 weeks before I plant to vernalize them.
First, I love your videos and wish you had time to post more. Question, I am having difficulty understanding the purpose of the plastic bottles in the bottom of the bucket. Can you please explain. I have seen videos with just the pvc tube in a gallon jug but not sure about all the bottles. Thanks from Central East Coast Fl, Port Orange
Thanks! I wish I had more time to post videos too! I have so many ideas and even a lot of stuff recorded that I've been too busy to edit yet... The purpose of the plastic bottles is to hold most of the soil up out of the water. A little of the soil goes down into the water and wicks it up to where it can spread to the rest of the soil, but not all of the soil can be in the water, or it would be saturated with water. If the soil was just in the bottom of the bucket with no airspace in between, then it would be totally waterlogged and the plant roots would ultimately get no air and rot. I have seen various other things used in the bottom of wicking pots - like a big colander turned upside down, or soda cans, or a big piece of tubing. Regardless of what is used, something has to hold most of the soil above the water so there is some oxygen in there. I liked the re-used water bottles because they are free and are food grade. I hope this makes sense.
Thank you so much. Now I get it! Again, love your channel. @@floridavegetablegardening
Yes I've seen where they put the pipe into the gallon container it then pours out of holes into the 5 gallon bucket and fills the small water bottles any excess pours out of the 5 gallon container through the hole. I'm getting ready to try this
So interesting! I wonder if you could use rocks instead of plastic bottles? I have grow bags for my Toms but might try these buckets for my squash and peppers
Yes, I think rocks would be great to use. The only drawback would be that they are heavy if you wanted to move the container around. Otherwise, I think they would be perfect! 👍😊
No. The plastic bottles have holes drilled into them to allow water to wick up the soil. Rocks won't work. All water will drain out drainage holes
Very well done
Thank you! 😊
I noticed your pvc pipe is placed between the bottles but have you ever placed it into the water jug? Also, where did you get the Spanish moss? Thanks!
Hi. No, I’ve never put the pipe into the water jug. I think it would be harder to fill the bucket if the pipe was in the water jug, but maybe not. I collect the Spanish moss from my yard. We have lots of it. 😊
@@floridavegetablegardeningthanks! I live in north Tx and have no moss here but I too am looking for other type containers besides plastic. I’m saving to purchase the higher raised beds because the buckets are ‘work’ and my family doesn’t like the white color so I painted them. Your videos are easy to understand and I hope you can make a few more as time and life permits. 👍🌻🌿
Very good 😂❤
Thank you 😊
What about the plastic leaching into the soil and plants?
That is a concern I have too. I only use food grade plastic buckets and drinking water bottles, so given that I am already drinking water out of the bottles (and presumably eating food that gets stored in food grade plastic buckets), I wouldn’t think it’s any worse for me to consume something that was grown in these containers. However, in general, it doesn’t seem especially healthy that we store food and water in plastic containers, even if they’re food grade. This is the main reason I mentioned at the end of the video that I would like to find alternatives to using plastic for these types of self-watering containers. I would love to hear about safer (affordable) alternatives that can function as well for this same purpose, but I have not heard of anything yet. One person suggested using rocks in the container instead water bottles and I think that is a good idea if you have a cheap (or free) source of natural rocks. However, that only replaces the water bottles and not the bucket. I keep trying to figure out some way to use a grow bag for a container and some other natural material to set it in that holds water, but I haven’t really come up with any solid ideas yet. If you have any suggestions for an alternative to plastic, please feel free to share.
❤
Brilliant
Very helpful. I wonder how a zucchini would do
I have grown zucchini in one of these containers and it worked out ok but zucchini plants get so big I usually prefer to grow them in the ground. It’s been a few years since I grew zucchini in a bucket but if I recall correctly, I think I wasn’t completely happy with the results. For one thing the zucchini plant starts falling over the side of the bucket when it gets big so it would be helpful to have a way to stake it up or have something to lean it on.
I just use straw
That sounds interesting. In what way are you using the straw? Do you mean that you just plant directly into straw as your container? Or are you using it as part of some type of wicking system? I've heard of people planting directly into straw, but have never heard any personal experiences with it. I'm not sure where to buy straw in my area, but maybe I should attempt to hunt some down and try it. Thanks! 🙂
You forget to say hi you fertilized after the first month or first week the most important
Right around the 6:55 mark I showed that I added 2 cups of an organic fertilizer. That’s is all that is needed for pretty much the whole growing season. Sometimes I will add a little fertilizer near the end of the growing season if the leaves start to get pale or the fruits are getting smaller but that’s usually only for peppers since they can live for several seasons. If add additional fertilizer at a later time then I usually just sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of the same organic fertilizer around the top of the pot and lightly scratch it into the top layer of soil. Occasionally I might fertilize with some liquid fish and seaweed emulsion mixed in water, but I don’t always do that and I don’t do it often.