I have been wanting to grow my own herbs for quite a while now, but have been a little intimidated by it. I’ve never grown herbs before and know that some can be finicky when it comes to watering.
However, after seeing many ideas for “self-watering” herb gardens, I decided to give it a try. Many versions use wine or other glass bottles, but for the trial run I decided to go with less expensive and easier to cut, 2-liter pop bottles.
They came together really quickly and required simple materials that you may already have on hand.
Just four materials to make these self-watering herb planters:
– 2 liter soda bottles (or whichever size you choose to use)
– cotton string, twine, or even strips of a cut up t-shirt (just make sure it is cotton so that it properly absorbs the water)
– soil
– seeds
You should have seen my daughter’s eyes as I put these in the cart at Walmart! “Do we get to drink that!?!”
The Herbs:
I decided to plant oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, cilantro, parsley and romaine lettuce (not an herb, but wanted to give it a try :) It was also nice that Walmart had organic seeds if that is important to you.
Steps to create the self-watering planters:
I let my kids have a little of the soda before dumping out the bottles, rinsing them, peeling off the labels and cutting them in half (a white strip of the label remained on each bottle…I probably could have found a way to remove it, but have I mentioned lately that I have four kids age five and under? I was trying to get this done before their show was over and they found me ;). I used a knife to start a hole and then scissors to finish the cut.
Next, make your wicks. I used cotton twine from Walmart. I used six strands in each of the wicks, but now, after testing the containers, 3 or 4 would have been plenty. Then tie a knot about two inches from one end (you can test it in your bottle to make sure that it touches the bottom of the water reservoir.
Next, drill holes in the caps of the bottles. The size will depend on what type of wick you are using. For my cotton string wicks, my husband drilled holes that were about 1/4″ in diameter.
Then put one wick through each cap.
And then return the caps to the tops of the bottles, and place the tops of the bottles upside down on their corresponding bottoms. Did I mention how simple and easy these herb planters are??? :)
Next, fill each top about 1/3 of the way with soil. I’m using a bag of Miracle Grow Potting Mix ($5.97 at Walmart…this isn’t sponsored by Walmart, it is just the closest retailer to our house :) Each bottle only holds about 2 cups of dirt, so we hardly put a dent in this big bag, you don’t need much.
They found me…I think they could smell the dirt…If you’re feeling brave, let the kids help :)
Then spread out the strands of the wick and continuing filling. I stopped about an inch below the top, I didn’t want them to get too full.
Then when they are all filled, plant your seeds and add water to the base. The amount of water that you can see in the containers below (three inches or so) lasted almost two weeks. As the plants grow, and as they are placed outside in the sun, they will use more.
And then wait…and in a week, look what we have! The lettuce was the first to appear, the others were a little slower (the packages say that they all take 7-14 days for germination). I made these as a birthday gift for my aunt, so unfortunately I don’t have a picture of them when they were more mature.
You’ll notice that some appear wetter on top then others. If they seem like they are drawing up too much water, just clip off a couple of strands going down to the water. And don’t worry if the top is dry as long as water is disappearing from the bottom. As the plants grow, the roots will find their way to the wick, so the top doesn’t have to be wet for them to get all of the hydration they need.
Bonus step:
Talk the sweet carpenter in your life into making a crate or box to put them in. This time of year, the weather is still highly unpredictable in Minnesota, so the crate allows for them to be easily taken inside or out.
Once the seedlings appear, make sure to thin them according to the directions on the package.
And there you have it! Just keep water in the base and never wonder if your herbs are getting the right amount of water :)
I’m going to make another set to have at my house. I’ll be sure to post more pictures of how they grow and adjustments to the process if need be.
I had to read several (several) tutorials to get the complete picture of how these work, if I missed any steps, or if you have a question or suggestion, please leave it in the comments.
I also found this article very helpful once your herbs get growing and you want to start using them: 10 Mistakes New Herb Gardeners Make
Happy herb growing!
Other Popular Posts: The Laundry System that Changed my Life!!
> STOP a COLD in its tracks!! The BEST Natural Cold Remedy!
>> 3 Hour Palette wood pet & baby gate
>> 7 Ways to help your struggling reader
Share this to Pinterest!
Hey there 👋
I’m in Macduff, Scotland and I’m over looking the harbour so you might be able to see why I’m ‘enjoying’ the weather here and all four(one☺️) seasons can make it difficult in growing plants.
I’d like to say thank you for your post I think it’s absolutely brilliant.
Thank you (again 🤭) so much for making it easy to make & ‘up cycle’, understand, fun to read and something that’s very important for me – easy to remember!! Great to share too!!!
I will send you some pictures! -If I can remember🫣
I’ve got loads of seeds to plant and I don’t care if they’ve got a sell/use by date. I believe in recycling upcycling oh and keeping things… And yes, my husband has expressed despair in how well, hmmm, how should I say this – Utilitie it?
Best wishes,
Shelley McKenzie
Iwould like to follow you by email.
For sure!! We’ll add you to the list :)
Will this work over the Fall and Winter months? Great way to get fresh herbs all winter.
Uháčkovala jsem ” knoty ” a již je používán 3 rok a jsou perfektní
In order to remove the glue part of the bottle label use some peanut butter (chunky preferably) to rub it off before cutting. And in order to make a straight cut put the bottle in a shoebox or one that it will fit into and holding it up against two of the sides and roll it, using a marker held against the box should draw a straight line all around the bottle. To cut it straight poke a starter hole anywhere along the line and use your scissors to cut around the bottom (for some reason the scissors cut straight that way) and you should end up with a nice straight cut for your project. This I got from a book called “Bottle Biology” can’t remember the author but it’s an awesome little book.
cooking oil works too. M
How do you refill the water if you fit the dirt so far down? All the other versions of this I’ve seen and made the pot and dirt sit on top of the water reservoir so you can refill the water.
You just remove the top part that has the dirt and plants in it and add water to the base.
I fail to understand how you could remove top with dirt and plant if it’s wedged tight flush inside bottom part?? I suppose syringe would work.
You don’t wedge them in so that the rim of the top and bottom are flush. Scroll up to the picture above “And then wait…” and look closely…the ridge you see part way down is where the top part is resting (not wedged) on the bottom part3, so you can just gently pull them out. It works! Just trust the process. M
Great idea and thank you for letting all of us people who are nieve about planting things. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, we’re glad you enjoyed it!!
Magnific!!
I tried this. The cotton rots and ceases to wick water to the plants. It was alot of time &effort for a few months of self water planters. That was my experience. I wonder if a nylon cord would wick water. (?)
I do consider all of the concepts yoou hhave introduced onn your
post. They are vry convincing and will definitely work.
Nonetheless, the posts are vedy short for starters. May just
you please extend them a bit from net time?
Thank you for the post.
Great blog you have here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours these days.
I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
hello it’s been a year since your post, hope for an answer. just wondering if those can be just set in a window sill and not moved outside? thanks Chris
Just an question, is the top, With the soil, not too heavy and will slide down.
Yes, it can be put in a sunny spot inside and left there.
Hi
Can I share this idea on my own site, its Finnish one for our school project about sustainable development. We got there all plants you can grow at home so this would be ideal to share there. I was thinking shearing it via link so you’d get all the credit. Not trying to steal your idea!
I did this with my class this past spring, we planted some flowers and they all got to take theirs home at the end of the school year. They had a blast with these planters. I will do this again!
Thank you for the tutorial! I was wondering one thing though, how do you add water??
Yes, how did you add the water?
Just lift the upper portion (with soil and plants) and pour some water in to the lower portion so as to keep the water level just below the lid.
Alternatively you can use a syringe and needle to fill water to the lower portion by pricking the portion where there is space in between both the portions.
Yes! This is exactly right! The two sections still come apart so that you can add water :)
To more easily lift out the potted part, I just made tabs that stick up from the sides, and wrapped with a bit of tape. Like this: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xptj987gkdgmqox/IMG_1441.jpg?dl=0 only this is a variation of the same idea, only for a planter you already have, but it want to be self-watering. Anyway, I like your idea for seedlings and young plants that you want to see taking root.
Oh that’s a great idea! Thank you for sharing!
omg, how many times did u have to say that, I’m an idiot and i even got it the 1st twenty times.
HOW DO YOU PUT THE WATER IN THE BOTTLESCHUCK
looks like the lid part of the soda bottle is the one that is sticking up, looks like you just lift it up, soil and all and put water in then put it back down.
Just water those:)
I love this!! I’m featuring you tomorrow!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope to see you tomorrow! Pinned!
Hi Dawn (and friends)! Thank you so much for sharing this super idea at Thriving on Thursdays. What a great tutorial and a fantastic idea. I’m definitely going to try this. I’m featuring this one at tomorrow’s party. Hope to see you again.
Anne xx
I think it may look confusing on how to water because there it not a pic showing the bottle cut in half separately. And the too portion may look small to some . It did to me at first until I studied it. Great post! Will definitely try it
Simple yet brilliant. I love it!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to link up with us over at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again this Friday! Feel free to bring a friend!
I love this – so great that you included the kids. Herbs are the perfect place to begin a garden, indoors and out. -Carole
We love growing herbs, especially from seed. Nice idea. We are so glad you shared with us at Merry Monday! I’m looking forward to your newest additions to the party next week!
What an ingenious idea. That is a great idea. I am pinning this.
Kathleen
I love this way of getting your herb garden started. Thanks for sharing at the Best of the Blogosphere
That is such an awesome idea! We do not have that many 2 liter bottles at home, I’m saving this for later. I would love to give it a try.
Thanks for sharing!
What a great idea!! I think this might even work for me, and I have quite the black thumb when it comes to gardening! ;) Thanks for linking up with us at the Best of the Blogosphere!
Such a cool idea, love it, thanks for sharing
What a great idea! Love the crate that would make it so easy to carry in or out or to just move around your yard. I was going to do herbs in the garden but as a beginner I wasn’t sure if I would know what was an herb and what was a weed (we have a very weedy garden lol) so this is perfect!! Now to get some bottles! Thanks for linking with the creative challenge party!!
I love this! Thanks for sharing:)
Fan-blooming-tastic! What a brilliant use of old pop bottles (really hoping my English expressions translate ok – I think this is a really good idea to use old plastic bottles!)
I had seen this with wine bottles, but want to do it with my kids, so 2-liter bottles are a much better idea, and bigger, too :)