You could wrap the container in burlap or canvas to decrease the uv rays that break down the plastic and makes it brittle over the years. Use the left over lid rim to hold the burlap neatly up over the rip of the covered bin. Just add a small hole in the burlap where your water inlet/outlet hole in the container is. Now instead of ugly mismatched blue, green and grey rubbermaid containers cluttering your deck, you've got high-end looking burlap covered containers with blue green and grey accent rims.

I did it this way for years. Since then I found a different way: (because I am lazy) I use two containers I use the one on the bottom to hold the water etc. but instead of using the cover to hold the dirt I slide the second tote whole right on top. Everything is the same as you did it but I use the second tote instead of cutting the lid. This way all the dirt stays in the top and it stays sturdy an fits snug... Sometimes I use just holes in the top tote and feed cotton clothes line through hole and that does the wicking. There are many ways. Yours is very neat. Thank for making this video. ....... By the way that little seedling tent is genius. I am going to make one right now. My open air plantings attracted bugs already. I will be using a large picture frame and some bendable branches, Willows will work best.

I made mine in a similar manner, except that I put a semipermeable barrier (a heavy old t-shirt) between the barrier of the soil above and the reservoir below. This keeps the soil above from being washed into the reservoir below and ending up as a blocking slurry that clogs the overflow pipe in the side of the container. The water is wicked up through the t-shirt to the soil and plant roots below. It is easily replaced next year for another planting season. For my reservoir I used old soda bottles (1 or 2 liters worked well for me). I also put an upright soda container above that sat in the bottom of another below (again a sliced soda bottle) to make it easier to water the reservoir. On the one above, I left the cap on to help prevent detritus from getting into the water below, and to help prevent evaporation. For my semipermeable membrane, I wrapped the t-shirt around a piece of shower curtain that sat on top of the soda bottles below. I sliced channels along the sides of the soda bottles to allow free flow of the water. I also sliced channels in the shower curtain, with the t-shirt pulled slightly through for its wicking action. I got my tubs from Goodwill for $1.59 each. The soda bottles were saved from the trash bin, as was the t-shirt. Another couple of dollars was spent on reinforced plastic water pipe from Menards (cut into 3" pieces for each tub, it made quite a few). The shower curtain was also bought from Goodwill for $0.89 per pound, and was enough for several tubs. The soil was potting soil for about $4 per cubic yard from Lowe's. For less than $20 I ended up with at least 4 self irrigating planters of a quite usable size. (The potting soil was my most expensive component.)

I've spent a day watching How to videos on self watering planters and this is by far the best! Overall the less expensive, to build and maintain. Intelligent presentation! Thanks for sharing this info!

Ten years later this is all the rage. Thanks

You also could cut 1/2" slits in your recessed lids...like 1/2" wide slit....4-5" long.... Put an old piece of tee shirt or old table cloth strip, or old sheet strip through that 4" long open area and down into the water reservoir. Then lay the length of fabric across that 1/2 way up false floor u have created, And have the fabric lay flat on the false floor....the fabric will wick the water up into that lovely potting soil u created and ur soil can receive moisture that way, also......I love ur home made potting mix.💖💖💖 What a great idea this watering set up is....it rocks

If you haven't found a use for your lids, you can add tulle and use the lid to protect from critters

Thank God an actual instructor. Its so exhausting watching seasoned ppl whom are unable to impartvtheir knowledge. Thank you soooooo much!!!

Love that you pointed out the fact that water always seeks it’s own level, it’s the number one proof of out non rotating flat stationary Beautiful Earth😍.

The oldest video I've found on this topic. So interesting to see the evolution of this simple idea. I'll be using larger containers grouped together, then I'll wrap them as a group, with UV blocking thermal cloth to help the containers last longer.

Here's a thought for how to use those lid remnants: as others have said, they can reinforce the top edge, but they can do double duty by clamping down some landscaping fabric. Cut an "X" for your herbs/veggies to grow through, and never worry about weeds taking root again.Call it "cheater mulch," but it sure does work.

This is probably the smartest way to store your plants and the best way to water plants. Good Effort 👍

LOVE that, we have made starwberry beds from old broken water butts, I love a bit of upcycling.

One of the best videos for self watering containers. Hats off to you.

This is by far the best video I have watched on self watering! You explained everything very well! Thank you and I subscribed!

I wish you had more videos . You have to put the word gardening in them for them to come up in searches. You are a great teacher :)

Beautiful system. Thank you for showing your mistakes! I'm a new gardener and it's helpful to see experienced gardeners still make them as well. :)

Similar to “Earth Box” sold in garden stores. Done this several times works great

Excellent explainer video, Jesse. You did a fine job of conveying the important primary concepts, while also filling in the gaps with a lot of quality secondary detail. I learned a lot from this video and will likely use this same approach, next spring, in the construction of my balcony kitchen herb garden. Thank you very much.

I can tell you are a teacher. Great job! I learned so much watching this video. I have subscribed and will watch more of your videos. I cannot wait to try this.

This is a wonderful idea!! I live in Arizona and my pots dry out quick, and I have to water every day. So this will help me tremendously!! thank you so much!!

Thank you for taking your time to explain this process. I will be making two boxes this season.

Thank you for sharing this. You should continue your videos. Very informative. 🌱

Great idea- simple to follow and do- will do! Keep posting your growing tomatoes and verges !

Wow, I loved learning from you today about the wicking planters. I am just starting out with raised beds this year. My husband built us 3 beds 3x8x2.5. The soil is great. We are mixing it ourself as I learned in the gardening class I took called Kitchen Garden Academy. I think I will definitely try one or two bins with tomatoes and one with squash, or watermelon. Depends on the one I read needs water like the tomatoes. I will have drip set ups in my 3 planters and I can extend it into the bins but I do want to try that way. I look forward to seeing more of your videos. I’m in Southern Maryland so we don’t get heat as long as you do .

Thanks Jesse...gr8 tutorial, I finally got it. This I can DEFINATELY use! I have very limited planting space and will be using lots of containers to maximize on my available space.

This is a lifesaver video. I have been worrying about how to garden on a patio and where the water is gonna go. I got back issues so bending and stuff is a no-go. This planter wick system can easily be adapted to an indoor tabletop, benchtop, and the fear of "Oh s***! forgot to water is done as well. BRILLIANT! BTW That trimmed lid could be re-purposed into a transparent shade for low plants with a sheet of plastic across it and a few holes on the edge of a side and an edge of the planter. zip ties for hinges and voila. THANK YOU!

After looking through many videos on the subject I was lucky enough to find this one that's clear and easy to understand the process, thanks for sharing. One thing I'd not is that when you put the pots in the bottom they are I guess tight and fit pretty perfect but if they did not you'd run the risk of soil dumping into the water plenum if the pot shifted off the hold you cut in the plastic barrier. I would make sure the pots were a tight fit or if not they were attached or shimmed in some way that you'd not have any movement.

Thanks for sharing the video on a wicking bed. I wondered why container plants have so many problems. I am planning on growing plants on top of my worm beds and trying to figure out if I need the wicking action indoors. I am thinking the worms will help aerate everything and they may not be needed. I grow microgreens and baby greens in trays with worms and it works great. It solves all my mold problems and the microgreens grow like crazy. I also never have to change my soil. I have trays I have planted 30 times. Worms in microgreen trays is the missing puzzle piece. I am going to try to do the same with my worm bins. Anyway, thanks for sharing, it was helpful.

Thank you for this demo…with the drought here in California, our well is lower than usual, and this is just the ticket for summer crops! We even plan on expanding to more beds next year. Much thanks for your information!

this is the simplest design I have found. thank

I love how things are being recycled. I'm planning on using this very soon. Thank you

Thanks very much, you really help. About a month ago a neighbor came by with news she and her husband were moving to Michigan, and she wanted to know If I would take her container garden? I'm in covid isolation, so a new project sounded good. So I began watching KZfaq videos on wicking (I'm in Arizona, so this is a really good idea!). Yours was the first video I watched, and I was really pleased with your design and presentation. In the last month (during our heat wave), I've watched a zillion others. Now as I'm getting ready to plant a fall crop, I've got to set up another container. I'm back here, getting my instructions. Thanks and keep up the good work!

This was a great video, very informative. Thank you do much for taking your time to teach others. I have learned so much just on this one video must of all when I only do container planting since it is easier for me.

The homemade shade for the small baby plants is genius too!

What a great idea for proper watering. I have never seen this process.

Great video! Really shows me how to do it. I can't wait to see how mine work! Linda - Toronto

I follow this method and made one wBed for my basil & mint cutting. I realised soil is too over moist whole day long. I think the base 2 bottles of soil need to be a much smaller size so absorption is slower. U have to adjust & modify to diff plant needs. So far, this is the best wBed diy u seen. Thanks,

Well done....easy to follow and no frills and fancies.

I’ve seen other container but I love your water wicking by far the best

Great Video. You can use the "rim" from the top: Just leave it on to reinforce the edge: over time, the edge is what cracks first. :)

Great tutorial, I'm a newbie container gardener and this was really well explained.

I’m so glad you showed the lid issue. Thank you.

Great video Jesse, you have a lot of good ideas so I subscribed. Been looking at different ideas for these wicking tubes. One I think will help your viewers is make extra hole in the barrier plastic that cover pots in bottom. Install a length of PVC pipe cut at an angle at one end. Cut piece long enough to reach bottom of tub, angle end down. Other end comes up couple inches above top rim. Secure to side of tub drilling two small holes and secure with a zip tie. Now you have an easier to fill water reservoir and a way to monitor water level, slip a stick or something down PVC pipe you will know where water level is, or get creative and put fishing bobber in pipe with flag attached and see when time to add water. Cap top of pipe to keep critters out. Hope this helps your viewers. Th

Love your videos, I have a small space , been wanting to try wicking containers. Thank you for sharing.

Nice Opinel knife you used for cutting the lid. They sharpen up like razors, and are as cheap as chips!

I'd love to see pictures/video of this bed throughout it's growth stages.

We’ve tested this method for many months now Kudos! This is great So appropriate for Southern California which is so dry Works great This is genius Thanks Jesse !

Very nice detailed video. I can’t wait to build my own.

Thank you. This is almost all the information anyone needs to grow food without access to land, about as well as it can be done.

Wonderful! Thanks so much... can’t wait to set up three this week!

I've watched several, and I liked yours the best, c'est le meilleur le votre, merci beaucoup M. Lemieux!

I’ve seen many types, I like your set up and explanation. 👍🏽

I use coco peat and it also works like a charm for wicking beds, great video thanks!

Excellent video. Very thorough and instructive!

Hell I ended up going on your description on your page and you guys got going on about plants then I hit the page to get some more good 👍information and ended up getting 2 different pages showing how to get over each other and how to do co-parenting wow 👏🙃😅

Loved this technique. Very creative indeed. Thanks for sharing

Great system Jesse. Thank you for sharing.

Very nicely explained. I will try to build one and keep you posted.

Good advice. How about taking that fabric and covering the entire platform so the soil doesn’t go into the reservoir? It may be expensive at first but it can probably be reused the next year. Btw, I use acrylic yarn wicks for my indoor African violets water system-which drink water from a cutoff pop bottle. The potted plant has a good potting mix with the yarn. The yarn travels from close to the top of the soil to the bottom of the bottle reservoir. The yarn drinks up water and weak solution of fertilizer. The roots actually grow toward the yarn and grow onto the wet wick all the way into the pop bottle. 0:03 This system is a self watering fix for fussy African violets (leaves shouldn’t be wet) and believe it or not the plant gets stiff (engorged with water) from its constant ability to suck up water and bloom so profusely, too.

Thank you Mr Jessie❤ Great and very technique. I am looking for this method for many years ago. Again. I appreciated to you 👏👍🌹🍺💐

Most helpful video I’ve watched yet! Thank you!

Thank you for sharing your video. Great instructions and well made. Keep up the good work.

be sure to check your balcony can take all the weight of water and soil.

Excitent ,UR Doing Great ,i love the idea I am learning lot from u ,thanks a lot !👍🌟🇨🇦

Use the lids to keep weed barrier or a plastic cover in place, just cut out holes where you put plants. It acts as a pest and weed blocker as well as reduces evaporation.

This is awesome. I’ve never seen this before. I’m definitely going to try this

Thank you for sharing the video. I am a new gardener and would like to see different types of manners to start with my backyard gardening

1st video where I hear an American using metric and imperial measurements. Thanks for the great video

You are smart than I do. Thank you for telling us that you have been doing well.

Good stuff..... Bought 6 of these containers at Home Depot and filled it to the top with soil and planted my potatoes. So no room for a water table unless I make a small chamber at the bottom (3 inches??). But, im giving this a try as I need to water every day and worry I miss... Cool idea for sure... My next harvest!!!!

first time viewer. you rock. save the lid for securing bug/shade/frost covers. zip ties.

Your garden is very beautiful. I am also passionate about gardening and have your similar products.

I love this idea. I will use it moving forward

Cool video. I've never heard the thing about red surfaces being good for tomato ripening? I am very curious as to why and here did that come from?

I watched a few wicking technichs and I think you method is best.

Good video ,learned a lot!!!thanks for sharing your knowledge and time!!!

What a cool design. Im making some today!

Thanks for the advice. What a trip.

Wow ... BEST VIDEO EVER👍👍👍Thanx 4 the fast forwards & getting to the point😁😁😁💚💚💚I know can do this now👍👍👍🐢🐢🐢🌼🌼🌼

Consider my working with urban gardeners who may not have access to items, In place of Peat & Vermiculite as your wicks, what alternatives are there? Can you use rough woodchips? Woodships mixed with sand? Advantages/disadvantages? Thanks.

Just found -awesome video! Am going try -have in ground garden but last year tomatoes did awful -have bunch rubber made containers

Thanks.I have small earth space so I can use this method which is simple and cheap on the patio.

Very good video. We should planting a lot of vegetables now days. Keep up the good work

oh my god! i love your honesty! i love this video! im so happy to see that you made a mistake and showed us. i learned more by paying attention to your mistake as if it was my own mistake and i would enter a situation of enhanced attention. im subscribing now because of your honest mistake!

Thanks for sharing. This is really cool and educational video.

I know a good use for the rings left from cutting the centers out. If you use bug nets you could the net down on the tub and then put the ring on

Please show us about the planting pot along the balcony ( PVC pipe). How to make & using it. Thanks.

That's so awesome thank you for sharing I'm going to try this this year I could really use some help on my zucchini I don't have any luck

going to have to do this, started several of them had some sucess but the heat in Tampa is bad, Do water them but they need constant watering

Beautiful work

The Earthtainer and Alaska Grow Bucket designs include air exposure to the roots. What are your thoughts?

Can’t wait to start mine this spring. I heard check the BPA and 5 is ok to use

Can attach a wire mesh to sift compost with those lids! Also what @JR said, reinforcement :D

You could use the leftover lid that snaps on the bottom of the Rubbermaid to hold plastic to start new plants like a cold frame, and maybe during fall grow some cold hardy plants in à mini greenhouse.

Thankyou jesse, great video, very helpful

Hey! I want to start a garden this way. Will al those plants get big & produce in that one container?

I've been starting to experiment with 1 gallon milk/water jugs because the handle becomes a fill hole I can close up. Against apartment rules, I have to put the pots on the fire exit and it is not easy to water the pots without being watched. I like the coconut core idea, as I don't want the topsoil to attract mosquitoes and other pests. Going to try that when I put my plants outside again. Thanks for the cool tips! Any suggestion on where to get the right sand?

Although you plugged up the small gaps with burlap but then the 2 holes that lead to 1 gallon containers are full of soil that could fall out into the water reservoir area, which is what you were trying to avoid with the burlap. Is that right?

very nice explanation, thank you for sharing knowledge.