You can search on 'Earth Box' and on 'Self-Watering Container.'

I will not be updating this page if they change save them if you think you even might need them.)Īnd for an SWC with a slightly different twist:Īlso, see. URLs for both sets of directions have changed recently and could both change again or be taken down altogether. (I recommend that you save these two sets of directions on your own PC if you are interested in making SWCs. If you have a cat, the litter buckets are 'free' and people can sometimes get 5-gallon or similar buckets free from delicatessens, supermarket bakery departments, sandwich shops, doughnut shops, etc.Ī detailed manual demonstrating how to build a variety of SWCs is found here: Once you grasp the principles of this method of construction, you can make SWCs out of many different types of containers, including kitty litter buckets and 5-gallon buckets, which are, of course, smaller than the 18-gallon storage tubs but will serve nicely for a pepper plant, one of the smaller varieties of eggplant, and other plants. Each container cost us about $10 to make. We used 18-gallon Rubbermaid-style storage tubs for most of our SWCs, and round large tubs with handles for a few of them. We used the directions above, changing them only in that we used plastic colanders from a dollar store instead of pond baskets. You can find clear directions for building your own SWCs here: Please note that I do not have personal experience with any of the commercial SWCs we made our own. )Ī Garden Patch also sells them, and theirs are the least expensive full-size SWCs that I have seen. Gardener's Supply Company sells a variety of very pretty SWCs. ) I have seen Earthboxes in a local store the pictures don't do them justice. One popular commercial brand is The Earthbox. There are other advantages to growing vegetables in SWCs rather than traditional containers - these advantages are discussed below. Because of this, vegetables (and some, but not all herbs) grow much better in SWCs than in traditional containers. The plants, thus, always get enough water and never too much. The roots draw up water through a process of osmosis. Containers cannot water themselves! SWCs are containers, meant for growing plants (or modified for use as such) usually with a bottom chamber that is a water reservoir, and with a top chamber that contains the potting mix and the roots of the plants. 'Self-Watering Containers' is a misnomer, of course. What are Self-Watering Containers (SWCs)?

Earthtainer construction guide pdf