How to set up a self-watering system
Find out how to set up an automatic watering system, in our step-by-step guide.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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| At Its Best | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| To Do | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Returning home to discover dead or wilting plants is not the ideal end to a holiday. With a little forethought you can ensure your plants are kept well-watered while you're away, without being overly reliant on obliging friends or neighbours.
Follow our simple guide to setting up a self-watering system, below.
You Will Need
- A flat tray
- A deep tray
- Capillary matting
- Large pots
Total time: 30 minutes
Step 1
Set up a flat tray over a container of water and cover with capillary matting. Add a piece of matting, which will function as a wick, drawing up water from the reservoir below.
Step 2
Fill the water reservoir right up to its brim and thoroughly wet the matting.
Step 3
Put pots on the surface, pressing them down so the pot's draining holes are in contact with the matting. Ideally, ask a friend or neighbour to top up the reservoir from time to time.