Ten days ago, I posted in another thread about my home made self watering system for the greenhouse. I have now taken some photos of my set up and below is how I make them. It doesn't require budgie waterers so I thought I would post it in its own thread where it is likely to be seen. The only outlay is the capillary matting and flower pots.... the boxes are free at the market. The greengrocers or fish merchants throw out the polystyrene boxes and I have been collecting them over the years as I use them to give extra protection to greenhouse plants during the winter. This is another use that I have now found for them and solves my watering problem at the same time.
Inspect the polystyrene box and ensure that it is watertight with no cracks or holes in the bottom. Cut the lid so that it fits loosely inside the box and is about half an inch short at one end.
Measure and cut capillary matting the same width as the lid but almost twice its length. I use WaterWick matting by Gardman as it is good quality. It is 0.6m wide which is long enough to go lengthwise over the lid with about 25cm to tuck down into the water, so I have very little wastage.
Half fill the box with water and soak the capillary matting.
Take the matting out and place 2 to 4* flower pots upside down in the water. The pots need to be big enough to be slightly above the water line. The number required will depend on how big the polystyrene box is.
Put the matting on the lid with the long end going down into the water. Lower the lid carefully until it sits on the flower pots.
Put plants in seed trays or flower pots on top of the matting and water them in. They can then be left until the water in the box is almost empty. There is no need to take the lid or plants out to top up with water, as it can be poured in where the lid gap is.
The finished products.
I really recommend this method and so far it is working well.