Insulating (Self-Watering) Pots

[killerflies]

Morning all!

I am about to embark on a self watering pot building mission. Now during my research online Ive seen mention from some that say the pots need to be coloured darkly. Also, some mention lining the inside of the pot with bubblewrap or similar for heat retention and frost-resistance.

The colour of my buckets is actually similar to the blue used on A4all. And Im not sure that insulating is the best, as I dont want to bake my roots.

I plan on using them over the summer months but they will certainly be used over the winter also.

Any ideas?

[killerflies]

[killerflies]

Believe it or not the color of my box/pot is exactly as in this instructable (totally unintentional!)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-your-own-Earth-Box/#

Great instructions by the way.

[killerflies]

Anyone at all??? ???

[killerflies]

FYI, here are some online reseources in addition to the "instructable" above. Ive reviewed them all and there are at least some gems of information in each of them.

Also, of VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: (from link (1) below)

"I no longer use PVC in any of my boxes. PVCs have been demonstrated to leach plasticizers and harmful chemicals, including endocrine disruptors. There are plenty of alternatives, so there's no good reason to use PVC and risk putting these chemicals in your homegrown fruits and vegetables.

I've been asked what to do in place of PVC pipe for the watering tube. I'd recommend copper tubing (although this will add a very small bit to the price of your homemade self-contained gardening system), available widely at home supply stores. Aluminum tubing would probably also work fine. Garden hose can be used as long as it's marked as drinking-safe. Other kinds of plastic may be acceptable.

What sort of plastics are to be avoided? Of course, you want to avoid these all throughout the self-contained gardening system, not just with the watering tube. The kinds of plastics we generally regard as safe are those with the numbers 1, 2, 4, or 5 (these numbers are usually found inside the recycling symbol). The ones we seek to avoid are 3 (Polyvinyl Chloride/Vinyl), 6 (Polysterene/Styrofoam), and 7 (Polycarbonate and others)."

Enjoy!


1) http://www.josho.com/gardening.htm

(more detailed in pdf here...) http://www.seattleoil.com/Flyers/Earthbox.pdf

2) http://mastergardener.umd.edu/files/hg600.pdf

3) http://www.earthbox.com/pdf/earthbox_planting_instructions.pdf#Earthbox(TM) Planting Guide - PDF

4) http://www.homegrownevolution.com/2007/01/self-watering-containers.html

5) http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-a-self-watering-container

Im sure that that will do you for now........more to follow if I find anything of use!

[killerflies]

Anybody at all with any experience/feedback into making your own self watering containers at all?? ???

[Barnowl]

Here's a thread from last year showing Bionic Wellies method

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,31178.0.html

This page has links to instructions under the growbox picture

http://growthings.blogspot.com/2007/08/growbox.html


Can't see any need for insulation but do make sure it has a top of some kind to inhibit evaporation. I didn't last year because all were by the house but plan to use black weed suppressant fabric this time round.