Easiest Build Wicking Bucket-Tub Combo | Waters Up To 3 Months | Self Meters Water Level | Cheapest

[@robkey69]

take a 12" wood skewer attach a wine cork...works perfect to measure water levels...use it on my 5 gallon self watering buckets...

[@Michelle-ng5zs]

I get restaurant 5 gallon for free often. I use a 5 gallon bucket for water storage. Put a hole on the side of bucket , pretty high and just large enough for a hose. Insert cup that plugs hole after filling. 5 gallon buckets stack very well, so make a growing tower 3 buckets high… lowest bucket has 4 gallon water reserve while top 2 buckets have multiple holes made in sides of bucket for planting a variety of plants. Depending on the specific produce you intend to harvest you can put 8 to 32 (plant) holes in each bucket. That’s 16-64 (low vining) plants in just one growing tower. I have one tower for strawberries, one for bok choy, and another for my herb garden, etc

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Happy gardening

[@jqc5]

I used felt from the garden store and worked great

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

I love that idea....i will try it....thanks!!!

[@yrrahyrrah]

As a wick?

[@Splendid123456789]

Do you mind posting a link to that felt? I would really like to look into that. Thanks!

[@luvmypets3194]

Use a small cork to float ur skewer. Put a glob of silicone on skewer tip to keep it from falling into tub. When sitting on lid you know you need water ASAP

[@luvmypets3194]

I saw the original video and did one aa few years ago to compare to my other self watering tubs. Worked just the same. Had to replace towel each year due to degradation.

[@Deb-jr9hk]

Wondering if a fishing bobber would work instead of a sponge?

[@barneyrubble4109]

Instead of covering the water addition/overflow holes put a fine screen over. You've made an Ovitrap. Mosquitoes will lay eggs on screen and they will drop through into the water but when hatched they can't escape. They die, turn into compost/food for the plants and cut down on your mosquito population..

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Thanks for the tip...sounds like a great idea!!!

[@Randy_Smith]

it's been a few months since you posted this and I'm curious how well it worked out for you? I've been using 5 gallon wicking buckets with net pots at the base filled with a mixture of perlite and potting mix in the top bucket and the bottom bucket acting as the reservoir and have been pleased but I'm always looking for something more efficient. Did the towel work well as a wick? Did it hold up long enough for an entire growing season? Also, did the lid of the reservoir tote hold up well to the weight of the bucket on top? Many thanks for sharing you knowledge. It's greatly appreciated

[@5kusuma]

for each plant😮😮 so much of work

[@ToneThaCreator]

Reverse the drill when using a hole saw on plastic. Gives a cleaner cut.

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

I should know that!! thanks for the tip..

[@Chocoholiclady66]

Genius! Love the simplicity too! In regards to the water-level gauge, I'm really curious as to what he was using for the "float" because I don't think he actually meant to say sponge (like a dish washing/cleaning sponge). A sponge would just soak up water, become heavy and sink downward regardless of the water level. Would have to be something non-absorbent and that acts more life-preserver or floatie- or boat-like (preferably food grade/non-toxic to lessen any risk from PFAS).

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

I switched my float to a wine cork. Thanks for the question. Have a great day.

[@Chocoholiclady66]

@@ZenGardenOasis. My son also suggested a cork fishing bobber. We have wine and other bottle corks as well as fish bobber corks! Plus I have a pantry/kitchen container cork lids including a cork lid from an old crock that broke. So, we have lots of cork! Thanks!

[@daniellelaurino1469]

All of this is amazing. The only concern i have is the mr clean sponge has a lot of chemicles in it. Wouldnt that be absorbed in the water and then into the tomato plant?

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

I'm glad you mentioned that as over the last few days I've been researching natural sponges. thanks for your comment....

[@bocomo6985]

@@ZenGardenOasis. Use a cork from a wine bottle, probably get free at restaurant or bar.

[@Chocoholiclady66]

@@bocomo6985 Cork ... now that might work! Probably needs to be bee-waxed so it doesn't mold, mildew, disintegrate. I'm thinking maybe larger than wine bottle cork though for stability ... like what is used for kitchen/pantry container jar lids. Thanks! 👍

[@AnneluvsKatz]

Would some packing strofoam work?

[@AnneluvsKatz]

Where’s the “After” video?? Iwant to see how those tomatoes grew!

[@IvankaB]

Absolutely brilliant! Thank you for shis! I will certainly be using this technique in my garden this summer!

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Glad it was helpful! Happy gardening

[@dianac2596]

This is fascinating. I’m definitely going to give this a try this year! I’m so excited!👍

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@dianac2596]

It’s so simple. Thanks so much😊

[@luvmypets3194]

Moisten potting soil prior to using to be sure plant gets immediate benefit -- does not get dried out upon teansplantation waiting for wicking to work

[@janiceroberts4805]

I think I'm going to use the same hole for filling and for the rainwater. On the underneath of the lid I'll glue a small piece of screen.

[@davidlangan4902]

You might also "mound up" the mulch in the bucket and then cover with a plastic cover of some sort (cut to fit around base of plant) similar to what they do for earthboxes. This would slow evaporation, keep any weeds down.

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

great idea!!

[@an-alechianeathery770]

I would do what Leon does on his channels ( Gardening with Leon) and self-watering container. Because he doesn't use a mr. Clean cleaning pad. Some of these cleaning/ scrubbing pad has soap, cleaning product in them. Which is very easy to make. Good for herb and peppers plant. As all way, good video.

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Thanks for sharing

[@bpfsu]

Most wicking tubs or containers have some sort of method for aeration via the air gap between the water and the bottom, but I noticed you didn’t do any. How did it perform?

[@CrisAnderson27]

If there's no air gap the roots can grow directly into the water. On mine (very different build), I only have one access point to the water, and it's submerged. 3 gallons or so of soil, 3 or so gallons of water. My tomatoes never stop growing lol.

[@snuffoutrouge5109]

you could add a float valve and never have to worry about the water level as it could be connected to the tap via a hose

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

great idea thanks!!! thanks for your comment....

[@MarkSmith-qk2rl]

Do not use potting soil, use potting mix !! I use a wine cork ! On the skewer

[@GimmeADream]

Strangely, I wouldn't have given nylon rope any consideration at all. A cotton rope or a lamp wick probably would have been my first thought for wicking action, because I have both on hand. I also have flannel and towels, but I save those for accident-prone horses I sometimes have on the property. Thanks again for the handy video.

[@yvonneescobosa1438]

Use a cork rather then a sponge for the water meter

[@Kathysart]

Soo darn cool! Thank you.

[@neotoxo54]

Add a zip tie to the bamboo stick so it stops at the lowest limit/level you determine. Good vid 👍

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Good tip!

[@weiyeongtan2695]

I have just a query on the sturdiness of the construction as the weight of the top structure as the plant grows or when after a heavy shower. The top weight might stress and break the bottom structure, especially the lid.

[@franzb69]

this can be also used as a wicking tub for hyrdoponics. a kratky set up. will work well outside.

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Hydroponic videos will probably go up soon!!! Thanks

[@Splendid123456789]

Excellent video, thank you! Did you find that mosquitoes can get through the water gauge hole? I've read they can get through as small as 0.2mm. I'm wondering if you flipped a narrow test tube, or something similar, upside down and glued it over the water gauge if that would resolve any mosquitoes possibly getting in that way.

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Not that I know of

[@monomille1]

So how well did this work for you? Any lessons learned in this first year? I currently use wicking tubs as growing containers but I need to fill the bottoms too frequently since only a modest portion of the tub is used as the water source for wicking. I might try a tub on tub system if your scheme has worked well for you. You might consider a tub on tub variant since the tubs hold 27 gallons and might be more stable if you fix them to each other.

[@neotoxo54]

Wonder if the wicking action would improve if you rolled up towel instead of folding?

[@iva4856]

Clearly, he did roll it up not fold it.

[@PilarFrancisco-Saguil]

Just wondering when it rain water will accumulate in the white bucket and not good for the plant to sit in the water and it will be heavy over time the blue lid will break

[@BrokePhilanthropist]

Soil wicks to so the towel doesn’t need to be that high at all. But that works.

[@MichaelBartz-q5g]

Roots in the reservoir. I have used similar setups and the plant roots always seem to seep their way into the water tank. Eventually it starts to smell and the plant stops flourishing. My only solution was growing smaller rooted plants

[@Jack-gt4os]

What about the toxicity of the tote. Not recommended for water storage for plants. Plus should you wash the wicking towel a few times to rinse out some of the chemicals

[@susanv1535]

So what keeps the towel from getting moldy, and sending all the mold into dirt/plant? Do you rinse it, and wash it once a month?

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Shot glass of listerine

[@MarkSmith-qk2rl]

I’ve been using a towel for years to wick water to my plants

[@Splendid123456789]

Thank you! Does your wicking towel end up moldy at all, do you have to clean\maintain it regularly somehow?

[@MarkSmith-qk2rl]

@@Splendid123456789 no but I clean it every couple weeks

[@AShakyLife]

​@@MarkSmith-qk2rlHow do you clean it?

[@MarkSmith-qk2rl]

@@AShakyLife just rinse it out every couple weeks

[@Heatherhigleydrums]

If i have already got compost in my pot, could it work if i put the water source above it and so try to wick water down and across the soil below?

[@victoriao1828]

Excellent idea

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@scottmurray2961]

If you lay your sponge flat, then it won't tip over nearly as bad.

[@davidguidry6894]

I would use the power tools off camera!

[@expressionamidstcacophony390]

The version of the story I've been told is that the hairs don't actually root if you plant deep. Those adventitious roots come from nodules on the stem, and they're more for stability than water uptake. That is, if dirt is climbing the stem in the wild, the plant tries to anchor itself better to avoid being uprooted by whatever is going on. And as such, the trick of planting tomatoes deeper doesn't actually accomplish much, and could even be harmful in a small container since the feeding roots are trapped in even less space than normal. So goes the story. I've never tested one way or the other. Just thought I'd put that out there.

[@FATxAZZxGONExCRAZZZY]

There is one reason i disagree that a cotton towel is the best wicking material and that is that it degrades/rots fairly fast, same thing for just about all organic fibers. Nylon is conidered the best because it wicks great and is synthetic so it doesnt degrade as fast or start producing a rotten smell. My personal favourite is acryllic fibers, another synthetic option.

[@ronaldphillips8750]

What is to prevent a mature plant from blowing over when you have 18 mph wind?

[@sprkmn]

cleaning sponges soak up water and will not float.

[@MelAtlNP]

I think he used a Mr Clean “magic” sponge. It’s very different from a normal sponge. It’s not really made to absorb water.

[@Heatherhigleydrums]

Does the reservoir conrainer have to have a hole opening to air to create wicking action or is that just for practicality of filling it?

[@FATxAZZxGONExCRAZZZY]

Doesnt strictly need an air hole, however with this design the filling hole also serves as overflow protection. If you look at various bucket style designs they all have drainage holes on the sides near the top of the resevoir to avoid the plant drowning whenever it rains. Also depending on design one can accidentally create an anarobic enviroment in the resevoir and a lot of the bad bacteria we want to avoid like anarobic conditions.

[@jqc5]

please show the progression of your project

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

I am planning on more youtube shorts for updates....thanks for your comment.

[@arhodes2866]

Thank you

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

You're welcome

[@patriciabalassone2676]

I tried your method but I can’t figure out why the soil in my top buckets ends up so saturated that my plants started wilting.

[@FATxAZZxGONExCRAZZZY]

There are two main things that could be your issue. First issue could be that your plant doesnt like the amount of moisture in the substrate. Second and more likely issue would be that your substrate isnt the right compositions or poor quality, which is to say that the plant roots arent able to breathe.

[@MelAtlNP]

How did your tomato plant do? Was the Bucket big enough for the life of the tomato plant?

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

Yes plan on it again this year….happy gardening

[@yrrahyrrah]

@@ZenGardenOasis. Cool. How about any fungus/bacterial/algae growth in the water reservoir or rotting of the towel?

[@dianac2596]

I think you would need a very strong lid. Don’t buy anything flimsy. That bush tomato is going to get heavy. Be careful.

[@janiceroberts4805]

I was thinking the same thing, I think maybe a couple thin pieces of wood going across the top of the tote and sitting the bucket on them, maybe cut a small yogurt container to that height between the lid of the tote and bottom of bucket to help prevent the water on the wick dehydrating.

[@RayPerkins01]

What stops the terry towel from rotting?

[@raybucbolt]

What size is your drill bit in this. 1.5 inch ?

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

👍

[@_sunshine_rainbows]

the sponge is called magic eraser

[@petros-petra]

Never use gloves when drilling

[@snuffoutrouge5109]

Never had issue with a hole saw but I have drilled a 15mm drill bit into my thumb as I was holding timber and the drill bit grabbed in timber and went through my thumb nail and thumb. 3 hour wait in ER to get X ray and sterilisation of wound.

[@Still-Learning]

Or...when working with ANY rotating tool/machinery.

[@purplethumb7887]

Wouldn't the towel degrade too quickly? I like the concept, but one would have to have a huge growing space for a setup like this.

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

If space is an issue check out my newer vids on hydroponics. Minimal space needed. Have a great day.

[@slamdunk58]

You must live in a place with no wind. That's a great build but that thing wouldn't stay up right for a week where I live. Just saying.

[@ZenGardenOasis.]

I would try some of the metal concrete rod into the ground from the cement area of the big box store.....putting them on each side might stabilize the tubs....yes wind here is minimal.

[@lindmarcella]

Why not just do it hydroponically? What am I missing?

[@Michelle-ng5zs]

Hydroponic gardening needs a power source and pump to run to keep active water for plants. Nutrients also must be bought and added since you are omitting nutrient rich soil.

[@andygold]

​@@Michelle-ng5zs Not 100% correct! Look up Kratky hydroponics. It's a totally off-grid method. With many veggies, all you do is fill your container to just below the rim with your nutrient solution, pop on the top with your plants roots in the solution, and then do absolutely nothing for the next month or two. As the solution gets used and lowers in the container, the plant develops longer roots to stay hydrated. They also develop air roots as well that keeps the plant roots system oxygenated too. It's especially good for leafy greens of all types. Some people occasionally top off the solution, but the trick is to not let it get too low before topping off as you don't want to drown all the air roots. For example, if you let the level drop 4 inches and then refill it 4 inches, all the air roots that grew during that 4" drop will then be drowned. Kratky works good for lots of veggies including cucumbers and tomatoes and others ..

[@abbibrannan333]

My dear man, nylon is inherently waterproof. so how can a nylon rope be a wick, it cannot.

[@markhooker8520]

Capillary action.

[@ddhqj2023]

A Terry towel isn't made of nylon though. It's cotton.

[@CrisAnderson27]

It absolutely can.

[@dannyproffitt2488]

My experience with these tubs is that the sun breaks them Dow over the year. They become brittle and break apart. I recommend the application of a sun blocker to prevent this. Something like “Protectcoat”.

[@saddle1940]

Capillary action works on the gaps in the fibre, not the fibre itself. Water climbs plastic easily if the plastic walls are close together.

[@adamgatley8217]

This is a terrible method… within 1-2 years the microbes will eat the towel and you will have to go back through and start all over again. …this will also be an absolute mess when it rains. …and that bottom tub will crack within 1-2 years in the sun.

[@La.Summer]

Might you have a better method?

[@adamgatley8217]

@@La.SummerYes, I perfected this method 2 years ago and then waited 2 years to see if the last problem of the microbes devouring the wicks was indeed solved… and it is indeed perfected… my self wicking buckets pull 6” of water to my plants in 2 days… meaning they wick incredibly fast and the plants when they know this can chug water like nothing I have ever seen… this now means since I have not had to change the wicks in two years and since there is zero deterioration in the wicks that these wicking buckets are FOREVER wicking buckets… what do I mean… I literally have to do nothing to them except fertilize and when it is really hot fill the reservoir back up to the 6” mark every 2 days… but when it’s not full blown summer extreme they can go several days without me having to top them off… and in the spring when I drop seeds in or plant seedling in them they are so small they can go weeks without topping them off… it is only when they are full size and extreme heat that they pull up all the water in two days… especially if they are fruiting… but boy will a plant put out fruit and big fruit when it does not understand such a thing as no water… so basically at the 3 year mark the plastic bucket will start to crack and disintegrate so with my wicking bucket I just buy a new bucket from Walmart for under $4 and pick my plant pot up out of the broken bucket wicks and watering stake and all in one action place it in the new bucket… takes less than 9 seconds and I’m good for another 3 years for less than $4 the pot that contains the wicks sits inside the bucket and is protected from the UV and so lasts forever and it’s a UV resistant plant pot anyway… but with the bucket shielding it it lasts forever… I have had these since 2017 when I invented my first version that worked but the wicks only lasted one year before the microbes devoured them… and with my way of doing wicking buckets if the wick fails you basically have to dump it all out and put in new wicks and fill it back up and start all over again… that’s a huge amount of work when you have 50 wicking buckets… that’s why I just had to keep redoing it and trying again and again until I finally solved it… the second generation failed at two years… so it was nice to have 2 years before having to start all over… but with this new wick I invented… that also filters water coming in and out… it will last hundreds of years… meaning I will never have to start all over again ever… just 9 second change the bucket every 3 years for the rest of my life I am set… so now this year… infact oddly enough today I just finished a huge giant IBC tote version… the first of its kind in the entire world… bunch of people have made something like them but nothing like this bad boy… it is the absolutely flawless representation of how to make the perfect forever wicking raised bed in the world… and the price tag as far as cost of materials was $120 way under the $300 I had guessed… completely airtight seal between the reservoir and bed with the only exception being the one wick… that’s right… the forever wick I made for the bucket turned out to wick so well that I only need one giant wick for an entire raised bed… and the wick not only takes the water up but completely filters it coming down in to the 120 gallon reservoir at the bottom as it travels through a layer of carbon i imbedded in to the wicking material… I haven’t tested it but I believe the water in the reservoir is so clean that you could even drink it… after boiling of course… let’s hope it never comes to that… but if it does I’ll have thousands of gallons because I bought 30 of these totes… happy gardening… oh and if I could tell you anything at all… it would be… get a worm bin… home made worm castings are like soil crack… plants in self watering buckets will do things plants in the ground will never do if you feed them home grown worm castings with compost bedding and leaf mold with kelp rock dust Black Soldier Fly Frass eggshells wood ash, neam meal and coffee grinds and other kitchen scraps and plant trimmings… you should see my gargantuan juicy sweet strawberry… I give them to my girlfriend and… well yeah… it’s over… she’ll do whatever I tell her… well she does that anyway… but you get the idea 👊

[@skylandfelch68]

​@adamgatley8217 you talk about forever wick but not mentioned is what is better from the Terri towl. lets hear it.