SELF-WATERING Planter….From $5 File Cabinet

[@sprengertrinker]

Water wicks from the reservoirs up through the soil might reduce the need for frequent watering of new plants. Especially helpful if it's a plant that likes evenly moist soil.

[@suburbanbiology]

I bet that would work. Thanks for the idea!

[@RobertKirkpatrick84]

I think this is a great build and the concepts would translate into anything! I see this being very easy to make with recycled pallets! If you make some ola pots, you could also use those to kick start the growing cycle. I have a similar concept inside my house for my houseplants, except I used perlite in the bottom as my reservoir and then a towel on top of that. My plants struggled but then I did ola pots and now they are thriving more than any plants I have ever grown!

[@suburbanbiology]

Cool! You’re right. this is kind of like large olla. I stole the idea from Earthship Biotecture.

[@sirnonamederechte6169]

Drawer ideas: insect box oyster mushroom farm bird house

[@suburbanbiology]

I like them all! Maybe nesting boxes for my hens?

[@theyellowarchitect4504]

@@suburbanbiology that works, bird house is something i would love to see personally

[@ZippedUpKitz]

@@suburbanbiologyyes that too! Except I would be worried about the sharp corners … maybe if you ro7 dead them down that would work….

[@ZippedUpKitz]

Now that is a brilliant idea! The filing cabinet drawers… PLANTER BOXES!! Individual planter boxes… you even have a name plate on the front of each drawer to tell you what you have planted in them!

[@suburbanbiology]

Good idea. Thanks!!

[@terryatwater7961]

A genius with a sense of humor..Who would of thought.

[@suburbanbiology]

High praise!!! Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@Thomas-xn6em]

I am looking forward to the green house!

[@suburbanbiology]

Me too!!! Thanks for your support!

[@toiletfx5679]

1:43 Stack the drawers ontop of eachother in an alternating cross pattern. Fill each drawer with soil and plant herbs / vegetables. Maybe make holes in each drawer so that rainwater can flow more easily from top to bottom.

[@suburbanbiology]

I like it! Thanks for the idea 🙏🏼

[@annwithaplan9766]

@@suburbanbiology - I know of someone who uses them for chicken nesting boxes.

[@seba_stiano]

Really excited to see the greenhouse project!

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks! I’m excited to build it!!!

[@ChronicNameChanger]

I'm sure you could use the old drawers as some raised planters for smaller crops.

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks for the idea!

[@MissJubilee]

Nice idea! My favorite line is “I assume if you have an internet connection, you can source an old towel.” That I can! A truck, a dolly, and a drill with a strong enough motor and large enough bit for this project, not so much. Sigh. Still, it at least makes me think of what else might work as a planter that one wouldn’t expect… and consider what accessories I might want if I ever replace the 50-year-old electric drill my household currently uses :)

[@suburbanbiology]

I must say I love my battery drill. I grew up using a corded black & decker from the 50s. Modern battery drills are insanely good. Thanks for watching and for commenting!!!

[@theyellowarchitect4504]

Based. Looking forward to the scaled version of the greenhouse version, looks promising! Btw the orange tree should be moved after the next winter, otherwise its development will be stunted as long its restricted in that file cabinet

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks for the tip. I’ll move it to the warmest microclimate I can find in my yard. And then maybe someday the greenhouse!

[@lynnhayes2363]

I have been holding on to some file cabinets for just this idea. Now I have a MUCH better plan on how to implement.

[@suburbanbiology]

NICE!!!! I’m so glad it could help you. Thanks for watching and for commenting!!!

[@EveryoneWhoUsesThisTV]

I don't cut and join my plastic bottles; I just poke them full of holes with an old soldering iron. I fill the gaps between bottles with gravel (unless the reservoir is tall, then I use towers of coarse sand as wicks because gravel will only wick up around 10 inches) Reticulation pipe offcuts let me add water to the reservoir directly, which is useful for tomatoes or watermelon etc - plants that don't like splashes from watering. I use geotextile for the soil membrane. Wicking beds and wicking buckets are just the thing in sunny Australia! :)

[@suburbanbiology]

Great tips! Thanks for weighing in!!!

[@GhostLinx]

I want to see the greenhouse video to eventually replicate it for a self sufficient garden!

[@suburbanbiology]

I’m gathering materials and finalizing plans!!!

[@universalangei9320]

You can prevent punchers of the plastic by sifting the dirt with a screen that only lets dirt through. It won't take long to shift your dirt.

[@suburbanbiology]

When I scale this idea up to the greenhouse I will definitely plan on doing that. Thanks!

[@ShioriWhitefeather]

for the drawers, you could use them for flower pots

[@suburbanbiology]

That’s a cool idea. Thanks for weighing in!!!!

[@RifleDrengr]

Found your channel a couple days ago and am really enjoying your videos! Keep on doing what you're doing! Really stoked to see the greenhouse being built :D

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m excited to build this thing. Just talked to the city today about all the rules I have to abide by.

[@VandDangle]

rather than wait until roots grow down to the reservoir you can also use microfiber cloth or actual wicks to draw water up into the grow bed. Depending on your growing medium you will have either moist areas plant roots can find much quicker or slightly moist soil everywhere if there is alot of organics to hold water in the soil. For drawer ideas... some kind of vent cover/flap for your new green house.. assuming you are taking them apart dog door.. attach them all together and mount on a rolling cart for a compartmented work table for the green house.

[@suburbanbiology]

Cool ideas! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@dianeladico1769]

Neat idea. My only concern would be using cotton as a soil barrier. I'd worry that it would rot away fairly quickly. This is where I'd invest in some heavy-duty landscape fabric (I know, >$5). It's held up well for me in my wicking tubs. I had a towel wind up in a neglected corner of the garden and it was trashed by the following Spring. As to the drawers-you have the skill and materials for metalworking. I'd cut the drawers down from the back and trim the fronts so they fit back inside the file cabinet and rest on the back/bottom to either provide a stable bridge over the bottle reservoir or just raise the soil level a bit if you don't want all that weight or need the soil for the plants or the greenhouse idea. Or use the dividers to build a platform. Push comes to shove, trim and bury them to contain raspberry or other bramble plants.

[@suburbanbiology]

I like the idea of using them as the reservoirs. I never thought of that 🤔 they would rust out eventually but that’s still a cool idea! Thanks!

[@Ottetal]

I love watching this channel. It's weird how some of your videos gets millions of views, and others have very few. Either way, all of the content is high quality - good watch

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks! Yeah this one isn’t doing so well. I’m having a hard time thinking of a thumbnail that grabs attention.

[@Ottetal]

@@suburbanbiology Yeeeah, it's a tough one. Especially since the file cabinet's original strengths (heavy duty rails, boxy shape, drawers) are not really utilized to any extend. It could have been any rectangular object, but this one has no "that's mega weird - I *have to see that!*", which, for instance, an old fridge or box freezer could have given. Come to think of it, a box freezer is already a pretty decent planter

[@johnwallace9467]

Well, Sir, you invited me to share my impressions of this video after I commented on the Fence. I think you might be right that the thumbnail is not an ideal welcome mat. It may just be that some projects don't distill easily into a pic...or a title. No one loves repurposing unlikely things more than I do but your clickbait challenge here is tough. My only thought is that the thumbnail be the finished planter (with plants) and the title: It's an Old File Cabinet! Less cinematic than the present one but perhaps more informative? Meanwhile, watching this very much confirmed your sense of balance in how you do your projects as well as the videos themselves. Extremely clear, fat-free, with lots of options for viewers with less money and/or fewer skills. Not to mention the occasional chortle. You are good company.

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you! I am planning a new thumbnail. I tried one with the finished planter next to a file cabinet when it first launched but that one had even worse click analytics. Who knows 🤷 the mysteries of KZbin. I appreciate the time you took for the feedback. Thanks!!!!

[@joshua6287]

you could use the drawers to make a stacking bee hive

[@suburbanbiology]

I would have never thought of that one. Thanks!

[@toiletfx5679]

12:06 Can't wait for the Greenhouse video :D

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks! I’m excited to start building it!!!

[@stevenothanks7379]

pretty smart guy - good design

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks!

[@brettnoss6220]

0:41 was quite impressive

[@suburbanbiology]

Took me a few tries 😂 thank you! 🙏🏼

[@vldmr.n]

Amazing stuff. Keep going

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@EricFeldmann]

might i suggest using shower curtains for a liner, they can be gotten a a dollar store for cheap

[@suburbanbiology]

Good idea! Thanks

[@RayGalactic]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@suburbanbiology]

Thank YOU for watching and commenting! 🙏🏼

[@slaplapdog]

How about a layer of Flex Seal as an alternative to or in addition to the liner? I've built wicking beds from refrigerators laid on their backs, with any holes filled with RapidSet cement. The insulation was very effective.

[@suburbanbiology]

I’ve never worked with flex seal but from the commercials I’ve seen that might work. Thanks for the idea!!!

[@gdubbyu9033]

I appreciate the concept of using the earth as a thermal mass device in your scaled up version in the greenhouse build. Are you intending to cool it in a geothermal fashion? I ask because I watched a video not long ago of a guy, like yourself, attempt that and failed because the passive solar heating of the greenhouse overwhelmed the system. I’m certain a YT search will bring up the vid.

[@suburbanbiology]

There is no way I would be able to keep it adequately cool with just geothermal. I plan to have many windows, louvers in the roof, and several large sliding doors. On top of that, I also plan on welding a structure that will allow me to drape shade cloth over the top of the entire greenhouse. My climate is crazy hot, so i need to overbuild the cooling system. I also will not plant anything that dies in mild heat. Thanks for commenting!!!

[@elwood212]

I’d use the DRAWS as storage draws on wooden shelves for yr workshop.

[@suburbanbiology]

Good idea. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@vegasprepperone]

turn the drawers on their side and stack now you have a shelving unit for tools in your garage or a bookcase in your office

[@suburbanbiology]

Maybe even tack weld them together into a tower like that 🤔 thanks!

[@Eyes0penNoFear]

2:11 Legos are too sharp for plastic liners, got it 😂

[@suburbanbiology]

😂 you must have children!

[@christyhughes6632]

That's what She said😊

[@suburbanbiology]

Which part? The “it’s a bit time consuming…” thing? 😂

[@stevenothanks7379]

choo that lil excavator is going to take dayyyyssssssss

[@suburbanbiology]

Yeah it’s not fast but it’s what I got 😂

[@susanschmid2271]

Super.

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks!

[@Trix-i5y]

Could the drawers fit upside down in inside the cabinet and create a resovior?

[@suburbanbiology]

That’s a great idea. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before these comments. Thanks for weighing in!!!

[@Arfath-here]

This guy will definitely survive zombie apocalypse 😂

[@suburbanbiology]

😂 🙏🏼

[@skitzochik]

YAYYYYY...

[@suburbanbiology]

Thanks for watching as always 🙏🏼

[@TaigiTWeseFormosanDiplomat]

i wonder will the still water stuck in the bottom smell bad...

[@suburbanbiology]

Only very slight anaerobic smell to it. The large amount of air in the tubes makes it a fairly aerobic environment

[@greasedragon77]

0:42 How many takes did you do on that tongue twister?😂😂😂

[@suburbanbiology]

About 12 😂

[@Sugar3Glider]

Planter pans were supposed to have water in there, I told you mom!

[@suburbanbiology]

😂

[@susanschmid2271]

[@steeleanderson1172]

Hear me out, you can keep documents and "files" in the drawers

[@suburbanbiology]

Blasphemy! 😂

[@yoyomi6226]

Without the music and just the nature and work sounds will make the videos waaay more enjoyable and interesting

[@suburbanbiology]

I aimed for less music in the video below. But this video didn’t perform as well as many others. I would love to get your feedback. Do you think the below video is any better? Thanks! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYnNiquLpdJ3rck

[@yoyomi6226]

@@suburbanbiology it’s better but I don’t think you need any music at all because 1 you very good voice 2 people associate nature with just nature sounds 3 it will be less work for you so you don’t have to match the right music with the right vid

[@napalmholocaust9093]

Step drills are not the fastest. Hole cutter broaches are, they are expensive, that's why you don't know about them. One is like 30 step drills in price. But if you drill sheet all day, you don't want to waste all that time cutting out all the material in a hole.

[@suburbanbiology]

Touché. I actually have one. I use it in my porch Rennovation video to make the sliding doors. Would have been extreme overkill for this thin sheet metal though. But you’re right. Since it only cuts a ring and not a circle it is faster. Thanks!!!

[@wolframcarmichaelyear5605]

Is your channel flower an edelweiss

[@suburbanbiology]

It was meant to be a metal version of the sunflower that was my original channel icon 🤷

[@wolframcarmichaelyear5605]

Ok

[@ItsJoeyG]

I absolutely love this channel and this video, but please stop with the AI generated thumbnails. I almost didn't click on the video because I thought it was more AI slop until I saw your channel name.

[@suburbanbiology]

I tried 3 other thumbnails with real pictures and this video didn’t perform very well at all compared to some of my others. I did my best to make an AI thumbnail that is attractive and over all fairly honest summary. It seems a lot of commenters are annoyed but the views seem to be up trending now. I am at odds with myself. If I want the work I put into these videos to get seen I’m somewhat obligated to use thumbnails that get views. I hope you will forgive the AI. I just couldn’t get the video to perform with the real photos. Perhaps I’m not planning my photo shoots well enough??? 🤔 the problem is that once this planter is loaded with dirt it’s too late to move it for a photo.

[@ezforsaken]

I like the channel but I hate the AI generated thumbnails. Please go back to the old ones

[@suburbanbiology]

I have been trying for the past week but I just couldn’t get this video to get any traction with the pics I took originally. Notice the views are as low as they are. It’s nuts but if I don’t get the perfect shot with my camera for a thumbnail the entire video is dead in the water. Same thing happened with the wasp video. It started with a real pic of my hand holding sleeping wasps. The video wouldn’t budge. Then with the help of Grok I got it to get some views. I’m sorry you don’t like them. I’d prefer my real-life photos too…..if only they would work.