Comments on: IKEA Self Watering Plant Pot Hack / Flood Rescue

By: no blues for your greens | Decoration and furniture ideas

no blues for your greens | Decoration and furniture ideas — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:05:10 +0000

[...] pk shiu sent me his plant pot hack that may just rescue your greens from drowning in the rain. it’s a neat little physics trick. i do the same to clean my fish tank but never thought of putting it to use with plants. nice one, shiu. [...]

By: Karin

Karin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:26:06 +0000

I tried to drill holes in Ikea pots with a drill bit made especailly for ceramics,concrete etc. ..It did not make a dent or scratch even. It must have been fired at a high cone.

By: John

John — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:42:13 +0000

Also, using plastic or some sort of Earthbox-like water-repellent material over the soil will keep the rain out, keep water from evaporating too fast, and keep out the weeds. It also keeps water off of the fertilizer strip if you’re growing vegetables. I just bought one today. I think I’m going to try carrots inside the pot.

By: no blues for your greens « tissue paper

no blues for your greens « tissue paper — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:58:35 +0000

By: pk

pk — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:21:05 +0000

That’s an interesting idea. Have you tried this? I wonder if the holes are too small the water is not going to drain out, and too large the soil will come out with it. Perhaps drill it at an upward angle? I wonder if I can drill the hole right at where the plate is, because I think the water/soil contact is actually made in the lower center portion of the plate, and not at the top of the plate.

By: Heather in Washington State, USA

Heather in Washington State, USA — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:13:30 +0000

Another solution would be to drill several small drain holes in the side of the pot just below the top plate of the reservoir. This way the water will drain out when it reaches that level.