I've seen a lot of people talking online about self-watering flowerpots. Looking around, I've found some from $15.00 to 50.00, which is too much. Because with a little imagination you can take a gardening container, your favorite potting soil, and a little Water-Keep and create your own "kinda-sorta" self-watering pot. Though technically not a true "self-watering pot," this variation lets Water-Keep do the bulk of your watering work for you.

Best of all, the cost of making your own Water-Keep container garden is far less than buying a self-watering flowerpot at the store.

And it's more fun too!

This project takes is easy to complete. Here are the six things you need to keep in mind:

 Choosing a suitable container
 Choosing your soil
 The right amount of sunlight
 Choosing fertilizer
 Proper watering recommendations
 What to plant?


Step 1: Choosing a suitable container

This first step is probably the most important because using the wrong type of garden container can spell disaster.  1 square yard = 9 square feet

Material
When looking for containers, you want to pay attention to the material it's made out of. Here are a few thoughts to consider:
 Cheap plastic pots may crack in sunlight if exposed outdoors, but they will resist     indoors because windows filter the harshest part of UV radiations.
 Terracotta or clay pots tend to dry out rapidly, unless you use a hydrogel (like     Water- Keep) mixed into the soil. Clay is  porous and moisture will evaporate through     the walls of your pot.
 Glazed ceramic pots are good choices but they do require several drainage holes (1/2 inch per hole).
 Wooden containers are susceptible to rot. Redwood and cedar are more rot resistant and can be use without staining or     painting. Avoid treated wood, since the vapors used to treat these woods are usually toxic and will release into the roots.
 Lighter colors may be preferred for hot weather areas of the country since they will reflect more light and heat.


Size
There's an easy equation for picking the right sized container for your plants: The more plants, the larger the pot.

Seriously, the number of plants you're planning on potting into a single container does determine how large a container to use.

A small pot can restrict your plants' root area-something to consider if your plants produce a large root structure. Also, smaller pots tend to dry out in less than a day if exposed to direct sunlight.

Smaller pots are suitable for some herbs, but any containers used for vegetable planting should be between 3 to 30 gallons.


Placement
Proper water drainage promotes healthy roots. To make sure your containers drain, you can set them on bricks or a layer of tiles.


Step 2: Choosing your soil

Whatever soil you choose to use, make sure it drains rapidly while retaining enough water to keep your roots evenly moist. Here, your options are open. You can use compost, a good quality potting mix, a soil/peat mix, or a soiless mix.

Just remember, commercial soil tends to be acidic, so add a little lime. This is especially true for plants that like soil with a higher PH, like tomato plants!

Now here's where Water-Keep's magic turns your ordinary container garden into a water-conserving miracle. First, mix Water-Keep into your soil according to instructions {water-keep_soil_ratio.html}, but make sure to measure how much soil your container can hold before combining it with the hydrogel.

You'll want to leave a three-inch space from the top of your soil mixture, to the rim of your container, because Water-Keep will expand tremendously after watering. So now that your mixture's ready, we can get down to the nitty-gritty of how to care for plants.


Step 3: The right amount of sunlight

Your container garden will need at least five hours of direct sunlight every day. Some tips to remember:

	Leafy vegetables like cabbage and lettuce can tolerate the most shade.
	Root vegetables like potations and carrots will need more sun.
	Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, zucchini, and other above ground fruit and vegetables will need the most direct sunlight.

Knowing the amount of sun your plants need allows you to plant more than one vegetable in a container. And as a bonus, growing a combination of plants together can ward off pests that are less attracted to mixed scents.


Step 4: Choosing fertilizer

Many commercial potting soils already have some amount of fertilizer mixed in them. Check the label on the product to make sure that it contains a variety and balanced fertilizer solution. Also, make a point to only buy fertilizer-potting soil mixes that contain trace elements.

If your soil doesn't already have a fertilizer mixed with it, you can use a liquid fertilizer with every other watering to get your plants started, or to enhance growth during fruit development.

A slow releasing fertilizer works well for container gardens that need frequent watering. Water-Keep will release water-soluble fertilizer over time, while holding in moisture longer, so that plants aren't overly stress from lack of water!

Step 5: Proper watering recommendations

As with sunlight and soil nutrients, make sure that any plants you happen to mix in a container have similar watering requirements. A rosemary plant will thrive in relatively dry soil while your tomato plants enjoy plenty of moisture around their roots. So don't plant them in the same container.

Mixing various flowers and foliage plants in the same pot, while making a striking statement, will require more forethought than what you might put into planting them in your yard.

An easy way to know when to water your potted plants is to ask them. Seriously! Give them quick thump on the pot or container, and listen. If the thump sounds hollow, chances are your soil is dry and needs water. If it thuds, there's still some moisture in the soil.

Unlike in the outdoors, container gardens lose moisture rapidly. And if you're making hanging baskets, they might actually need watering on a daily basis. Water-Keep will cut down on how frequently you'll need to water your plants. It's not uncommon for me to have to water my plants half as much as I did before using Water-Keep.(And remember, Water-Keep works for up to seven years).

Step 6: What to plant?

Now's the time to let your creativity and personal tastes show, so I won't give too much advice about what to plant. Just about anything you can plant outside, can be grown in an indoor container garden.

But for first-time container gardeners who want to start out with an easy project, I'd recommend an herb garden. Herbs are easy to grow, low maintenance, and they add spice to whatever your cooking-not to mention the 24-hour aromatic enjoyment that will fill your home of you grow them indoors!

Rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram, basil, sage, and bay enjoy full sun, which improves their flavor. But be sure to bring your rosemary and bay closer to your house during winter because they need shelter. Chives, parsley, chervil, and mint grow well in light shade, but give mint its own container or it will overtake its neighbors.

I learned this the hard way, and have been battling some overly enthusiastic mint plants in my yard. They're formidable opponents, but I'll show them who's boss.

If you prefer flowers to herbs, try pansies, impatiens, geraniums, marigold, periwinkle, petunias, salvia, snapdragons, and torenias.

As for vegetables, you can't get any easier than tomatoes and peppers.

We're done!

That's it for this project. I wish you the best of luck with your Water-Keep "self-watering (kinda-sorta)" container gardens! These mini gardens are great projects for beginners and advanced gardeners alike. Also, I've found they make a great family activity, so get the little ones involved too.

Until next time, let me know how it goes.