Giving new life: The Self-Watering Planter

Concept & Inspiration

My wife is a plant enthusiast, and our home is filled with greenery—from small succulents on the windowsills to larger plants in nearly every room. She takes great care in maintaining them, but with so many plants, watering them all consistently can be a challenge. For this upcycling project, I wanted to combine her love for plants with my passion for DIY projects, creating something that would not only be useful but also align with our shared interest in sustainability.

We are both people who value efficiency and automation, always looking for ways to make daily tasks simpler and more manageable. A self-watering system seemed like the perfect way to incorporate both of our interests and it would help keep the plants hydrated while reducing the need for frequent watering, making plant care more convenient and hands-off. We are also big travelers and will travel whenever possible so this idea seems to solve a lot of problems, and this idea can be incorporated every time we leave, even if only temporary.

One of my wife’s other plants is a rubber tree from Easyplant, which features a self-watering design. Their system works by storing water in a reservoir at the bottom of the planter, which then gravity-feeds moisture to the plant as needed. This setup allows the plant to regulate its own water intake and can go up to a month before needing a refill. I was impressed by the simplicity and functionality of this design and wanted to create a DIY version using only recycled materials. My goal was to take inspiration from Easyplant while making a budget-friendly, upcycled alternative that would be easy to recreate and adapt for different plants.

Functional Goals

• Build a self-watering planter using only recycled and household materials.
• Ensure the system effectively delivers water to the plant over time.
• Make the structure sturdy enough to last through multiple plant growth cycles.

Artistic & Aesthetic Goals

This project follows the biophilic design aesthetic, which emphasizes harmony between nature and human-made environments. A key feature of this design is visibility—unlike traditional planters, this one allows the plant’s roots and water system to be seen as the plant develops. This transparency adds an educational aspect, letting us observe plant growth in real time.

Materials Used

• Recycled Dr. Pepper 2-liter plastic bottle
• Potting soil
• Water
• Used clothing fabric
• Small plant

Fabrication Steps

1. Selecting the Bottle

• I chose a Dr. Pepper 2-liter bottle for its shape and transparency. Different brands have slight variations in dimensions and structure, so I picked one that fit the aesthetic and functional needs of the design
  

2. Cutting & Prepping the Bottle

• The bottle was cut approximately 6 inches from the top, creating a larger water reservoir.
• Multiple small holes were punctured in the top portion for aeration.

3. Creating the Self-Watering System

• The top half of the bottle was flipped upside down so that the bottle cap pointed downward into the lower section.

• Instead of using a string wick, I repurposed used clothing fabric to function as the wick. This material was more absorbent and allowed for better water transfer from the reservoir to the soil.

4. Assembling the Planter

• The top half was placed inside the bottom reservoir, with the fabric wick securely in place.

• A small plant was used instead of a seed, allowing me to immediately test the self-watering function.
• Water was poured into the bottom section to initiate the self-watering process.

Some adjustments I made from the original intended design were swapping out the original string wick with used clothing fabric. I made this switch because the used clothing fabric had a better water transfer result than the string did, as it was more efficient at pulling water from the reservoir up to the plant.

The final self-watering planter maintains a minimalist, eco-friendly aesthetic while allowing a full view of the plant’s roots and water system. The transparency of the plastic bottle enhances the biophilic design, making it a unique blend of natural and industrial elements.

Artistic & Aesthetic Reflection

The final design turned out pretty close to what I was aiming for. The clear plastic makes it easy to see the plant’s roots and the water level, which is a cool feature you don’t usually get with a regular planter. It fits the idea of blending nature with human-made design, and it’s simple but functional.

I think it looks good in our home and does exactly what I wanted it to do which is combining sustainability, automation, and a clean aesthetic. It’s also a good conversation piece since you can actually see how the self-watering system works. The fact that it’s made from an upcycled bottle adds to its purpose, making it both practical and a way to cut down on waste.

If I were to change anything, I might try using a different bottle shape or even adding a sleeve around it to give it a different look. Right now, the exposed plastic has a very DIY feel, which works for an upcycling project, but I could see ways to refine it. Some ways would be to use smaller plastic bottles as the 2-Liter is quite large. Also, I could have melted down the cut edges to get a smooth, more finished look. Overall, though, I’m happy with how it turned out, and it does exactly what I wanted it to do.

Functional Evaluation & Future Plans

The planter works just like I hoped it would. The fabric wick pulls water up from the reservoir into the soil, and the plant is staying watered without any extra effort. It’s sturdy enough and should last a while, at least as long as the plant needs it. The clear plastic makes it easy to check the water level, so there’s no guesswork on when to refill it.

One of the biggest successes was switching from a string wick to fabric from an old piece of clothing. It absorbs and transfers water way better, which helps keep the soil at the right moisture level. The only real downside is that the water reservoir isn’t huge, so it still needs refilling fairly often. I could probably adjust the design by using a bigger bottle or playing around with the wick material to slow the absorption rate.

Moving forward, I might experiment with different bottles to see if certain shapes or sizes work better. I could also try adding a cover or sleeve to give it a cleaner look while keeping the transparency in certain areas. For now, I’m keeping this one and using it to test how different plants do in it. If it holds up well, I might make a few more. Either way, this project was a good reminder that upcycling can be both useful and easy to do with the right materials.

Wrapping it Up

This project was a great way to combine my interest in DIY with my wife’s love for plants while also focusing on sustainability. By upcycling a plastic bottle into a self-watering planter, I was able to create something both functional and visually interesting. The design met my original goals of using recycled materials, being easy to maintain, and allowing us to see the plant’s growth in real-time. Switching from a string wick to fabric was a key improvement, and while there are small tweaks I could make, like refining the look or adjusting the reservoir size, the overall result turned out well. This project reinforced how small design changes can make a big impact, and it showed me how easy it is to give everyday materials a second life. I’ll keep experimenting with different variations, but for now, I’m happy with what I created and how well it works.

Sources:

This project was inspired by a Pinterest post that I found when searching for DIY projects to make using recycled materials. Here is a link to that post.
https://scoutlife.org/hobbies-projects/projects/4948/six-projects-to-do-with-plastic-bottles-and-jugs/

All Images were taken by myself.

Featured Image:
URL: https://scoutlife.org/hobbies-projects/projects/4948/six-projects-to-do-with-plastic-bottles-and-jugs/ Author: David J. Brooks