Okay, so today I’m gonna walk you through my little project: the “b1 flowerpot.” It’s nothing crazy, just a fun thing I messed around with over the weekend.
First things first, I started with a basic idea. I wanted a small, self-watering flowerpot. I’m not exactly known for my green thumb, so anything that makes plant care easier is a win in my book. I sketched out a super rough design on a piece of paper. Basically, it was two containers – one on top for the soil and the plant, and one underneath to hold water.
Next, I grabbed my materials. I used some plastic containers I had lying around. An old yogurt container worked great for the top part (the plant holder), and a bigger Tupperware-type container for the bottom (the water reservoir). I made sure both were clean, obviously.
Then the real fun began. I drilled a few small holes in the bottom of the yogurt container. These were crucial – they’re how the water wicks up to the soil. I didn’t want to go overboard, so I started with just three or four small holes and figured I could add more later if needed.
After that, I figured out how the water would actually get up to the soil. I cut a strip of felt fabric – an old craft project came in handy here. This felt acts as a wick. I threaded one end of the felt strip through the holes I drilled in the yogurt container, letting the other end dangle down into the Tupperware container. This way, the felt could soak up the water and deliver it to the soil above.
Now it was time to assemble everything. I placed the yogurt container inside the Tupperware container, making sure the felt wick was actually touching the bottom. Then, I added some potting soil to the yogurt container. Not too much, just enough to fill it up most of the way.
The most important step: I chose a plant! I went with a small succulent because they’re pretty low-maintenance. I gently planted it in the soil, making sure not to damage the roots or the felt wick.
Finally, I poured water into the bottom container, just enough to cover the end of the felt wick. And that was it! My “b1 flowerpot” was officially done. I set it on my windowsill and kept an eye on it.
I have to say, it actually worked! The soil stayed moist, and the succulent seemed pretty happy. I did have to refill the water every few days, but that was way less work than watering it every day.
Of course, there were some minor issues. The felt wick sometimes got a little algae-y, so I had to clean it every now and then. And I realized I probably could have used a slightly bigger water reservoir. But overall, it was a successful little project. Maybe next time I’ll try making one with a built-in water level indicator!
