The container does not water itself, really. This is a watering system that has a reservoir of water at the bottom. The reservoir is connected to the soil foot or a fabric wick.
In a soil foot system, the plants sends it roots down in the foot, and draws up the needed water. In a wick system, the water is drawn up the wick via capillary action in the soil of the pot.
Therefore, you don’t have to always water the plants.
Self-watering systems are great for a wide variety of plants: garden plants and even house plants.
Project:
Create a simple self-watering system for growing a plant of your choice using recycled materials. Record the growth of the plant using a table, pictures or drawings.
Planting Guidelines:
You may plant a vegetable or herb in a container. If you are planting seeds, select healthy seedlings. Make sure they are not too old. A healthy seedling has a shoot:root ratio of about 2:1 and 5-6 leaves. It should be at least 5 cm (2 inches) with white roots.
Place your plant in a pot. Be careful not to cover the base of the first leaves with soil. Ensure seedlings are firmly positioned by pressing the soil around it with your hands. Keep the plant free from weeds at all times.
Water the plants immediately after transplanting. Remember to use clean water to irrigate the plant.
Videos:
DIY Self-watering Planter
How to measure growth rate of plants?
