Purchase a garden mum of your choice at a garden, hardware or department store in the fall. Self-watering pots work well for growing many other plants in the spring and fall. These include vegetables, fruits and herbs.
Obtain a pot with numerous moderately-sized holes in the bottom. This will be to grow your garden mums in. You can usually keep the plants in the pot they came in. Alternatively, you can repot your garden mums if the pot they came in is designed as temporary. If you need to add more soil, make sure to use potting soil. The holes will ensure the potting soil in the pot has direct contact with the wick (towel). Capillary action will move water from the water reservoir (bucket), through the wick, to the potting soil. The holes are also necessary for the plant's roots to escape the pot. From there, they will grow into the large fabric wick (towel). The wick is an excellent environment for roots, with plenty of water and air. Enlarge the pre-existing holes with scissors or a utility knife if there aren’t enough, or if they are too small.
Obtain a used 2-3 gallon (8-12 liter) plastic bucket with no drainage holes and a lid. Clean it out thoroughly of debris. If you don't own one, purchase a new bucket and lid from a hardware or department store.
Cut a slit of 5 or more inches (12+ cm) long and 0.25 inches (5 mm) wide in the lid of the plastic bucket. Use a utility knife, manual keyhole saw, power jigsaw or oscillating saw.
Drill a 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm) hole near the side of the lid to add water to the bucket. Then, fill your bucket with water. It is advisable to move the bucket to its final location before you fill it. Once it's full of water, it will be difficult to lift.
Obtain a towel or washcloth of 12-18 inches (30-35 cm) in length and width. This will be your large fabric wick. You can clean one you already own or purchase one at a local store. Then, saturate the towel or cloth in the bucket of water. The wick is absorbent fabric used to transfer water from a supply to the potting soil. One end will be submerged in the water, and the other in contact with the potting soil of the plant container.
Feed the saturated towel (wick) through the slit in the bucket lid. If necessary, squeeze some of the water from the towel or fold it over to get it to fit. Leave 5 or more inches (12+ cm) of the towel on the lid of the bucket. Additionally, allow at least 6 inches (15 cm) to hang into the water in the bucket. Water will "wick" from the end of the towel in the water, through the towel. Then, it will be absorbed by the roots of the plant that is placed on the bucket lid.
Place the lid, complete with the large fabric wick fastened through it, onto the bucket. You have now set up the fundamentals of your self-watering system. It will keep your plants uniformly watered all day.
Obtain a decorative pot with a drainage hole in the bottom. It should be big enough to hold a 2-3 gallon (8-12 liter) plastic bucket.
Place the bucket (water reservoir) into the decorative pot.
Place your garden mums' pot on the bucket lid, on top of the towel. Then, water your plant, and the potting soil it's planted in, thoroughly. This establishes the wicking connection between the water reservoir (the water in the bucket) and the potting soil. Every time the plant is moved from on top of the towel, it must be watered from the top to re-establish the wicking connection. However, there is no need to move the plant and pot from their position at any time.
Add water to the bucket every 5 -7 days. If the garden mums dry out, water thoroughly from above to re-establish the wicking connection. This photo shows 3 weeks of growth in the self-watering pot.
Take pride in your healthy-growing, vibrant garden mums! Refrain from adding fertilizer to your plants. This way, you will avoid upsetting the delicate nutrient balance involved in a self-watering system. This photo shows 5 weeks of growth in the self-watering pot.
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