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DIY A Simple Self-Watering Planter Using A Ziploc Bag
By JOEY COMUNALE
If you don’t have anyone to care for your plants while you’re away, don’t worry — this Ziploc bag trick will do the job. You’ll need a Ziploc bag, string, clothespins, and water.
First, clip your Ziploc bag onto your plant pot with clothespins, and place one end of the string in the bag and the other in the soil. Now, fill the bag with water and seal it.
The string will soak up water, and the soil will absorb it from the string in a process called capillary action. Water climbs up thin tubes or spongy materials, just like roots.
As water soaks into the roots of your plant, water in the string will move into the soil using the same mechanism, and water from the Ziploc bag will once again soak the string.
Use cotton string or a long rolled-up piece of cotton. Cotton can rot or get moldy, though, so the string should be replaced often. Polyester can be used, but it’s less absorbent.
You will need multiple strings for large plants and those that like to stay moist. Some plants may need a small bag, while others may need the gallon-sized bags.