Off-Grid Self-Watering Container Gardening System: Container & Soil Mix

Yes, container gardening allows you to grow high-yield, healthy plants regardless of where you live. Whether it's an apartment, acreage, a small lot, or large lot, container gardening can be done anywhere.

The most popular container for vegetables and fruits in container gardening is a five-gallon bucket.

The key to successful container gardening with minimal work and cost is to set up a system where the plants are automatically watered, you do not have to worry about fertilizer being washed out or dried up, and the soil maintains the right conditions.

Cotton materials like an old sock, worn-out dish towel, or jeans can be used to wick up water from the water reservoir into the plant bucket. Just cut a strip and tie a knot in it, or use a sock with a knot and insert it through a one-inch hole drilled in the bucket.

Because peat moss is acidic, agricultural limestone, also known as dolomite, is used to sweeten the soil and balance the acidity.

It's important to avoid having fertilizer in direct contact with the roots because it can be damaging. Instead, a fertilizer ring should be made around the outside of the plant, allowing the water to bring the nutrients down for the plant to absorb without burning the roots.

For wicking gardens, use a soil mix comprised of 70% peat moss and 30% perlite or vermiculite. This mix should ideally be light and have the ability to wick moisture from the water basin below. Do not use potting soil that contains sand or manure, as these can make the soil too heavy and impede the wicking action.