Self-Watering Planter (Ages 13+)

November 07, 2019

Project created in collaboration with the educational experts at KiwiCo to promote STEM learning and creative confidence.

Learn how to water your plants with just string and a Ziploc^® In this project, you’ll run a string from the bag of water directly into the soil, where the plant roots will soak up the water.

Learn how to water your plants with just string and a Ziploc^® brand sandwich bag! In this project, you’ll run a string from the bag of water directly into the soil, where the plant roots will soak up the water. You’ll need to use a low container to make sure the bag rests gently on the ground. That’s it! Your plants will have a steady supply of water to keep them green and growing, without you watering them every day. The self-watering planter takes advantage of capillary action and water’s unique molecular properties. All you need to do is keep an eye on the water level in the bag and refill it when it gets low.

Learn More:

Capillary action describes how water moves through tiny tubes or spaces, like the fibers in string. Water molecules like to stick to each other and to other things. That’s why your finger gets wet when you dip it in water — the water molecules stick to you! In your self-watering planter, the water molecules stick to the string fibers. Because water molecules also stick to each other, the water that sticks to the fibers also pulls up its friends. The water molecules keep climbing and pulling each other up until they reach the soil, keeping your plant alive! From there, the plant’s roots also use capillary action to bring water up from the soil to the leaves.

Connections with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Matter and Its Interactions HS-PS_1-3 Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.	Create a system that shows the strength of forces between particles. In this experiment, the water molecules climb up the yarn, demonstrating the properties of surface tension and capillary action.

Connections with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Matter and Its Interactions HS-PS_1-3

Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.

Create a system that shows the strength of forces between particles. In this experiment, the water molecules climb up the yarn, demonstrating the properties of surface tension and capillary action.

MATERIALS

Ziploc^® brand sandwich bags

1 cup water

2 wooden clothespins

Low potted plant in soil (no longer than four inches tall)

Thick string or yarn

Paperclips

Scissors

STEPS

1 Gather your materials.

2 Fill your Ziploc^® brand sandwich bag with one cup of water (avoid filling the bag beyond half its size). Seal the bag.

3 Carefully use the two clothespins to attach the bag to one side of the potted plant. The bag should be upright and rest gently on the ground.

4 Use the scissors to cut a length of string long enough to go from the bag to the pot and into the soil about 2 to 3 inches deep. If your pot has multiple plants, you’ll need a piece of string for each one.

5 Tie the ends of the string(s) to paperclips (the paperclips will anchor the strings). Carefully open the bag and drop in the paperclip(s) so they sink to the bottom and rest on the ground.

6 Use your finger to make holes about three inches deep by the roots of the plant. Pull the other end of the strings over the side of the pot and bury it in the holes. Uses your fingers to press the soil and make sure the string is taut (cut it shorter if necessary).