Making a self watering pot

I've talked before about making a self watering pot but I don't think I've done a step by step guide to it.  As I've emptied and was about to refill it I thought I'd take some photos and share it with you all.

I started with a large container, it's the same size that I have planted the fruit trees into.

The other elements needed are a pot saucer (the bottom of the pot fills the base of the saucer), a small plant pot (approx 9"), a piece of pipe and some capillary matting.

Cut 2 holes in the saucer for the pot and pipe.  you need to keep them fairly tight so that they don't fall through and so that the compost doesn't fall into the reservoir below the saucer.  

I also put extra holes around the side of the small pot.  










Put the saucer inside the pot and measure from the top to where the sauce rests.  On the outside of the pot measure down to where the saucer sits and drill a small hole just below this level.
















Push the capillary matting strips through the sides of the small pot so that they're in the reservoir below and fill with compost (pack it in tight)

Fill the pot with compost, laying the capillary matting at different levels.  I half fill the pot with normal compost and then use my usual blend (compost/gravel/root booster/all season feed/water retaining gel) to top it up.

Plant and water as normal so that the plant is well bedded into the pot.

Fill the reservoir through the pipe 

When the reservoir is full the water runs out of the overflow at the side