Many people think they don’t have the the space or time to grow their own food. But, the truth is, with systems like the Alaska Grow Bucket – you can turn any space into a space efficient, self – watering garden.
The Alaska Grow Bucket system is based on a moisture wicking planting material that draws the water up to the plants, and is built on the principle of a Sub Irrigated Planter (SIP) system that irrigates your plants from below.
To Make an Alaska Grow Bucket
- Drill few 3/4 inch holes in the bucket as seen on the picture. Drill as many holes as you think suitable, starting 6 inches from the bottom of the bucket. These holes along with the porous fabric bag provide air to the root system, which that is the key of this design.
- Make only one opening in the lower portion of the bucket. That would be the water reservoir. Drill one hole at the very bottom, with your step drill bit for your fill hose fitting.
- Add a ½ inch barbed hose fitting to the grommet. This should provide a tight fitting. Depending on how you connect your buckets, your fitting may differ – ½ inch barbed fittings are available from hydroponic suppliers.
- Trim other colanders to fit or place the special Alaska Grow Buckets plastic colander inside your bucket.
- Put the fabric bag inside the bucket.
- Plug the fill hole and add water to the bottom of the bucket, and start adding the growing mix. A soilless mix with the correct properties is crucial, likePRO – MIX BX with MYCORRHIZAE, which consists of Vermiculite, Canadian Sphagnum peat moss, wetting agent, Perlite, dolomitic limestone and Mycorrhizae. Remember to soak each layer of growing mix as you add it to activate the wicking properties. Also, place a layer of slow – release fertilizer to the bottom layer of the growing mix, and layer near the top.
- Take a sheet of dark plastic and cover the top of the bucket to prevent evaporation. Cut a slit for planting.
The key to setting up an Alaska Grow Bucket multi – container system depends on a simple float valve regulator and a bulk reservoir for automatic watering.
