Re: Polymers- jello

**"* B* <l*@msn.com>**

Hi, Daryl!

The ones I've been using have been the Grow Box, the Earth Box and an array of planters from Gardeners Supply.  

The Cortina planter is one I especially liked (got the big one at the end of the season sale they had two years ago) for my very thirsty Brugmansia.  It looked great and performed really well.  When People, Places and Plants ran an article on my garden, they included the photos of some of the tropicals in the self waterers including the Brugmansia. Looked so good, I almost didn't recognize it!  Go to http://www.gardeners.com/Cortina%20Self-Watering%20Planter,%2020/PotsPlanters_SelfWateringPlanters,34-940RS,default,cp.html<http://www.gardeners.com/Cortina%20Self-Watering%20Planter,%2020/PotsPlanters_SelfWateringPlanters,34-940RS,default,cp.html> to see it.

For how to convert your own containers, Gardeners Supply sells a conversion kit.  Go to 
http://www.gardeners.com/Adjustable%20Reservoir/PotsPlanters_SelfWateringPlanters,34-507RS,default,cp.html<http://www.gardeners.com/Adjustable%20Reservoir/PotsPlanters_SelfWateringPlanters,34-507RS,default,cp.html> to see what that looks like. 

I forget where I got some of the other ones.  They are terra cotta but the outer pot is sealed so that it holds the water that the inner pot then "drinks" to keep the roots of the plant sufficiently moist.  I've used those for thirsty abutilons that came into the house after summering outdoors last year.  Now they've been cut down for another crop this year.

This year at New England Grows, there was a new vendor with a really gorgeous line of self watering planters from Germany called Lechuza.  Go to 
http://www.lechuza.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-US-Site/en_US/Link-Category?cgid=Planters_shop<http://www.lechuza.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-US-Site/en_US/Link-Category?cgid=Planters_shop> to see what they look like.  Their reservoir actually lifts out of the container and their colors are not for the faint of heart.  I'll be trialing one of them this season to see how they perform outside. The look is be very high end; minimally, it can be a very striking indoor container.

Lorraine 

Lorraine Ballato 
16 Mudry Farm Rd 
Brookfield CT 06804 
(203)740-8636
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Daryl<d*@comcast.net> 
  To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum<g*@lists.ibiblio.org> 
  Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 11:06 AM
  Subject: Re: [GWL] Polymers- jello

  Lorraine,

  What type of self-watering containers do you use, other than the Grow Box? I 
  have one that does a great job for the plants, but I have to keep mosquito 
  dunks in it or it breeds Asian Tiger Mosquitoes.

  How do you convert other containers into self-waterers?

  Daryl

  > I have been trialing many versions for over 2 seasons, growing both 
  > vegetables and decorative flowers.  I have converted flowering tropicals 
  > like brugmansias and bananas as well and am here to tell you they are in a 
  > word, FABULOUS and not just for vacation solutions. Last summer, I grew 
  > what I would call basil TREES in a Grow Box set up.  Mind you , I've been 
  > growing basil for over 40 years and I can tell you that I never grew basil 
  > like this before.
  >
  > There are many vendors that sell very attractive self-watering containers 
  > and you can convert any container (if you or a client have a favorite) 
  > into a self-waterer very easily.
  >
  > This might be something for you to think about if you haven't already 
  > given it a shot.
  >
  >
  > Lorraine

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