Make your own watering globe — 3 DIY methods (with honest comparison)
Not everyone wants to spend money on a watering globe for plants straight away. And we understand that. That's why in this blog we show you how to make your own watering globe — and we're honest about what works and what doesn't.
DIY Method 1: Plastic bottle watering globe
What you need: plastic bottle of 0.5 to 1.5 litres, drawing pin or needle. Poke 3 to 5 small holes in the bottle cap. Fill the bottle with water. Screw the cap on and place the bottle upside down in the soil.
Does it work? Barely. The flow is hard to control and the bottle can easily fall over. Suitable for 2 to 3 days as an emergency solution for watering plants.
DIY Method 2: Wine bottle watering globe
What you need: empty wine bottle, watering globe spike. Fill the wine bottle with water. Screw the spike onto the bottle. Cover the opening, turn upside down and push into the soil.
Does it work? Better than the plastic bottle. Flow is slightly more consistent. Downside: glass is fragile and a wine bottle is wide — not practical in small pots. Also be careful with clear glass in direct sunlight — read more about the fire hazard with glass watering globes.
DIY Method 3: Ceramic spike + bottle
The most professional DIY solution. Buy a terracotta spike and screw it onto a plastic bottle. The ceramic regulates the flow like a real olla — a proven method for automatic plant watering.
DIY vs. buying: honest comparison
- Plastic bottle — free — lasts 2 to 3 days — flow barely adjustable — fire-safe — not durable
- Wine bottle — 1 to 2 euros — lasts 3 to 5 days — flow barely adjustable — watch out for clear glass in sun — moderately durable
- Ceramic spike — 3 to 8 euros — lasts 5 to 7 days — limited adjustability — fire-safe — durable
- Minismus standard pack — lasts 7 to 10 days — adjustable — frosted plastic so fire-safe — durable
- Minismus XXL 700ml — lasts 10 to 14 days — 4 settings adjustable — frosted plastic so fire-safe — durable
Our honest opinion: DIY works fine as an emergency solution for a long weekend. For a real 14-day holiday, or if you simply want your plant to stay healthy with proper plant watering, a quality watering globe is the better choice.
