Name: Linda SE Houston, Tx. (Hobby) (Zone 9a) "Godspeed, & Good Harvest!"
Step #2
Cut your holes:
Turn the colander upside down so it sits on the bottom of the bucket
Position the fill tube close to the inside wall of the bucket, and mark where it sits on the colander
Use a hole-bit or an exacto or utility knife (careful!) to cut out the hole at the marking. The hole should allow the fill tube to pass through snugly, and rest on the bottom of your bucket, while not allowing too much space for your potting mix to fall into the reservoir. If you accidentally cut your hole too big, use some duck tape to patch up the space!
Mark a spot on the outside of the bucket approximately 1" below the overturned bottom of the colander, and drill a hole through the bucket (I use a 5/8" bit). This will be your overflow hole.Use of a straw in the drain hole is optional. However, if your potting medium is prone to clogging up your drain hole, use of the straw will allow you to push the debris out to re-establish flow
Note: There should be approximately 1" of airspace between the top of your water in the reservoir, and your soilbed on top of the colander. This space keeps the majority of your potting mix from being in constant contact with the water, and becoming anaerobic.