[jk]

Here’s another alternative to the water tray method that has worked quite well for me:

1. Get a container without holes in it. The container has to be quite large. For example, a container that I am using is a plastic vegetable bin from a refrigerator (about 12 in. wide, 15 in. long, and 10 in. deep).

2. Drill 2 or 3 holes, each about ½ in. in diameter, in the side of the container about 2 in. from the bottom (NOT on the bottom). This will enable water to soak the growing medium at the bottom of the container without overflowing the container. The holes may be adjusted higher or lower depending on how wet you want the medium to be or how often you water the plants.

3. Glue a small piece of window screening material over each hole from the inside of the container to keep the growing medium from leaking out.

4. Fill the container with growing medium.

5. Dig a hole about 2 in. in diameter adjacent to the side of the container and fill the hole with cinder or small rocks. This is where the container can be watered without disturbing the growing medium.

6. It’s ready for plans or seeds. Since the containere is large and I don't have much space, I grow several species in the same container.