Gardening is no longer about just growing plants!

Its a combination of great D.I.Y ideas like this and plant knowledge which will allow gardeners to grow plants that are typically out of the zone.

And that’s why I love Wanqing Lee’s icebox idea for a tropical strawberry planter.

For material cost of less than SGD $10, she crafted an amazing strawberries’ chill grow bed which yielded flowers in less than 2 months for her plants!

She did not even use electricity to keep her plants chilled all day under the full overhead sun on her balcony.

 

 

DIY strawberries pot
How Wanqing Lee cool strawberries’ roots, simple wicking used.

 

By now, we know strawberries need sunlight, compost, and chill roots to thrive.

So Wanqing used a simple wicking system to draw chilled water and keep her roots cool all the time. 

Hydroponic nutrients in solution are wicked only when the plants need the extra boost or when roots have already extended out of her cups.

She chose this method of soil and hydroponics to give the plants more roots space while still remaining in cups to save space.

Her water is kept chilled with an ice block from Daiso.

This frozen ice block is enough to keep roots and water chilled for 6 hours under direct full sun with the help of an additional safeguard!

 

 

Tropical strawberry planter's ideas
Insulation Pad over ice box cover! Keeping roots cool is key to keeping strawberry plants healthy in the tropics!

 

Based on her results, it seems that seedling growth is faster as well by keeping them on a chiller (wick water for seeds).

 

Tropical strawberry planter's ideas
Germinating seeds on a chilling ice box

 

Tropical strawberry planter ideas
These seedlings are sowed at the same time but the ones sowed on chiller conditions grow faster!

 

To maintain the chill factor, please note that insulation pads also covered her soil when the seedlings are taller.

I believed this chill box idea can be used on all cool loving plants which loved the sun.

For lavender which preferred a drier soil, no wick should be used but the chill box will maintain cooler roots under our hot tropical sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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