If you have received a potted plant as a housewarming gift, you know how much life it adds to a room. However, you know that you'll need to spend some time keeping your gift alive by making sure it has enough water. Make the process easier with this quick and easy self-watering trick. All you need is one empty wine bottle.

Step 1: Make Sure Your Pots Are Big Enough to Accommodate the Wine Bottles

Before you get started, make sure your pot is big enough to accommodate the wine bottle. The neck of the bottle will be shoved into the dirt of the pot with the body of the bottle sticking up out of it. Be sure that the pot can support the weight of the bottle without tipping over and creating a mess. Also, check to see that there will still be enough room for the plant to grow without getting crushed.

Step 2: Wash Out the Wine Bottle

The wine bottle will soon become an essential part of your plants' livelihood; so wash it out to make sure it's clean. Use soap and water and even a bottle-cleaning tool if you have one. You may also want to remove the label on the bottle, depending on the aesthetic you're looking to achieve in your room.

Step 3: Fill the Bottle with Lukewarm Water

Fill the bottle with lukewarm water once you have cleaned it. The temperature of the water is important. Hot water could potentially harm your plant and cold water could shock it. Room temperature water from your kitchen or bathroom faucet is perfect, so simply fill the bottle with it.

Step 4: Insert the Bottle Into the Plant

Insert the bottle into the plant once you've filled it with water. Remember, you want to bury the neck and opening of the bottle into the dirt so that the body of the bottle is sticking upright or at an angle. You may spill a little water when flipping the bottle over but don't worry about it. Initially you will notice that some of the water will empty from the bottle and into the plant, this is your plant's first self-watering!

Step 5: Repeat as Needed

Once the plant has been self-watered, the water will stop flowing and remain in the bottle. When the dirt is dry, water automatically seeps out of the bottle. When you notice that the wine bottle is empty, it is time to refill it. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to reset your new self-watering system.

This simple self-watering trick for your new potted plant gift can save you a lot of time. One word of caution, some children may be tempted to pull the bottle out of the dirt and play with it. Keep an eye on small children or keep the potted plant out of reach. For children that are slightly older, include them in the preparation process so they understand what the bottle does and even feel like they helped create it!

To learn more about creative gifts, contact a company like Clarence's Gift Shop.