Ok. I admit it. I used to kill plants. A lot of plants. Thrive on neglect was a requirement for any plant that entered our house and hope to stay. I have one Christmas cactus that has been around for years but only because it reminds me to water it once a year when it is supposed to be blooming. Seriously.
But outside, the garden is different. No water, no vegetables. I needed a better plan. Self-watering containers were the answer. I found one for my herb garden that I placed right outside the back door where I could see them grow (or not), and others on wheels that I could move depending on the season and the sunlight. I only needed to water them every few days pouring water into a tube that travels under the roots so it does not evaporate. The odds are now much more in my favor, though I am hoping for the day when the self-watering container can turn on the water itself.