The soda bottle item in the bottom right is a self watering mechanism using a soda bottle, some soil, and cotton string with a pool of water in the bottom portion. I love it

Yes, yes, I've been hearing the whole "you need pots" thing a lot. I do plan on transplanting them to individual pots. Thought the container they're currently in is just fine for a good while. The roots don't need to compete for water, there is plenty going around. When I water, if I hear it dripping into the boxes beneath it, thats how I know the soil is sufficiently wet and that all the roots should have sufficient water to drink.