watering plants whilst away on holiday

susieb

I have the wilko spikes, not convinced about them as they empty within a few minutes even if I have just watered

yram_slim

Last summer had the same problem. "Big drippas" only last twenty four hours. Also, the heat in the greenhouse will dry out towels in a day.

So, we found B&Q do a water butt watering system. We rigged up the water butt to collect rainwater from the greenhouse roof, and from the butt there is a series of tubes with dripping spikes you push in the individual plant pots.

I sat all my pots of tomatoes on a row of capilliary matting which was soaked and had one end in a covered bucket of water.

Then thoroughly water the tomatoes, push in the spikes and off I went on holiday for a week at the end of August and the first week of September last year. When I came back, everything was hunky dory.

To be sure the water butt has enough water while we were away we actually filled it up from the outside tap. (A gardener we spoke to recently who has an allotment nearby recommends filling his wife's tights with horse manure and soaking in the butt for a continues feed - his tomatoes were like cricket balls apparently. I don't think she was wearing them at the time)

This really works and I am very pleased with the system. My advice - have a look in B&Q

OddjobKIA

Big Drippa
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/product/Watering_Greenhouse Watering/GWT-007.htm



my mother uses this its


usless load of rubbish

mjr600

There are sixteen tomato plants in my greenhouse at present, half are in flower. They are in bottomless pots in growbags, those at the back out of the way have a length of old hose pushed into the bag and cheap funnel at the watering end.

All the funnels are wired onto a bench by the door, at present each bag needs about 1.5 litres of water a day and watering is a doddle, just tip the amount into each funnel and job done.

Automatic watering systems unless mains fed and electronically timed (expensive) are imo a waste of money.

Offer a neighbour some of your crop, make it easy for them to water and everyones happy.

Mrs7ones

Hi,
has anyone got any tips for keeping my garden tubs watered whilst on holiday?
Unfortunately, the in-laws are coming away with us so they can't pop round and do it, and I can't trust my neighbour with a key, but was we'll be away for 2 weeks, they'll die if not watered...

(Once I stood the whole lot in the paddling pool with a cm of water in the bottom, but that didn't work)

any suggestions apreciated

(oh, and I didn't mean it was unfortunate that the in-laws are going away with us - I quite like going on hols with them)

mute_posting

Mrs7ones wrote: »

Unfortunately, the in-laws are coming away with us

:rotfl: hehe - don't be so harsh on them lol

Austin_Allegro

You can get a hose system with a timer that will water your plants automatically, though I believe they may be expensive.

I've tried putting them in the bath in two inches of water, and also tried sticking a full plastic bottle of water top down in the soil, the theory being that the water gradually drains out, my plants didn't die but this could just be because I have hardy plants like geraniums for just such reasons!

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

how about collecting empty pop bottles, cut the bottoms off, take the lid off so you have a huge funnel..stick them in the compost and shove a cane through to hold them..then you can fill them up and the compost should just take what it needs..
They will probably still suffer a little but should recover..
Or how about getting some water retaining crystals..don't shove them in the pot though... if they are stood in saucers pour them in there and saturate...you could even pour them into your paddling pool..oh and you could even stick a garden umbrella up too so they have shade

Austinallegro -great minds think alike lol

Pink.

Hi Mrs7ones,

I usually pay one of my teenage son's friends to water the plants while we're away. It's worth it to me to come back to healthy plants.

The experts on the greenfingered board should have more suggestions to I've moved your thread over there.

Pink

shopaholic2006

I've seen on various gardening shop websites they sell watering spikes, you screw the spike on to an empty drinking bottle, the soil then takes what it needs. They are about 4/5 pound each, however wilkinsons do a pack of 2 for 99p.
I haven't tried them myself yet, but i read the expensive spikes and a 2ltr bottle can last 2 weeks. You could always do a trial run before you go away, to see how long the 2ltr bottle lasts. If they last only a week, your neighbour with the key could fill them up once whilst you're away HTH x