Watering when away
Posted by: cas
18th Nov 2010 12:07pm
I am looking for a good way to keep my plants watered when I go away - sometimes for over a month - particularly in the warmer months. What are your ideas?
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Comments 18
JIBIE
as Australia is a dry country, we all need to rethink of what plants to grow, ive gone all native, and have never looked back, Australia has some of the worlds best flowering plants that are heat resistance and the best part is you don't need to water them, keep in mind its only a suggestion.
marlu
Mulching your plants before you go away is a good idea. If you have pots that need special care give them to a friend or neighbour.
mouseykins3
Water crystals are good. Drought tolerant plants are the way to go. Plants like, Geraniums, Cacti, Succulents, Most natives, Zinneas, Pig face, Yaccas. The list is endless. I only know this because I live without a town water supply in a sandy area.
Dora
My landlord has set up an irrigation system using timy pies that feed from the main pipe to each pot & plant all over the garden. Its brilliant.
All you then need is for someone to turn on the tap once every couple of days depending on how often they need watering. And the thickness of the pipe needs to vary depending on how much water the plant needs
This could also be set on a timer.
brickhill
water crystals r great ant peat mosss terrific... but who can beat the good ole drip feed or even introducing yourself to that elderly neagbour and asking them if the would kindly looking after that tressured pot plant for a reward of course
simla
Hi cas another method for small areas and pots, is to buy water beads. They can be in a fine sand -like form that ends up like a gel (they absorb about 150 times their size in water, so are very effective) or larger ball shaped, more for decoration in a glass vase for indoor plants or flower arrangements. They can stay wet/ viable for 2 months!
I'm mixing some of both into my potting mix for hanging baskets and shallow Bonsai pots that dry out very fast in summer.
Many people lose valuable Bonsais in summer, even when not going away. Some resort to drip feeders, auto spray systems and the like. The thing is, if you only have a few plants, it's often not viable to set up an elaborate system, or it may be illegal with water restrictions. The water beads/ crystals offer a good alternative, combined with the normal good quality potting mix. The water used to swell up to beads/crystals, can have some seaweed extract/ fish emulsion in it to help with fertilizing.
I'm wondering if anyone has used this method to help with propagating seeds/ cuttings?
Anonymous
apply mulch thickly around your plants to retain moisture, companion plant so that fragile plants are receiving filtered light...
Goulah
When I was a kid my mother used to cut the bottom off a soft drink bottle, put it "neck" down in the ground (with the cap off) and then fill the reservoir formed with water. If you put the container under the soil 10-20cm it will also stop a lot of the evaporation and the supply can last for days in summer and weeks in winter.
Goulah
You are welcome.
cas
Thanks for the tip Goulah. I have tried this and it works a treat!
Anonymous
I have to keep my bonsai watered while away so have devised a way to do so by putting wet towels around the base of the plant and then covering it with a plastic bag to keep the towels covered and moist. Worked for me.
NORTHY
a timer is fine, but you need a drip feed system below the ground ,so the sun does not dry the plants , and your water . waste of time putting water on the plants in the day time , lay out your plastic hose , you can actually buy them with the drip holes , lay it out , then dig a shallow farrow , put the hose in cover with soil ,and bobs your uncle, and you will not use a lot of water
cas
Northy - sounds too easy! I will definitely get on to that. I don't have a very large garden so it shouldn't take too much effort or time. Thanks for the tip. I hate watering during the day - usually I do it after 6 pm - but even then the ground has been hardened through the heat of the day. The drip system sounds perfect. Thanks
pinky
maybe ask your friends and neighbours to help out
s
My parents have this problem as my father is so worried about his leeks, turnips, beetroot and herbs etc. So he decided a family member is coming over to water the gardens. And everything turned out fine.
Maybe this is an idea for you?
cas
Thanks for the reply pinky. Unfortunately they too are likely to be away, but I wil probably use a time - set for just a small amount of time every day or so.
stewart bookworm
Either a timer could work or ask one of the neighbours to do it. If you get desperate i live at paralowie South australiaand if it is close can pop over and do it. nice day out for my partner jenny
cas
Thanks for the info Stewart. A timer is a thought - however, water restrictions could be a problem. Also I would be grateful for you to "pop over" however, I live in NSW, and that might be just a tad too far. Thanks for the thought anyway.