Greenhouse self-watering system: Great& cheap if need a hands-free system

I have two greenhouses (8x6 and 8x8) which I used last year for tomatoes, aubergine, chillis, melons etc.

I needed a cheap and hassle free watering system and hit on a winner. I'll describe in vague detail below but reply if you want more info.

Plant containers: large 40L idea blue bags £0.40p each. Two plants per bag. Small 15cm slit near the bottom on one side.

Water reservoir: 200L water butt, Topped up as necessary.

Water reservoir that delivers water: Large U-shaped house guttering with closed ends. Holds approx 35L if 5 feet long and 4 feet wide depending on guttering.

Delivery system: Water matting bought on a roll from garden centre (£4 per metre). Cut into strips approx 1m x 15cm. Then cut down the middle most of the length. The split end is to be inserted into the bag slit and wrapped around the juvenile plant root ball when ready to be planted in greenhouse, one strand of matting each side. Bags then filled with fresh compost. The uncut end of the matting simply drapes out of the slit and into the guttering. I positioned the ikea bags such that they straddled the guttering but it won't matter much other than perhaps for drainage.

During hot weather I let the water butt drip into the guttering via a hose. This year I will be installing an old toilet cistern system to pull water from the butt as required when the levels drop.

Overall this system worked an absolute treat - the greenhouses got very warm at times but at no point did I need to water the plants any other way. I fed them simply by adding feed to the guttering water. The result was extremely healthy plants and more fruit than I could have hoped for.

I hope this helps others!