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how to self water containers during holiday?
mameha
Posts: 40
in Fruit & veg
I have several tomato, aubergine, cucumber plants in 12inch containers in the greenhouse.
I will be on holiday for two weeks in August.
How can I water them automatically?
There are many tutorials how to make self watering containers but it is too late for that as I already have them growing in regular pots. I have seen 'water globes' which cost five pounds for two and hold 0.5L water, they claim to last two weeks which sounds dubious.
My idea at the moment is to make some water globes myself out of milk cartons and 2L drink bottles, fill them and put a small hole in the lid then put them upside down in the containers. Are there any better ways?
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Also, should I put mulch on the surface of the containers (to retain moisture) and if so should I use gravel or wood?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/MaddoxStore-Automatische-Automatic-Houseplant-Hydrospike/dp/B010Q1KT0I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1436535158&sr=8-3&keywords=large+plant+waterers
I tried these, ceramic tipped waterers and theydid the job, nothing died. Apparently you can do a similar thing with thick string but I'm not sure about that. You can also get ceramic tips that fit onto large empty bottles such as fizzy drink bottles.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/garden/dp/B00AVU75O8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_201_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1V0V5V6P6G7F6Q2V6YRA
They are on amazon as well I checked.
I like the look of the ceramic spikes and will try them.
I am thinking to put in these spikes and connect to large water bottle, then use black bin bag over the pot rim to cover the soil to stop evaporation...do you think this will cause fungal growth in the soil?
I'm not sure, I've never grown tomatoes but to be honest with the watering spikes I don't think you will need to cover them at all.
Think the same idea as water globes. Fill glass bottle with water quickly turn upsidedown and shove neck I. Soil on pot. Think they gradually leak. Font think plastic has same effect though
I think you could have a bit of a problem esp if the weather is typically hot August. I don't think you will be able to give them enough water even for a few days using one of these bottles, never mind 2 weeks. I have always found my tomatoes need watered every day. I would try and recruit a friend or neighbour in to do the watering else you may have to resign yourself to dead plants when you return home.
We've asked our decorater to paint the porch ceiling while we are away,
guess who's going to water our pot n baskets 
last time the lady next door said 
ooo haven't you got a lot of things to water. Hence the lovely Ian.
I'm very impressed with the ease of setting up an automated watering system. Quite by chance my garden centre was doing a 10% off day then to add to that I found a digital thingy for the the timing of it all in the sale bin. It is Gardena. Very easy to set up. Took about an hour for 10 pots. AND there was a spout left over to "feed" the cat's outdoor water bowl!
My pots have never looked so good.