How to Water Plants While on Vacation. While away self watering plants are doing well.
A quick and easy DIY tip to water plants while away using plastic bottles.
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- Water can for plants
- Water sprinkler for garden
- DIY Drip Irrigation System
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Water plants while on vacation using any bottle by making holes in the plastic bottle cup with a hot needle or a knife. You should make approximately 3-4 small holes are in the picture bellow.
A DIY simple life hack or if you like to call it a trick to water your plants while you are away for a week.
While on vacation being away traveling you will not have to worry if the plants at home are OK.
This plastic bottle method works with bottles of any size but 1 liter to 2 liter botles or equivalent are best but you should use bigger bottles if you will be away longer. Bigger bottles are more difficult to secure – watch the video.
How it works
How this trick works is by installing water bottles near the plants and securing the bottles so they don’t fall.
Capilary action draws water into the soil and sunlight will increase the pressure inside the water bottle to release even more water on hot sunny days from your self watering water bottless.
For how long can you be away
You can be away for approx. 1 week but it all depends if you make the holes bigger or smaller and if you live in a very hot weather area.
During the time you use the bottle for self watering, the bottl might shrink because the soil is absorbing water and creates a vacuum in the bottle.
The sunlight will expand this pressure to allow more water to be released from the bottle.
Note there are no holes on the bottom of the bottle, holes are only in the cap. Capilary action in the soil pulls water from the bottle until vacuum formed in the bottle holds it but when sun heats the air in the bottle, more water is release to the plant roots.
If you will be away for 2 weeks, you can still use this method but will larger bottles or multiple bottles.
For example, 2 bottles of 2 liters with fewer holes so that the flow is slower.
For anything longer than 2 weeks, you have to look at options for a diy self watering timer for plants in garden or pots.
Safety warning
If the crime rate in your area is moderate to high, please do this in a way that people from outside will not see the bottles in your pots. Or ask a friend (if you have one 😐 ) to water the plants for you and check that everything is ok in your home.
Having the bottles visible together with lights off is a clue that you are away from home.
Burglars will look for some of these clues to decide which home to target.
Stay safe!
Water plants while away diy irrigation micro-drip timer
Water plants while away with a diy irrigation micro-drip timer.
This is a very simple life hack or if you like let’s call it a trick to water your plants while you are away for a few weeks even a whole month!
You can use a timer and a large water container. 20 Liters or even more if you are away for longer periods of time.
You can use a timer to water your garden even when you are at home but prefer to do it automatically and use less water.
There are various models of micro-drip irrigation timers but in general they have a mode of turning on the water pump a set number of times per day and a set duration for each watering session.
Ideally the timer would work with AA batteries and those batteries should last weeks or even months depending on how othen you set it to run.
With a micro-drip irrigation system and timer you waste less water and the water goes directly to the plants when they need it the most.
Micro-drip irrigation hose is not too thick and flexible. It can even be used as a permanent way to water your balcony garden. For full sized gardens, it is better to use bigger size drip irrigation systems feeding from utility water supply or a rain water collector barrel.
You can use any size of water container, even 20 liters or more will work fine.
While on vacation or traveling you will not worry if the plants at home are OK.
Grow herbs from cuttings in plastic bottles
Grow herbs from cuttings in plastic bottles.
Water plants while away
Revive Almost Dried Basil Plant
Revive almost any dried plant (Basil).
How to revive or restore Basil when it starts wilting. Revive wilted plants in 1 easy step Time-Lapse
This is a Basil plant but it works with most plants in your garden.
Any plant can becomes happy and green again when watering with plenty of water if it’s dried out or wilted.
Plants easily become wilted in dry and summer days.
There is a limit and this only works on plants that are still green.
Once the leaves are dry and turn brown it won’t work.
If the plant is still green give it a lot of water fast!
A simple yet efficient trick or life hack.
The time-lapse took 2.5-3h to make.
The wilted basil plants becomes happy very quickly after watering.
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