What can I do about watering plants while away for 2 weeks?

Question

My husband and I will be away for 2 weeks in September on vacation. We have a couple of potted tomato plants in our apartment's porch. We can't rely on neighbors to come in and water the plants for us nor leave the plants with people we know. Any suggestions on how we can take care of this dilemma?

Answer 1

If you have a timed sprinkler, you could put them within sprinkler's reach. Otherwise, if you don' have anybody who can do it for you, you're screwed. Unless, you are really industrious and created some kind of system with a plastic bottle and tubing that would gradually drop water into the plant drop by drop so that it would take about 2 weeks to empty the container.

Answer 2

Here's some ideas-

If you have an outside hose bib or faucet, get a timer for a sprinkler to water the plants. You didn't say if you were on a balcony or not, so if you are, this might affect your neighbors below.

If you don't have an outside faucet, you can get an adapter for a garden hose that will fit your sink. This would require running a hose out through the door to your porch or a window. There are some security issues with this idea as well as the possibility of the hose springing a leak while you are gone.

You could re-pot the plants in a larger pot and use the newer moisture control potting soils. Plant the tomatoes 4-6 inches deeper than they are now and the plants will grow new roots, reducing the transplant shock and making the plant stronger. Water them well before you leave and hope for the best.

You could get a drip irrigation system that you could feed by gravity from a couple of 5 gallon pails. You have plenty of time to experiment with this system before you leave so that you could get it set up right. A 5 gallon bucket is 15 inches deep, so if you adjust it so that the water level goes down in the bucket 1/2 inch per day, that would be the equivalent of 1/2 inch of rain every day. The emitters are placed right by the base of the plant so all of the water goes to the roots and very little is lost to evaporation.

Now you've got me thinking and I'm going to experiment with this!

***ADDED INFORMATION***
I stumbled on a product called "Rain-Gel injector." It's a product that contains water absorbing polymer beads. The product is contained in a cartridge that looks like the tubes that caulking comes in and fits a standard caulking gun. You inject the product around the plant to a depth of 4 inches. It would probably work better that the re-potting idea above and achieve the same results. Do a Yahoo search on the product and you will find several sources online, or check your local garden center

Visit our website for more gardening ideas at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 3

Watering Plants While Away

Answer 4

The answer about putting them in your tub with a couple inches of water. Even better do that but place them on small rocks. Have the water just below the rocks so they will not get root rot and will get moisture from the saran wrap or any kind of waterproof covering to hold in the moisture is good.
I too am going away for a couple of weeks but than God, I have people (my mother in law) to water for me. I have lots of plants outdoors as well as indoors. But try that. I have used it on house plants before when going away. Good Luck!

Answer 5

If you have time you might consider replanting your tomatoes. Remove 1/2 the soil and add perlite or vermiculite to the pot in order to retain moisture. Another person suggested placing your plants in another pots of water. This is a good suggestion, however, two weeks of sitting in water could result in root rot which may be a chance you will have to take if there isn't anyone you can depend on. Good luck

Answer 6

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Answer 7

The pots have drain holes in the bottom. Take the plants put them in the tub with two inches of water. Leave the lights on in the bathroom so they have light. This should take care of them while your gone.

Answer 8

why dont you soak cotton balls in water, a really good soak and you can place it in your potted plants two ways:

-place the soaked cotton balls strategically raound the plants
- line up tin or aluminum strip with punctured holes (not too large) so the water can drip constantly

other suggestions:
- place them under a shade too,to prevent dry up, since its potted anyway

- after placing them under a shade, hire a kid like you would do for babystiing. if they get paid you are sure they would do the job. just make sure you trust teh kid to do teh job and rewards him if the plants are ok when you get back

Answer 9

The volume of water for two weeks could be calculated. But you would need a large container to hold it. maybe a muck bucket or two? Tuff Stuff make one for $10 Your plant sits just at the water level in the bucket with a fiber siphon to draw water as the plant needs it. Seed starting kits often use this capillary wicking system to ensure constant moisture levels.
http://www.nextag.com/muck-bucket/search-html
DIY self-watering system
http://www.committment.com/stengle1.html
Water wicks & mats
http://www.soilmoist.com/soilnew.html
http://www.wickstore.com/watermaid.html
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/HLA/anderson/raft_veg/intro.htm
http://coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Plants/guidline.htm

Diapers use this kind of water holding polymer. Maybe they could be used.
If you try this experiment now so you know it will work for the entire time you are gone.

For short term leaves I use ceramic cones that siphon water from a small container to water house plants. The relative levels of the two containers matters and I doubt they could bring the volume of water you need for out door plants.
http://www.deerbusters.com/too-9096.html

A small in line watering timer can be added to drip lines that lead from faucet to pot. The volume of water you supply for tomatoes at harvest should be very regular. House security may be an issue though if the only faucet is indoors.

http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/watertimer.htm
http://www.dripirrigation.com/first-time.php?content=6

Answer 10

Well, I was going to say have somebody come over to water, but if you absolutely can't, you may just have to pray for rain... Potted plants need watered pretty often.