watering

How to make your own irrigation system

There are several ways to water your plants without your presence while on a well-deserved vacation. Most methods are rather straightforward.  We will have a look at well known cord trick, watering gel and plenty more irrigation methods.

 

Using Self-Watering Planters or Hydroplanters

These planters are some of the most innovative on the market, and thanks to their technology, they allow you to water your plants on vacation without any trouble. They have a water reservoir that releases water into the soil according to the plants’ needs.

Of course, it’s not the most economical option among those presented, but it’s very effective, safe, and decorative, as these planters have modern designs and don’t leave extra watering devices visible, like bulbs, cords, or cones. So, using self-watering planters or hydroplanters for one or a few plants can be a very good choice, or for all the plants you need to water if budget is not a concern.

Using Ceramic Cones to Water Plants

Ceramic cones are another great option if you’re going to be on vacation or away from home for several days. The porous material of the cones allows water to slowly pass into the soil, like a drip. However, there are cones made of various materials, depending on the porosity needed for the type of plant you have and its usual water requirements.

Additionally, there are two types of systems: watering cones with a hose or watering cones with a bottle, as shown in these images.

How to Make a Drip Irrigation System for Vacation Watering

Another option for watering plants while on vacation is the well-known drip irrigation system. Follow these steps and you’ll see how easy it is:

  1. Take a plastic bottle or a large container and make very small holes in one of its sides. The holes should be the size of a fine needle’s head, so you can use a needle to make them.
  2. Now, just bury the bottle next to the plant you want to water, with the holes facing it. Fill it with water and it will gradually soak the soil drop by drop through the holes.
  3. If the plant doesn’t require large amounts of water, you can also just place the perforated container on the soil without burying it, but keep in mind that in this case, the drops will simply trickle down to the surface soil, so you’ll need to make the holes at the base.

Using a Bottle to Water Plants on Vacation

If your plants need a lot of water or tolerate moisture well and you won’t be away for long, another method is the inverted bottle watering system:

  1. Choose a narrow-necked bottle.
  2. Fill it with water.
  3. Bury it upside down in the pot you want to water, ensuring it’s deeply enough embedded to stay firmly in place.
  4. Keep in mind that using this system means the soil will receive a larger amount of water, so it will run out sooner and the soil will become quite moist. Therefore, it’s not advisable to use the inverted bottle system with plants that are vulnerable to fungal attacks due to excess moisture.

Using Watering Gel to Water Plants on Vacation

Another technique for watering plants while on vacation that has proven to be very effective is using gelled water or hydrogel for plant irrigation, suitable for both pots and garden beds. This is a compound that includes water and nutrients for the plants and can be bought in injector tubes, beads, or crystals. Always check the instructions on the product packaging when buying, so you’ll know exactly how much to use for your plants.

As the soil dries out, the hydrogel releases water, thereby watering the soil again and helping the water reach the plant roots.

Watering Plants on Vacation with a Cord

Watering plants with a cord or wool is a well-known and widely used trick for such situations, and it’s also very easy to set up. Just follow these steps:

  1. Place a container filled with water near the plants you want to water. It’s important that the container is higher than the pots, so you can set it on a stand to keep it elevated.
  2. Take shoelaces or long pieces of string or wool, and place one end of each in the water, ensuring they reach the bottom of the container, and bury the other ends in the soil of the pots near the roots.
  3. The cord will absorb the moisture, which will then be absorbed by the soil at the pace each plant needs.
  4. Another option is to use a rubber tube or hose, as shown in the main image of this article.

Using Watering Bulbs for Plants

This is a very simple and decorative solution for watering plants while on vacation. Watering bulbs are made of blown glass and have a rounded part or a decorative shape where water accumulates, and another part that is a long tube inserted into the soil, through which water is gradually released as the soil needs it. Thus, they work like bottles or cones but can be more decorative.

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