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Watering plant while on vacation


7 ways to water indoor plants while on vacation

Sometimes getting away from it all is just what you need to hit the reset button, but what happens to all the houseplants you leave behind?  If you’ve ever returned home from a relaxing trip only to find your beloved houseplants drooping, desperate, and dying, then you know exactly how seriously sad a way to end a vacation this is.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Even if you don’t have a dependable friend or neighbor to take care of watering while you’re away, there are a number of ways to make sure that your leafy companions are thriving when you get back home.

Considerations

Plant Types & Needs

The types of indoor plants you keep will make a significant difference in the water level they need to stay healthy in your absence. Succulents and cacti don’t require any special care and prefer to be left alone. Your indoor vegetable garden and herbs, on the other hand, are going to need more attention than most. Don’t attempt any self-watering system with orchids, as their roots need to dry out between waterings–you’re better off leaving these plants with a friend while you’re gone. 

Short Trips

First of all, timing is everything, so bear in mind that if you’re leaving for less than a week there is nothing to worry about. As long as you give all your plants a nice, long drink before leaving, they should be just fine until you return. Don’t go overboard, though– too much water (1) can have as negative impact on potted plants as not enough water. 

Not all plants require the same amount of water. Succulents don’t need nearly as much watering on a regular basis compared to herbs for instance. 

Plant Location

Any potted plants sitting in sunny, south-facing windows might need to take a step back to a shadier spot if it is summertime, because water evaporates more quickly in the warm temperatures and direct sunlight. Worst-case scenario, consider moving these plants to a garage or basement if you fear it may be too hot and sunny for them to stay hydrated inside.

Pot material and pot type

The material, size, and style of a pot will have a significant impact on the watering needs of the plant inside it. Plants in self-watering planters will need much less frequent watering than plants in normal pots with drainage trays. Terra cotta pots allow soil moisture to evaporate more quickly than glazed ceramic or plastic pots. Almost as important as pot material is pot size. Any pot under six inches in diameter will dry out quite quickly, whereas a pot ten inches in diameter or greater will retain moisture for a much longer stretch of time. Small plants will also suffer more than large plants from less water being available 

Prepare for takeoff

One of the most useful actions you can take to prepare your plants for their time without you is to make an accurate assessment of each of your plant’s water needs. For a few weeks before you leave, water each of your plants with a large measuring cup or marked jug (a blender body is a good option) and make a note of how much water is required of each plant and how often. Knowing exactly how much water your plants need can help you instruct a plant sitter or set up the perfect DIY self-watering system. 

Methods

Watering methods break down into two main categories, DIY watering solutions and commercially available irrigation systems. First we’ll cover DIY solutions then go into some more of the professional solutions. Both ways work well if used properly, it’s more a matter of finding the right solution for your budget, time and effort. Also, how much you have investing in your indoor garden. Some solutions will give more piece of mind than others while you’re away and that can be worth a lot to a worried traveler. Let’s jump in.

DIY watering solutions

1. Wicking System

This is one of the simplest mechanisms to use to make a self-watering system. You need a container that can hold enough water for your plant or plants and some sort of wicking material that is long enough to reach from the bottom of the water vessel to a couple of inches beneath the surface your plant’s potting soil.  

Appropriate wicking materials include cotton or nylon rope, twine, clothesline, yarn, or even a cut garment like a T-shirt or jeans. The important part is the length. Cut the length of your wicks to the ideal length for each pot, and then gently push one end into the soil of the plant to be watered and the other end into the water container so that it touches the bottom. 

That’s all! The water will move from the source to the plant at a slow, consistent rate that ensures the potting soil remains moist while you are away. 

2. Drip System

Another super-easy watering system is a drip system made by repurposing plastic water bottles. To use a plastic water bottle, simply make a few holes in the cap using a drill or a hammer and nail. Fill the bottle with the amount of water your plant needs (based on your assessment) and then turn the bottle upside down, burying the cap in the potting soil, taking care not to damage the roots. As the soil dries, water will now slowly release into the soil. To do this with a wine bottle, turn the water-filled bottle upside down while blocking the opening with your thumb and bury it in the soil. If you’re worried about this releasing too much water at a time, read a little further on about ceramic spikes that can be purchased and used with wine bottles. 

3. Plastic bag greenhouse

For plants in small pots or for long stretched away, this is a perfect solution for hassle-free plant care while away. Using the largest clear plastic bag you can get your hands on, place a towel inside to protect the bottom, and then rest your plants on top of it. Gather the top of the bag and use either a vacuum in reverse or blow manually into the bag to inflate it–you don’t want the leaves to touch the plastic. Seal the bag tightly using a zip tie. 

What you are essentially creating here is a greenhouse, which is less of a watering system and more of a water-recycling system. Of critical importance is that this bag is nowhere near direct sunlight. If it is, then you’ve made a solar cooker that will completely destroy your green buddies. 

4. The long bath

Requiring no special equipment or assembly, the long bath is the most low-tech solution to the problem of plant watering while you’re away. Just lay an old towel in the tub to protect the surface, then place the pots on top of it. Now, fill the tub with a few inches of water and you’re ready to go. Note: this is only effective if the pots used have drainage holes and there is sufficient natural light in the bathroom to satisfy your plants’ needs. 

Commercially available irrigation systems

5. Soil-Based Solutions

For people who know they will be traveling on a regular basis, adding Terra-Sorb to their potting soil is an easy way to help extend the length of time soil stays moist. The crystals absorb 200 times their weight in water and slowly release it to the soil as it dries out. Alternately, adding a layer of mulch to the surface of the soil in a pot will slow down evaporation and can help the soil retain precious moisture. Either of these solutions is enough to help house plants survive trips of a week or less. 

6. Self-Watering Pots

These are planters designed to consistently deliver water to plants via the pot they are in, and they work very well. There are also kits available for converting normal pots to self-watering, which can help keep your plants happy during vacations. 

7. Watering Spikes/Globes

These nifty little devices, ceramic watering spikes, are designed to be used with empty wine bottles, and they are extremely effective at distributing moisture slowly, on an as-needed basis. The only thing to be cautious of is the glass bottle cracking the brittle terra cotta. The terra cotta is porous and will only release water to the soil as it dries out, maintaining even water levels in the soil. Similar to watering spikes, watering globes operate using the same principles but are quite beautiful and many people choose to use them in both indoor and outdoor plants to help with watering.  

While outdoor potted plants can be connected to a timed, pressurized drip system (2) or a sprinkler, neither of these is appropriate for indoor plants due to their potential for leaking and damaging parts of your house. 

Just because you go on vacation doesn’t mean your plants have to suffer. Whether you are handy and love DIY projects, or want a lasting commercial solution, there is something that will work for you. 

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Sources:
  1. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/environmental/overwatering. aspx
  2. https://extension.psu.edu/building-and-operating-a-home-container-irrigation-system

How to Water Plants While Away: 6 DIY Methods

It’s time to get in vacation mode and leave your responsibilities behind! But before you go, make sure that your plant babies are accounted for — you’ve taken such good care of them and would hate to see them withering away when you return. There are solutions to this that are quick, frugal and long-lasting. We’re here to prove that your plants don’t need a babysitter because we have six self-watering methods to take care of all your plants, even the sensitive ones! Each vacation plant watering system will put you at ease while hitting the beach.

Method One: Glass Bottle Solution

Don’t throw away your bottle of sauvignon blanc once it’s empty — bottles are great for taking care of plants that need watering every day while you’re away. Or use this method on a daily basis to create less watering work for you. If the bottle has an interesting design, it can also be a creative and fun decoration to add to your planter or pot. Make sure you use a bottle with a cap and not a cork. This solution may be reused as well by simply refilling the bottle after your plant drinks all the water.

Project time: Less than 10 minutes

Materials + tools needed:

Step 1: Puncture holes in cap.

Use pliers to remove the plastic film inside the cap. Then, take a nail and hammer it through the aluminum cap, creating five mini holes. To make sure you don’t warp the cap, start by nailing the hole from the inside of the cap.

Step 2: Fill the bottle with water.

Take the bottle off the cap and fill to the brim with water. Put the cap back on the lid.

Step 3: Place the bottle into soil.

Dig a hole in the soil of the plant you’ll be watering. Put the bottle (cap side first) into the hole you dug. Refill after a long weekend!

Method Two: Houseplant Bath

You take baths, you may have bathed a pet before, but did you know you can bathe your plants? Yes, you definitely can have your plants soak up some bath water while you’re gone for the week. Keep in mind that this method works best for plants that require a lot of water, like tropical plants and plants that don’t require much sun since the bathroom is usually the room with the least amount of light.

Project Time: Five minutes

Materials + tools needed:

Step 1: Fill up your bathtub or sink.

Fill up your bathtub or sink (depending on how many plants you need to take care of while gone) with a couple inches of water.

Step 2: Lay out a towel to cover the tub or sink.

Lay a towel out over the water so the pots of the plants do not scrape up the tub or sink.

Step 3: Place your plants on the towel in the bath.

Place plants in the tub or sink, making sure the plants are in pots with good drainage so the water can soak through the roots. This method should take care of the plant for up to a week.

Method Three: Water Wicking Drip System

In this method, you are linking up your plant to a water system using a simple cotton string. Wick watering works great for longer lengths of time — the more water you supply in the external bucket or vase, the longer your plants will be taken care of. The system is also great for those with more than one plant as you can water multiple plants at a time.

Project time: Five minutes

Materials + tools needed:  

Step 1: Cut the cotton ropes.

Make sure to get cotton rope because this is the most absorbent material that will easily transfer into the soil of the plants. You want the rope to have slack on the end inside the vase of water and also be able to reach several inches under the soil. Cut a rope for each plant that needs watering.

Step 2: Place ends of rope in the soil and water.

Push one end of the rope several inches under each of the plants’ soil, then cover each rope with soil to make sure it stays. You can also use a pencil to stuff each rope into the soil. Have the other end of the rope placed in the vase or bucket filled with water, and make sure there is extra slack on this end.

Step 3: Water plant and fill the vase.

Fill up the vase with water and then water the plants to start the process. This method is great for those who have multiple plants and want one setup.

Method Four: Plant Saucer Setup

This method is one of the simplest, but you probably shouldn’t use this solution for plants that need special attention. Saucers not only help retain water for your plants but also make it so the soil does not leak out from the bottom of your pot, keeping everything nice and tidy while you’re away.

Project time: One minute

Materials + tools needed:

Step 1: Select a saucer.

When looking for a saucer for your pot, you want to make sure it is close to the same size as the pot, or even slightly larger, so that the saucer has room to hold water and still touch the full bottom of the pot.

Step 2: Place your plant in the pot.

Using a drainage pot is important so that the plant can reach the water that is going to be in the saucer.

Step 3: Soak the saucer or place water in the saucer.

Run the saucer under water or place water in the saucer to have extra water for the plant to drink from while you are gone.

Method Five: Tiny Plastic Bag Greenhouse

You don’t by any means need to construct walls or a roof for this method, it’s quite simple and a great long-lasting solution while you’re away from your plants. Be careful to follow the instructions on this strategy to avoid ruining your plants’ foliage. Don’t use this method in direct sunlight or with succulents as they might overheat or shrivel.

Project time: 15 minutes

Materials + tools needed:  

Step 1: Insert the wood stakes.

Take the four wood stakes and put them in each corner of the pot. This will be the base of the greenhouse plastic bag tent, so the plastic does not wrap around the leaves.

Step 2: Water and place in indirect sunlight.

Water your plant as you usually would — do not over water. Leave your plant in indirect sunlight because direct sunlight will heat up the plastic bag too much and will most likely kill your plant.

Step 3: Wrap your plant in the plastic bag.

Find a plastic bag large enough to cover your whole plant and then some. Wrap your plant inside the plastic bag, making sure that the stakes are placed well enough that the leaves are not touching the bag. If the leaves touch the bag slightly, that is fine. The tiny greenhouse will capture water as it evaporates and water droplets will fall back into the plant.

Method Six: Plastic Water Bottle Planter

Not only humans drink from water bottles, but plants do as well, and it’s a great way to reuse plastic water bottles. Although this system does not last very long, the method is one of the easiest to set up and reuse. Simply fill the bottle as needed!

Project time: Five minutes

Materials + tools needed:

Step 1: Puncture holes on the bottle.

Take the water bottle and pierce about six holes on the sides of the water bottle, and about three holes on the bottom of the water bottle.  

Step 2: Place the plastic bottle into the soil.

Water the soil of your plant before so that your plant does not consume all the water from the bottle first, letting the self-watering method last longer. Place the plastic bottle into a hole in the soil with the cap and about an inch or two of the water bottle peeking out.

Step 3: Fill up the water bottle.

Fill the bottle with water and cap the bottle so the water does not evaporate and instead drains into the plant. This strategy is great for plant owners that go on a long weekend getaway or who don’t water their plants every day. You may use this method again by simply refilling the water bottle.

Low Maintenance Plants

If creating an automatic watering system is not your cup of tea, here is a list of plants that will stay bright and cheery when left for a few weeks. Even though these plants do not need to be watered for periods at a time, it’s safer to put them out of direct light to make them last longer. Some plants actually thrive in low light. These plants are proven to be friendly to those who do not have green thumbs.

After deciding which DIY self-watering planter fits best, you can finally relax and not worry about how to water your plants while on vacation. Don’t worry too much if one plant looks droopy when you come back, there are methods to revive houseplants so that you don’t lose any of your plant friends for good!

The methods above are tested and proven to work, but if all else fails and you don’t think a self-watering system is the best choice for you, hire a plant sitter! If you decide to have someone plant sit, these plant care printables are a great way to leave detailed watering and care instructions.  When you come back from vacation, don’t forget to thank your plant sitter, they kept all your plant babies well and healthy!

How to water the plants during the holidays?

Many people are familiar with the problem of watering houseplants during the holidays. Going on vacation with your family, you need to entrust the care of pets to someone.

It's good if there is one of the relatives who understands at least something about houseplants and can water it properly. Or at least just water occasionally so that they don’t dry out at all.

But almost always, upon returning from a trip, you have to calculate the losses - it dried up without water, its roots rotted from excessive watering, something was broken, something was crushed.

And if there are no relatives or close friends ready to take on the responsible mission of caring for your indoor plants?

If you are away for a month or more, then a special automatic irrigation system is indispensable.

Now sold in any city, they consist of a water tank of a certain size, a set of thin tubes and a control system that ensures that water is supplied from the tank at the right intervals. You set how often and how much to water, and you can safely leave. But in order to avoid unwanted surprises, it is better to try how it works before the holidays.

And if there is no automatic watering system, then you have to come up with different tricky ways to water the plants during the holidays.

It should be said that all these tricky ways are good if you are away for 1-2 weeks. If more, then how lucky!

There are several ways to provide plants with water on holiday.

Method 1. Old grandmother's way. Water the plants abundantly so that the earthen lump is completely saturated with water. Put the pots on pallets or in wide basins of water, so that the bottom of the pot is in the water (shallow). It is even better to pour small pebbles or coarse sand into the pan and place the plants, slightly deepening.

This method of watering during the holidays is suitable for unpretentious plants that tolerate both excess moisture and overdrying (chlorophytum, geranium, balsam, chamedorea palm, sansevieria, crassula).

Method 2: Use a plastic bottle. Water the plant well. Take a plastic bottle with a cork, heated in the fire with a thick needle (you can use an awl, knitting needle) to make 2 holes - one in the cork, the other in the bottom. Pour water into the bottle and secure it with the neck down. Water will constantly flow out drop by drop and moisten the soil. So it is better to water large-sized plants.

Be sure to try this method some time before departure: take a few different bottles, punch holes, put the neck down in any tall dish (each separately) and see how much water drips from each of them per day. If you choose the right bottle for each plant, then the problem of watering during the holidays will be optimally solved.

Method 3. Wick irrigation. This is a common method of continuous watering for some plants, particularly saintpaulias (violets). The essence of the method is that the pot with the plant constantly stands on a vessel with water, in the soil under the plant one end of a synthetic cord is laid in a ring, its other end is lowered into a vessel with water through a drainage hole. The cord should absorb water well. Water wets the cord along its entire length, rising from the vessel into the pot and moistening the soil.


This method of watering is suitable for small plants and requires them to be transplanted into a pot with a wick first.

But this method can also be used for temporary watering during the holidays. To do this, a synthetic cord that absorbs water well is taken or a tourniquet is twisted from a strip of fabric. One end is placed on the surface of the earth in a pot (preferably sprinkled with a little substrate), and the other is lowered into a bucket of water. It is better to place the bucket above the pot (then the wicks do not dry out). Usually plants are placed on the floor, and a bucket of water on a stool.

It is important to test this method on each plant beforehand. Some plants need several wicks, others only one. This method of watering is good for 10 days of vacation.

The same method is used to dampen a tray with pots set in sand or peat.

Minus - sometimes in hot weather the wicks dry up and water does not flow to the plants.

Ready-made wick systems for irrigation are commercially available, consisting of a water tank, a wick and a porous ceramic rod for immersion in the soil

.Method 4. Use hydrogel. A hydrogel is a polymer that can absorb water in very large quantities and then slowly release it to plants. It is sold in granules.

Polymer is soft, colorless, absorbs water quickly and is designed to be added to soil. Indoor plants planted in a hydrogel substrate are rarely watered. It is good enough to water the flowers before the holidays, and you can not worry for a week or even two. They won't rot, and they won't dry out. Minus - plants must be planted in advance in such soil.

You can also use decorative Chinese hydrogel in the form of colored balls. Pre-wet the granules for 6-8 hours. When swollen, pour into pots on top of the substrate and cover with moss on top. The balls will gradually release moisture into the soil. If the plants have a non-surface root system, then you can mix the top layer of soil with hydrogel balls.

greendom.net

WATERING indoor flowers on vacation: 10 BEST ways!

Introducing the watering of indoor plants during vacations or business trips. We will tell you how best to water home flowers during a long absence.

Let's take a closer look at drip and automatic irrigation systems for indoor plants, "smart pot", capillary mats, hydrogel and learn the secrets of flower growers.


How to water indoor plants on vacation? Preparation

Houseplants need to be watered all year round, but watering houseplants during the holidays is often difficult or daunting for many of us.

The closer the departure, the more often the question arises of how to water indoor plants so that they survive until our return. Therefore, each grower tries to ensure sufficient watering of indoor flowers during the holidays in various ways and methods.

We will tell you about different ways of watering and give you useful tips.

An important point in providing indoor plants and flowers with moisture will be preparing them for the absence of the usual watering. The implementation of preparatory work significantly increases the plant's resistance to future "drought".

If there is no watering for more than 20 days, it is best to use an automatic watering system. We will talk about it later in the article.

  1. Make the last feeding of houseplants and flowers no later than 14-16 days before departure. After fertilizing, plants need more water to absorb minerals.
  2. 2-3 days before departure, cut off all buds and flowers from house plants, as well as leaves to the maximum (several large or more small ones, but in moderation, without much loss for decoration).
    The more green mass, the faster the plant evaporates moisture. During pruning, check all plants and flowers again for diseases and pests (first inspection 7-8 days before).
  3. Move plants and flowers further into the room to reduce air temperature and light levels around them, and as a result, reduce the rate of water evaporation.
    Place the plant pots as close together as possible. Thus, a zone of high humidity in the room will be created.
  4. Before leaving, water the houseplants a little more than usual so that the soil mixture is well saturated with water. Some types of them are best watered by immersion. After watering, it would be good to cover the pots around with wet moss.

Watering houseplants during the holidays: affordable and effective


  1. Houseplants after abundant watering are placed in a large container (basin, baby bath).
  2. Pour water (2-3 cm) into the bottom and pour wet expanded clay (8-12 cm) at the bottom and sides of flower pots.
  3. Pot trays must be removed. Therefore, the pots should not come into contact with water, otherwise the roots may freeze, they must be placed on a layer of expanded clay above the water.

REINFORCEMENT. This method can be strengthened by adding a layer of moss, the top layer of the soil mixture, this is especially important for plants in plastic pots.

Clay and ceramic pots can also be placed inside the plastic one, and the space between them filled with wet expanded clay or moss.

This method allows most plants (depending on the season, species, condition, size and stage of development of the plant) to last from 6-7 to 14-20 days without watering.

How to make drip irrigation for indoor plants with your own hands? Folk methods

If you do not have the opportunity to apply the previous method, then you can use the following drip irrigation options for indoor plants and flowers.

Experts believe that these drip irrigation systems are best used as a supplement to holiday watering, but in some cases they can and even should be used on a permanent basis.

The Feast of Flowers magazine recalls that the effectiveness of drip irrigation methods can vary significantly, and in order to achieve maximum effect, the system must be checked for quite a long time.

Wick watering

To do this, take a wick (cloth cord), one end is placed inside the pot in circles on the bottom (before transplanting the plant), and the other end is placed in a vessel (pot) with water.

The pot with the plant is placed on top of a container of water, the wick absorbs the water and the moisture rises to the bottom of the pot. This method is well suited for watering violets (saintpaulia), including on an ongoing basis.

.

In order not to transplant the plants before the holiday: the cord is placed on top of the pot and sprinkled with soil mixture on top, and the other end in a vessel with water (bucket, basin), which is placed above the pot with the plant.

EXAMPLE. The pot is on the floor and the bucket is on the stool. Depending on the size and type of plant, the number of wicks can vary from one to 5-7.

Plastic bottle

Drip irrigation from plastic bottles is well known to many gardeners, it has been successfully used for indoor plants. In our opinion, it is not difficult to make drip irrigation from a plastic bottle with your own hands.

After installation, measure how much liquid has left the bottle in 24, 72 and 144 (6 days) and 288 (12 days) hours and how wet the substrate is. Depending on the result obtained, the size of the opening on the cap and/or the volume of the bottle are changed.

Drip irrigation systems for indoor plants

Introducing the options for drip irrigation systems for indoor plants.

1. CAPILLARY MAT FOR TRAY IRRIGATION

This special coating of hygroscopic material is placed in any convenient flat place, and a garden film is laid under it. The edge of the capillary mat or its incised strip is moistened with water and lowered into a container with liquid.

CAPILLARY MAT PRICE : about 3 euros per linear meter of a roll 100 cm wide, for example, Vivapol (Germany) with a protective coating Aquafol and a moisture capacity of three liters per m2. The width of the rolls is different: 100, 125, 150 or 200 cm, black or white.

2. CAPILLARY MAT WATER TRAY

This automatic watering device consists of three parts: capillary carpet, outer and inner tray.

The inner tray is covered with a capillary carpet, on top of which a plant pot is placed. The inner tray is placed in the outer one, into which water is poured. The carpet absorbs water and transfers it to the plant.

PRICE GARLAND: price on Amazon 7-8 euros for a pallet with dimensions (55 cm - length, 31 cm - width, 3 cm - height) and a capacity of 1. 8 liters of water from environmentally friendly materials.

3. AQUA GLOBES TYPE DEVICES

Aqua globes devices (watering tubes, glass watering sphere, etc.) are widely used: a glass flask with a ceramic cone. The structure is placed in the soil mixture, where it evenly moistens the substrate due to the capillary-porous structure.

Aqua globes is one option.

PRICE AQUA GLOBES : on Amazon 10-12 dollars for 2 pieces, in the CIS you can find it in stores for about three dollars apiece.

4. CERAMIC CONES FOR PLANTS

Ceramic cones can be sold separately without a water tank (eg Blumat Tube Automatic Plant Waterer) and the moisture is drawn into them through a thin hose from a water tank.

The lower part of the cone is made of a special clay that analyzes soil moisture and releases moisture after sufficient drying.

By changing the height of the plant pot in relation to the water container, the amount of moisture can be adjusted.

Blumat irrigation system

BLUMAT KIT PRICE: on Amazon 12-15 euros. Separately, a cone of an unknown manufacturer in the CIS can be purchased for about $ 1.5 apiece.

5. SMART POT FOR FLOWERS WITH AUTOMATIC WATERING

Smart pot systems for flowers with automatic watering, for example from smartpots.com_ or from Lechuza, are becoming more and more popular.

This device is easy to install and maintain: it only needs to be topped up with water once every 20-25 days.

SMART POT PRICE: Amazon averages $13 to $35 per pot depending on size and volume. Aliexpress has a large variety of options and at different prices.

6. HYDROGEL FOR HOUSE PLANTS

Hydrogel is a special polymer that absorbs a large amount of moisture (two grams can absorb up to 200-500 ml according to various sources) and slowly releases it to plants. Hydrogel for houseplants is mainly found in the form of granules or balls, colorless or colored.

Hydrogel granules with complex fertilizer have now appeared, which, in addition to moisture, supply the plant with nutrients.

According to the manufacturers, on average, such hydrogel granules are enough for 3-4 years.

OTHER: before release, soak the hydrogel for 7-8 hours in water, and then sprinkle the granules on top of the soil mixture and cover with moss. If the root system is not of a superficial type, then the hydrogel can be dug 2-3 cm deep.

HYDROGEL PRICE: for aliexpress: 7 colored pieces - from one dollar, 125 smaller colored pieces about $ 3, 100 medium transparent pieces - about $ 7-8, 500 small multi-colored pieces - $ 10. There is also a weight: 500 grams - $ 20.

Automatic Watering Systems for Houseplants

The automatic watering system for houseplants and flowers has a number of outstanding features. The automatic watering system allows you to provide indoor plants and flowers with moisture for a very long time.

Automatic irrigation systems differ in the type of power supply (solar, electricity, battery), the number of plants to be watered (from one to several dozen), the method of water intake (water supply, water tank), the method of water supply (pump or gravity), irrigation settings in the timer.

Automatic plant watering system

Do-it-yourself automatic drip irrigation of houseplants

Automatic watering of houseplants is quite simple and easy to do yourself from improvised means. Drip irrigation for home flowers is made from a medical dropper system, which can be bought at a pharmacy.

The system has a built-in regulator that allows you to set the drip rate down to the second.

After a couple of hours and every morning for several days, we check the performance of the drip irrigation system. If everything is in order, then you can safely go on vacation and enjoy all the delights of the rest!

Example of homemade drip irrigation system

We hope that now watering indoor plants during the holidays will no longer be a problem, as you already know how to water indoor plants in case of a long absence.

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