GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

07-04-2003, 11:44 PM

In article ,
(Drakanthus) wrote:

The containers will need watering
every day in Summer.

I have a "fix" for that. It's an auto-watering system. Here's the setup
I used for a bamboo in a 10L pot:

Equipment:

- 1 plastic stacking storage bin of about 2 cubic feet capacity as sold
everywhere for about 1.99
- 1 2L fizzy drink bottle

Method:

- Place pot in the storage bin
- Water it well
- Put water in the bin to a depth of 1"
- Take 2L drinks bottle, turn upside down and pierce one of the crinkly
lobes with a .25" diameter hole.
- Cover the hole with your finger
- Fill 2L drinks bottle with water and fasten cap
- Stand 2L bottle in the storage bin
- Remove finger
- Go away for a week.

As the water in the storage bin drops, it is topped from the 2L bottle
automatically and air bubbles into the bottle.

- Method might not be good for plant with roots all the way to the
bottom of the pot as they might rot in the waterlogged soil.
- Make sure the whole thing is level
- Depending on windiness of the site, may have to prevent the bottle
blowing over
- Should work on a smaller or larger scale.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com