Sunday, March 15, 2015

Discover Tips For Automatic Plant Watering

By Leslie Ball


When folks have pets they need to take steps to have someone care for them while they are away on vacation. House plants can pose a similar concern. It is important that they are watered in your absence. There are a number of things you can do to provide automatic plant watering during the time you are away.

Replanting in large nonporous pots will keep your the soil from drying out and damaging your plants. You will need more soil to fill the bigger pots. Larger amounts of soil hold more moisture so plants stay hydrated longer. Additionally, there are a number of products on the market that help to keep soil moist.

There are synthetic soil additives that will help the soils ability to hold increased amounts of water. Using the additives will improve the holding capacity of the soil to as much as 50 percent. Visit your nearest department or DIY store find out what brand they can recommend.

Before you leave on your trip, make sure that you give your plants a good soaking. Do this by placing the containers in a sink or bucket of water. Leave the pots sitting in the water until the soil has soaked it up to the point that the top of the dirt is moistened. You can be sure your indoor plants will stay moist during your absents.

Next, buy a watering stake for every pot. You may need more than one stake for larger planters. The stakes will automatically releases water from its reservoir as the soil dries. You can purchase the stakes that come with reservoirs or you can attach one by using a bottle made of glass or plastic.

People are also able to create their own drip systems with plastic bottles. This is done by poking several holes on the bottom of a bottle. The bottle is then stuck on the top of the soil. The bottle is then filled with water and monitored to make sure the water is dispensed at the correct rate. You should test these systems before leaving to ensure there are no adjustments that will need to be made to the number and size of the holes.

A wicking system is another way to ensure your plants are watered while you are gone. Using yarn water is wicked into the soil. A pot containing water is set at a higher level than the soil. The yarn is completely soaked with the water. One end of the piece of yarn is placed in the bottom of the container of water and the other is buried in the soil.

If you follow these suggestions you will not need to ask anyone to look after your plants when you are gone. You can create your own irrigation systems to keep your plants healthy. If you would rather buy the watering stakes, you can choose from several decorative designs. No matter what you select, you will be able to keep your plants hydrated in your absence.




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