<![CDATA[Advice needed.]]>Advice needed. I plan to use 2l water bottles to slowly water my tomato plants. There are various methods inc. tubing and aquarium stuff but I’m going for the simple one of planting the bottle upside down with tiny holes in the lid (base cut off). First I made 4 tiny holes as per instructions but I’ve had slower showers tbh. Way too fast. 2nd go had 1 tiny hole (1.5mm), tights fabric over lid. Slower but emptied overnight. Is that about right, any ideas? Thanks 🙏

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/90e9f0db-8c1a-46b7-8c2a-6d2be58871fc/advice-needed.RSS for NodeSun, 31 May 2026 04:29:32 GMTMon, 04 May 2026 07:23:20 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:56:31 GMT]]>@helenclayton good luck!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://helvede.net/users/Koefoed/statuses/116515470813003463https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://helvede.net/users/Koefoed/statuses/116515470813003463Mon, 04 May 2026 08:56:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:47:25 GMT]]>@helenclayton I assume you fill them. Plug then let them dry? Dunno. it was to save plants in droughts. back before dripper hose. Which is a lot easier. put the tap on a timer.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.social/users/Microplastics101/statuses/116515435021277205https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.social/users/Microplastics101/statuses/116515435021277205Mon, 04 May 2026 08:47:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:46:30 GMT]]>Thanks all for great ideas! There are plenty here for me to try. I shall report back!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515431392974514https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515431392974514Mon, 04 May 2026 08:46:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:44:07 GMT]]>@helenclayton Hello 🙂

Full disclosure I've not made one of these lately, but I think rather than buying anything, just use a needle to make a single hole in the cap. This will be much smaller than 1.5 mm.
Experiment and if that's too slow, add more needle holes, and if still too fast, try stuffing some cotton/cloth/sponge tightly down the inside against the bottle cap.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.community/ap/users/115928510335440293/statuses/116515422075116361https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.community/ap/users/115928510335440293/statuses/116515422075116361Mon, 04 May 2026 08:44:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:43:20 GMT]]>@helenclayton The only bottle solution I have had working even remotely are these drippers with regulators on them. Funny enough I looked up these in the UK just this weekend because a friend had exactly the same q as you, going away for two weeks.
https://www.webbsdirect.co.uk/garland-adjustable-little-drippas-set-of-4/

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://oslo.town/users/Simira/statuses/116515418968012711https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://oslo.town/users/Simira/statuses/116515418968012711Mon, 04 May 2026 08:43:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:39:35 GMT]]>@EllenB thanks, some great ideas here.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515404186158645https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515404186158645Mon, 04 May 2026 08:39:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:37:43 GMT]]>@helenclayton I make my own ollas, but here are some methods to make them diy. If it's a small space you can use just one narrow pot, plug the hole, dig halfway in and put a plastic bag over it, so the moisture that seeps out above the soil is condensed and flows back onto the soil. https://theultimatehomestead.com/diy-ollas-clay-pot-irrigation/

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/EllenB/statuses/116515396877961160https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/EllenB/statuses/116515396877961160Mon, 04 May 2026 08:37:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:30:19 GMT]]>@RolloTreadway I’m also thinking, as someone else suggested, that it might be better to put the holes in the base - more stable if a large bottle.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515367793659405https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515367793659405Mon, 04 May 2026 08:30:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:27:16 GMT]]>@helenclayton Thank you. I'm going to visit my mother for a few days in late June/early July, it'll probably be hot and that concerns me.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/RolloTreadway/statuses/116515355766952041https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/RolloTreadway/statuses/116515355766952041Mon, 04 May 2026 08:27:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:21:53 GMT]]>@Simira I have been eyeing one up but was hoping to come up with something quickly and cheaply as a solution while I’m away for a week but I may look at this again. I have more tomato plants than I can fit in the greenhouse so some will have to chance their luck outside.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515334594798686https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515334594798686Mon, 04 May 2026 08:21:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:17:54 GMT]]>@helenclayton I have tried several varieties of this and gave up. My greenhouse is now watered by a solar powered micro drip system and it works wonders. Relatively cheap (off-brand), reliable and works do well i had to push tomatoes on my neighbors last year, from four plants...

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://oslo.town/users/Simira/statuses/116515318949699974https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://oslo.town/users/Simira/statuses/116515318949699974Mon, 04 May 2026 08:17:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:17:34 GMT]]>@Maker_of_Things ooh where are you running away to today?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515317612679230https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515317612679230Mon, 04 May 2026 08:17:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:17:03 GMT]]>@helenclayton
Yeah, sorry, I wasn't clear. My mind was a bit all over the place working out a busy week schedule, and where we are running away to today.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cupoftea.social/users/Maker_of_Things/statuses/116515315643112835https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cupoftea.social/users/Maker_of_Things/statuses/116515315643112835Mon, 04 May 2026 08:17:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:06:14 GMT]]>@Florapis these 2l ones are pretty robust.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515273075684578https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515273075684578Mon, 04 May 2026 08:06:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:04:20 GMT]]>@helenclayton modern plastic bottles are so thin and squishy they collapse quickly and empty. I used to use screw on spikes but find they empty too quickly now

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.wales/ap/users/116262686504612768/statuses/116515265636270358https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.wales/ap/users/116262686504612768/statuses/116515265636270358Mon, 04 May 2026 08:04:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:02:19 GMT]]>@RolloTreadway sorry forgot link 🤦‍♀️

https://helvede.net/@Koefoed/116515217604571798

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515257664986688https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515257664986688Mon, 04 May 2026 08:02:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:01:57 GMT]]>@RolloTreadway I think I might give this a go. The main need is while I’m away.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515256261873151https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515256261873151Mon, 04 May 2026 08:01:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:00:55 GMT]]>@Irisfreundin thanks. The main reason is to water them while I’m away for a week rather than all the time. They’re in a greenhouse. If outside it wouldn’t be such an issue.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515252168175218https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515252168175218Mon, 04 May 2026 08:00:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 07:57:50 GMT]]>@Maker_of_Things oh ok! Sorry I couldn’t picture that 🙃

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515240036998265https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515240036998265Mon, 04 May 2026 07:57:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 07:56:57 GMT]]>@Koefoed oh that could work, thank you! I’ll be worried about supporting the larger bottles upright but I have some left over drainage pipe that I could use to make collars.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515236550561554https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515236550561554Mon, 04 May 2026 07:56:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 07:54:54 GMT]]>@helenclayton
I meant put the wick in the bottle cap and then bury the bottle cap down in the soil.

Or, the same but with the wick in a small hole in the bottle base, buried with the cap upwards for refilling.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cupoftea.social/users/Maker_of_Things/statuses/116515228489550926https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cupoftea.social/users/Maker_of_Things/statuses/116515228489550926Mon, 04 May 2026 07:54:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 07:54:07 GMT]]>@helenclayton you may be able to slow the rate further with coarse sand to partially block the holes. You could also try string wicks for even slower watering

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/gilesandso/statuses/116515225404049741https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/gilesandso/statuses/116515225404049741Mon, 04 May 2026 07:54:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 07:53:56 GMT]]>@drj that was one of the other methods but using a regulator thing for aquariums (same principle). I could buy them but the rest of the set up will be difficult (hanging bottles etc).

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515224742801999https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/helenclayton/statuses/116515224742801999Mon, 04 May 2026 07:53:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Advice needed. on Mon, 04 May 2026 07:52:07 GMT]]>@helenclayton the spike thing is like this, I think. Only without spikes. But with the method you describe, I don’t know. Sorry if I derail your question. https://youtu.be/Z2Ro6OUO8UM?si=dETlbgFStH9PDloe

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://helvede.net/users/Koefoed/statuses/116515217604571798https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://helvede.net/users/Koefoed/statuses/116515217604571798Mon, 04 May 2026 07:52:07 GMT