Advice needed.
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@helenclayton I would, instead, drill a couple of those small holes in the base, maybe one per each of the little bumps, then bury it until just the top is open, fill it and then put the cap on. The goal is to only allow a small amount of air in to replace the water, such that it wicks out the bottom. Look up ollas for the general idea.
@blackcoat oh ok, thanks. I saw ollas but didn’t realise I could make something like that with plastic bottles. I’ll try that. Does it have to be completely buried (might struggle with that) Hopefully I’ve got enough bottles!
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@Maker_of_Things that was one of the other methods I looked at but it requires kit I do not have and I don’t have a means of hanging the bottles. Not 10 of them anyway. I’d like to use what I have to hand…and preferably today.
@helenclayton
Ahhh...
Would a wick from the bottle work?
Instead of tiny holes in the cap, one hole but with cloth bunged into it. It would wick the water out very gradually, and collapse the bottle as the water volume reduces. -
@helenclayton I’m not sure you’re supposed to cut the base off? At least in southern Europe people simply put glass bottles bottom-up in their planters. When the soil is saturated already it preserves moisture.
@Koefoed with this method that was the instruction, so you can leave the bottle in situ and fill as needed. I have seen the use of bottle spikes that wine bottles etc are placed (full) neck down into. Before I buy anything though I’d like to see if I can make the waste bottles work.
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@helenclayton
Ahhh...
Would a wick from the bottle work?
Instead of tiny holes in the cap, one hole but with cloth bunged into it. It would wick the water out very gradually, and collapse the bottle as the water volume reduces.@Maker_of_Things possible but it would still need to be hung up somewhere.
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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
@helenclayton IV Flow Regulator? I found a random one on AliExpress for a couple of quid that goes down to 5ml/hour (and up to 250ml/hour), which is over 1 week for a litre. I'm quite tempted to get a few and try it.
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@Koefoed with this method that was the instruction, so you can leave the bottle in situ and fill as needed. I have seen the use of bottle spikes that wine bottles etc are placed (full) neck down into. Before I buy anything though I’d like to see if I can make the waste bottles work.
@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
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@helenclayton IV Flow Regulator? I found a random one on AliExpress for a couple of quid that goes down to 5ml/hour (and up to 250ml/hour), which is over 1 week for a litre. I'm quite tempted to get a few and try it.
@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).
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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
@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
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@Maker_of_Things possible but it would still need to be hung up somewhere.
@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.
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@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
@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.
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@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.
@Maker_of_Things oh ok! Sorry I couldn’t picture that
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@helenclayton I don't think that is a good idea at all. If Tomatoes get water continously they form only weak roots. I water my tomatoes when they're young only when they show that water is necessary by hanging tops, when they have set fruit every two days.
@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.
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@RolloTreadway I thought a teeny hole would drain much more slowly. The more complicated bottle systems are literally like hospital drips but I don’t have the kit or appropriate supports for that. I looked into buying a small solar powered drip irrigation system but figured I could save money and reuse waste bottles if just needed for my tomato plants in the greenhouse.
@RolloTreadway I think I might give this a go. The main need is while I’m away.
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@RolloTreadway I think I might give this a go. The main need is while I’m away.
@RolloTreadway sorry forgot link
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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
@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
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@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
@Florapis these 2l ones are pretty robust.
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@Maker_of_Things oh ok! Sorry I couldn’t picture that
@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. -
@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.@Maker_of_Things ooh where are you running away to today?
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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
@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...
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@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...
@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.
