Advice needed.
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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.
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@RolloTreadway sorry forgot link
️@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.
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@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.
@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.
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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 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/
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@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/
@EllenB thanks, some great ideas here.
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@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.
@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/ -
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 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. -
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
Thanks all for great ideas! There are plenty here for me to try. I shall report back!
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@Microplastics101 that sounds like a good Aussie solution. I do have a goodly number of wine bottles until the recycling is collected on Thursday so could hold onto those if can do something with them.
@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.
