How do you keep your seedlings in their seed trays watered when your away?

[Samuel1988]

Evening all,

I have sown some veg in the past in seed trays and have ended up not being able to get down to the plot as often as I hoped and thus my poor seedlings fried.

I was wondering how everyone keeps their seedlings watered and happy when your away.

I was thinking of putting the seed trays in a tray of water but water logging could be just as bad as drying up.

How do you deal with this potential problem?

I was thinking of utilising the property of water and cohesion (I believe it is) and have the seed trays just above a pool of water but with some cloth being dipped in the pool of water and going into the tray from the bottom.

Thus when water evaporates it would be replenished via the water travelling up the cloth from the pool of water? Just an idea.

Many thanks,

Samuel

[Samuel1988]

I'm thinking of capillary action

[Samuel1988]

I think you can buy something but I don't have the money to unfortunately.

[Samuel1988]

Capillary action - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[veggiechicken]

............commonly known as Capillary action

[Samuel1988]

Yes

I wish to make something where I can simply put all my newly sown seeds onto so just in case I don't get time on the plot they will still get a drink

[greenishfing]

Although I have greenhouses all my seeds stay at home on the windowsills until they are able to withstand a bit of neglect. In Spring you would struggle to see in through my windows as I have shelving 4 tiers high rigged up in them to accommodate more trays.

[arpoet]

wet kitchen towel in the bottom of trays will keep em moist for a few days.

[Bren In Pots]

Samuel here's what I rigged up for my chilli plants it might give you some ideas.

[Samuel1988]

Wow, looks good!

May I ask what materials you used for this set-up?

Samuel

[Bren In Pots]

The capillary matting was cheap stuff form Aldi, I used a grow bag tray then underneath are two gravel trays, the tray hold a fair bit of water so they last a couple of weeks between fills.

[Greenleaves]

Maybe BM can invent something on a shoestring budget

[bananamelon]

Towel large washed pop bottle should do it if do properly.