Keeping container grown peppers alive whilst on holiday

[Dr Pips]

Hi All,

My first attempt at growing peppers and chillies is going very well now that I've killed the very hungry capterpillars. I'm just worried that they are going to die when I go on holiday soon. I give each plant about 1 litre of water a day, but unfortunately all friends and family are away at the same time.

What's the best way to keep them watered and alive?

Thanks,

Dom

[Bigmallly]

I would either set up a drip feed system or stand them in a large container of water. Then again I'm no expert.

[scott78]

how long are you going away for? im no expert but im thinking 1 litre a day is a bit much for chillies, i thought they likes it dry. i would give each pot a 2ltr plastic bottle pressed into the soil,with small hole in the base. if it empties too fast screw the cap on a little to slow it down. then i would place it outside and hope for rain.

[Kiwi_Soph]

I'm going to try and keep my chillies, peppers, tomatoes and squash alive for ten days....I will have to hope for the luck and the rain but I have gone and bought a £3 paddling pool from Argos - going to fill that, pop the ends of some towels in and put the plants on the towels, hoping that will work.

If you need something more technical have a quick search on here - there are some amazing threads about home-watering systems that sound very impressive. They are beyond me I am afraid, especially as I have no outdoor plumbing or water butt, but if you have The DIY Knowledge they might be useful.

[Leeds_lad]

I personally use watering spikes on my plants when I won't be there for a couple of days, they are so inexpensive and do a great job. You just stick them in the spot you want, cut the bottom off a 2 litre bottle, fill with water and screw it on, in evenly moist soil it can provide well over a week of watering

[Florence Fennel]

Some good suggestions there, hope whatever you do that they survive and have a good holiday!

[Bren In Pots]

I use capillary matting along with a water reservoir mines homemade but there's a photo of one being used here :-

Two Wests

and again here :-

Botanico Capillary Matting | Gardening Supplies

[JamesM]

I'm going to try and keep my chillies, peppers, tomatoes and squash alive for ten days....I will have to hope for the luck and the rain but I have gone and bought a £3 paddling pool from Argos - going to fill that, pop the ends of some towels in and put the plants on the towels, hoping that will work.

If you need something more technical have a quick search on here - there are some amazing threads about home-watering systems that sound very impressive. They are beyond me I am afraid, especially as I have no outdoor plumbing or water butt, but if you have The DIY Knowledge they might be useful.

Have you done this before with the paddling pool/towels? How di it work if so?

You're certainly right about homewatering. Do a search for 'mulch' and read through the thread for potsanddustbins amazing system, plus lots of other relevant advice

[Kiwi_Soph]

nope, not tried the paddling pool - I have never even had a garden before! However, I am going on 1 part blind faith to four parts lovely sugggestions from other grapes. (I made a thread about holiday watering for dummies in the new shoots section and got some great advice).

It seems lots of people have had success with this and a bath or bucket of water, so I hope a paddling pool will work. I am planning on doing a trial run first though!

[WillowWood]

Try these they are fairly cheap and simple (like me) and have done the trick in my small garden:

MrPlantsWell - Watering Irrigation from only £5.95!