Watering whilst away

[monkeyboy]

So the seedlings are mostly happily growing away in the propagator (with the exception of celery ). The tomatoes look like they'll be ready to pot on by the end of this week. The remaining seedlings might happily sit in the propagator for another few weeks.

I'm going away for a fortnight in a few weeks. There isn't anyone I can rely upon to water so I need a way of watering the plants while I'm absent.

I initially tried capillary matting in the bottom of the propagator but whilst it stayed damp, the soil remained dry (checked with a soil moisture meter). Currently, I water the plants twice a week which seems to keep them happy.

Any clever suggestions?

[nickdub]

What sort of set-up do you have generally eg Conservatory, Greenhouse , Poly-tunnel ?

[Bren In Pots]

Monkeyboy have a read at this thread on setting up a self watering matting.

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ion_89293.html

the photos are missing but heres one of mine from that thread. hope this helps.

[monkeyboy]

What sort of set-up do you have generally eg Conservatory, Greenhouse , Poly-tunnel ?

A propagator and a couple of raised beds for SFG. It's my first foray. The propagator sits indoors by the kitchen window but has thermostatically controlled heated base and some grow lights on top.

[nickdub]

Hmmm - a bit tricky without any covered growing space, except the house.

How about putting the lot in the back of the car and ferrying them off somewhere to be plant sat ?

Generally if away for a bit I put some stuff in cool dark places so that it doesn't need watering for a week or so, but I'm not sure small plants would stand this treatment well.

[bikermike]

It won't be a perfect answer, but could you rig up some sort of reservoir and a wick to the capillary matting? if you keep it reasonably level, it shouldn't pull more than is being pulled out.

disclaimer - I haven't done this, so it's a guess, but it's what I'd try in the circs.

[Penellype]

If your capillary matting is wet and the compost is dry the chances are that the compost is not in contact with the matting. Some pots have little ridges at the bottom which hold the pots slightly proud of the surface, probably to allow drainage if watered from the top, but these can stop the water from being taken up from the matting. Check the pots are flat at the bottom, if not, cut small squares of matting and put them under each pot to connect with the bigger mat underneath, making sure they are inside the ridges on the pots.

A water reservoir is a good idea - the water level must not be higher than the propagator though, or you will end up with a flood.

[Mitzi]

Can you wean them off the propagator heat before you go away? I did that with my chilli seedlings before I went away last week, so they didn't dry out as fast.

Capillary matting definitely works but the bottom of the soil has to be in direct contact with it. As your soil stayed dry then maybe the compost isn't sitting directly on the matting. Then you need a small wick to take the water up from the matting and into the pot - either a strip of capillary matting or some wool, string, or other yarn that will allow the water to be transported through it.

[4Shoes]

Sand....

Cover matting with sand, and then sink the pots into the same?

[monkeyboy]

Well this is what I bought for the seeds
https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-.../178165_BQ.prd

I've had a look and they have a raised lip around the edge so the central drainage hole is not in contact with the matting. Which means the soil stays dry.

With wicking, should I use strips of matting to "connect" the soil to the matting at the bottom of the propagator? Or should I use one long sheet and then cut strips that remain connected to the matting but insert one end into the pots?

[Bex2012]

When I did mine last year, i had all my pots sat on capillary matting inside a deep tray with another strip of capillary matting sat on the matting and running into a bucket of water. It worked exceptionally well!
Could you not put a layer of sand in the propagater and then put the matting on top? That would allow you to squidge/mould the matting against the bottom of the pot.

[Chestnut]

Do you have a drip irrigation set? If so, maybe this would let you set a slow drip onto one edge of your capillary matting?? Can combine with a timer to operate for say 1 hour per day.
I haven’t used capillary matting, but drip irrigation into growbags works quite well once it is set up....

[bario1]

I'm thinking gravel tray, fill with sand, thoroughly soak and then push your pots down into the sand?

[monkeyboy]

Right so I bought a gravel tray to hold water. I ordered some capillary matting off Amazon. I did a test strip on the window sill in the kitchen with three 10cm pots sitting on and managed to make the window sill wet with water dripping over the edge. One end of the capillary matting was in a small glass of water which is almost empty.

I'm clearly doing something wrong. I've had a read of a few threads (with pictures missing). Looks like I need to raise the pots up above the level of the water. How high is reasonable?

[veggiechicken]

Did you see Bren's photo in #3 https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ml#post1586743