Summer is a tricky time for working balcony gardeners. In bright sunshine and sweaty temperatures, petunias, geraniums and co. suffer from drought stress every day. Instead of enjoying a leisurely evening on the balcony, lugging heavy watering cans is on the agenda. This guide puts an end to that and explains how balcony plants can be watered automatically.

Plastic bottles can be used for automatic watering on the balcony

Just give balcony plants the bottle - that's how it works

For the installation of highly developed irrigation systems, there is usually a lack of the necessary water and electricity connections on the balcony, or the tight budget does not allow for the investment. This does not mean that balcony plants have to go thirsty during the day when the gardener is busy earning a living. You can easily build an automatic water supply yourself using a thick-walled plastic bottle and a simple attachment. This is how it works:

  • Fill the PET bottle with water
  • Screw a clay cone (e.g. from Blumat) onto the locking thread
  • Stick the bottle with the watering cone upside down into the substrate
  • Poke a hole in the bottom of the bottle with a knitting needle
  • If there is a risk of tipping, support the bottle with wooden skewers or bamboo sticks

The IRISO drip system has taken the water bottle idea a step further. An additional plastic tip, which is connected to the water bottle cone via a hose, regulates the flow at the push of a button. The tip can be individually adjusted to 11 flow rates, tailored to the water needs of each balcony plant.

Integrated water reservoir - more flexibility when watering

Upside down plastic bottles for watering balcony plants are a thorn in the side of creative balcony gardeners. Flower boxes (€16.99) and buckets with an integrated water reservoir are therefore very popular for an invisible automatic water supply.

Most models have a double bottom as a cistern, earth-filled suction cone, overflow openings and a filler neck with water level indicator. Thanks to this construction, you take care of the water supply when you have time and not because it is urgent. The advantage is that liquid fertilizer can also be administered via the filler neck without any problems.

tips

In order to water balcony plants automatically while on holiday, it is not absolutely necessary to invest in a technically advanced watering system (€32.95). The plants provide themselves with moisture for a short time via a self-made pipeline made of rolled kitchen paper, which extends into a bucket of water.

Category:

Indoor plants