Even a week or two of vacation can be a stress test for houseplants if nobody offers to water them regularly during this time. However, since neighbors and friends cannot always step in, your potted plants do not necessarily have to go hungry. With a bucket full of water and a simple piece of wool, you can build a very simple irrigation system - which also works reliably.
Plants draw the water they need from the wool threads
This is how self-watering with wool thread works
And this is how you set up the irrigation system:
- Arrange the plants to be watered in a circle in a bright but cool room.
- Sun-loving plants are placed near the window, while others move more into the room.
- Heat should be avoided, as large amounts of water evaporate unnecessarily.
- Place a bucket or other large container in the center.
- Plan about two to three liters per week per plant.
- Cut several matching cords of wool.
- You need a string for each pot.
- Slightly thicker cords made of natural materials such as wool or cotton are best.
- Soak the cords in water so that they are well soaked.
- Weight them down individually on one side with a stone or something similar.
- Now hang the weighted end in the water container.
- The end of the string should be on the ground.
- In this way, the plant can still draw water when the container is almost empty.
- Insert the other end of the string into the flower pot.
- Weight this end as well to keep it from accidentally slipping out.
- Tighten the cord so it doesn't sag.
The self-made watering system is ready. (32.95€) Now you can go on holiday without any worries, your plants are taken care of and thanks to the cord they will always be able to get as much water as they need. If the soil becomes too dry, it pulls moisture from the bucket into the flowerpot.
You must pay particular attention to these points
In order for the system to actually work, however, you absolutely have to use cords made of real sheep's wool or cotton. However, most conventional balls of wool, such as those used for knitting, are made of synthetic materials and are therefore unsuitable - these do not conduct water. The room also needs to be carefully selected: It must be bright enough here so that the plants do not suffer from a lack of light - but not so bright that the sun shines directly into it and possibly causes great heat. Then the plants need a lot more water, while at the same time a good part of the water container evaporates uselessly.
More easy ways for holiday watering
However, you can also provide your plants with sufficient water over the holiday in other ways. Plants that require little water (such as succulent plants, cacti, etc.), for example, basically only need to be watered thoroughly before departure. To do this, dip the root ball in a bucket of water and wait until no more air bubbles rise. Then the roots have soaked up water and then don't need any more water for two to three weeks. You can also simply place plants that need more water in a bathtub filled with a little water. However, it should be bright enough in the bathroom, and the plant pots must have holes in the bottom.
tips
Another tried and tested method is inserting upside down PET bottles filled with water into the flower pot.