Not every balcony has its own electricity or even water connection, which would ensure the supply of the balcony plants for the holiday season. In any case, it is better to run such a system without electricity and unattended external water supply - the risk of problems such as serious water damage is too great. Fortunately, however, there are tried and tested systems that do not require any electricity or external water supply.
With watering balls or bottles, you can easily build an automatic watering system yourself
irrigation cones or balls
So-called irrigation cones or balls, which are made of glass, clay or plastic, are filled with water and then simply inserted into the substrate, work according to a very simple principle. They gradually release the water into the substrate, ensuring continuous moisture. However, they have to be refilled regularly and are therefore only suitable for a few days' absence, but not for a longer holiday.
high tank
A so-called elevated tank is significantly more productive. This is a larger water tank that is placed at a higher level than the planters and is connected to them with thin hoses. Only gravity acts here, which gradually pushes the higher water down and thus into the planters. You can buy the components for such a system ready-made, but you can also put them together yourself.
solar systems
Where pumps and timers do not work due to a lack of electricity, solar-powered irrigation systems can help. However, their reliability depends to a large extent on the solar radiation: if the sun does not shine or does not shine strongly enough, the stored electricity is not sufficient for irrigation.
tips
You can install a very simple method of watering with the help of a simple PET bottle: simply fill it with water and put it upside down in the substrate.