How to water pot plants when on holiday ?

I have a small patio style garden which is now surrounded by various pot plants. I will be going away for two weeks at the height of summer and don't think many of the plants will survive without attention.

I'm new to the area and don't really have anyone to call on for help.
There is no outdoor tap to connect a watering system to.
I rent so I can't connect a water butt to the downpipe.

Any ideas greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

Get to know your neighbours

 

I rent but I have still installed a water butt. I am sure your landlord would not object and it would be the answer to putting in a feeder system of watering otherwise it is a case of knocking and getting to know your neighbours quickly. The other thought is if you are of retirement age, which one cannot assume on here, then contact help the aged or whatever they call themselves now to see if they have someone in your area that would be prepared to water your plants for you. One last thought: Don't know how many pots you have but at least put the special ones in your bath with a shallow amount of water for them to draw on while you are away!

 

Unfortunately my garden is a little oasis between some baron desert gardens so I although I know my neighbours I have zero faith they would keep my plants alive !!

The only way to fit a water butt is drilling into the current sealed guttering which I'm not convinced I would be allowed to do. I'm only 30, not sure Help the Aged would be of use either.

 

Sorry Monty, I spend a lot of time on Saga and forgot myself that I wasn't on an over 50's forum. I had another thought. See if there are any members on here who live near you and would be prepared to help you out. Otherwise it is back to my bath suggestions. Bath and sink you should be able to get a few into shallow water for the time you are away.

 

PS. If you have some buckets and bowls as well you can leave water in them to keep some other pots damp.

 

Issue with bathroom is a serious lack of natural light, maybe that wouldn't be a big problem for a couple of weeks.

Do you suggest I set the pots directly into a bath or pots of water ??? Will this not damage the plants as they'll be constantly waterlogged !!!

 

hallo Monty,
welcome to Gardeners Corner. Always a tricky one this. Any friends or family who can help? Someone who you can do the same for when they go away?
Providence may send you rain of course. ? Start dancing. Jenny

 

It's very much a tossed coin. Either you take the risk of them drying out and dying outside or you take a chance of them not liking to be constantly damp. The chances are they are more likely to survive in a shallow bath of water than they are drying out in hot weather outside. You would only use a shallow amount of water in the bath or sink. On the other hand if the weather is anything like it was last year then they may well be better off outdoors.

 

get some empty plastic bottles (2 litre coke bottles for large pots, and smaller bottles for smaller pots)

before you leave, water the plants well, until the water runs out from the bottom, but make sure that you have pot trays under the pots, and make sure that they are full of water

fill a plastic bottle with water, and quickly tip it over and press the neck/opening into the pot soil on the side

the water will slowly 'drip' into the soil .... and by having the pot trays full of water also allows additional moisture into the potting soil

that may be enough for the 2 weeks, but also make sure that you move the pots out of full sunlight

 

Mulching the top of the pots will help stop water loss as well, composted bark or gravel with some of those water retaining clay balls that nurseries sell.

 

http://gardenshop.telegraph.co.uk/p...-water-retaining-crystals/classid.2000013519/

 

Asda do 3'-ish paddling pools for £3. You should be able to fit quite a few plants in one and leave them on the Patio, preferably with some shade but you can only play with your cards.
If you've room you can always add to the pools.
That should give the plants a fighting chance - even without helpful neighbours.
In our street there's no shortage of volunteers, but most of us have shared the same space for 25+ years

 

paddling pool, good call Gcc