Keeping a basket moist

Hi all, my wife & I have a 3 week break abroad each summer and its stopping me from making up hanging baskets that I love to have :(

I realize there is moisture retention gel etc on the market, but does anyone have any idea's or tips as to how we could keep baskets moist for such a long period?

Any help appreciated.

 

Hi Pebo. It`s a problem that most of us have from time to time, but 3 weeks ! My guess is that they wouldn`t survive no matter what you did/used. I`d say your only hope is to get someone to water it for you. Cheers...freddy.

 

Pebo, do you have an outside tap? If so, it would be worth investing in an automatic watering system. It wouldn`t be too expensive and is easy to install.

 

I don't actually David. Besides the baskets would be at the front, and the tap would have to be at the rear. Tell me if I'm being silly here, but I thought maybe if I used long lengths of a felt like material it might be possible to bury one end into a basket and the other end dropped into a large container of water?

 

If there hanging baskets take them down and take them round a freind/family members house to water, Then when you get back go pick them up and hang them back up.

Well thats what i would do if i was stuck for a water carrier................Hope i help

 

Ah well there lies the problem Slinky, a family member was supposed to be doing that the last time. Result.... Dead baskets

 

I always bring back a tipple as a 'thank you 'for my nieghbour...it's worked for the past 20 years for me:thumb:

 

Pebo, you are talking about watering by capillary action, and I think that is your only option. You can get " wicks " of capillary matting especially for the job. You would sit your basket on a bucket of water, with one end of these wicks buried in the compost and the other end in the water. Make sure the wick is long enough to touch the bottom of the bucket.:thumb::D

 

Sounds just the job David. I'd best get searching the shops & garden centre's :thumb:

 

Pebo, the cheapest way to do it is to buy some capillary matting from the local garden centre, and just cut it into strips. For a 14" basket I would use 3 strips.:thumb:

 

Dai...great Idea !

 

:thumb: cheers

 

Before my really kind neighbour took over my garden for me while I go away.
I used to stand all my baskets pots etc in the kids paddling pool in the garage in about 2 inches of water.
It was cool in there out of any sun.
There was light through the frosted glass.
They were fine.
And did they grow in 2 weeks.

 

I've just bought some niffty things to keep mine watered, They came from B&Q, in the hanging basket section. They are ceramic pointy things that push down into the soil. You attach any plastic bottle to them (from a small drinks bottle to a huge one), fill the bottle with water first obviously, and poke the ceramic bit into the soil. The bigger the bottle the longer it lasts. The ceramic bits are £2 each, you might want 2 in a large pot or window box. You can use them for house plants too.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they work

 

I would agree with what David says about capillary matting. But you can use anything that wicks well such as cotton. Ie old towel, old sheet etc - folded two or three times to make it thicker. The water must be slightly below the basket. If it is above it will syphon out very quickly. I would also put the baskets in a shade spot. If they are in the sun they could use a huge quantity of water over three weeks. I used to fill my kitchen sink with water when I went away. Then hang an old trowel over the draining board with one end in the water. I then put my pots on the draining board - it worked a treat.