Holiday Watering

[ozzyleven]

I was just wondering if any of you knew a reliable and efficient way to self water the plants over Christmas time (4 days away from home, 6 plants, will be about 5 weeks into flower)? Wanted to get started on this project, so I would have time to monitor it before I need to use it. Any ideas? Any help is much appreciated!

[Rusty Trichome]

Perhaps the wick method would help ya.

The Wick Method for vacation watering (http://boards.cannabis.com/1782869-post5.html)

Four days isn't that long tho. How often do you usually need to water?

[12345-54321]

I used the Plantastic watering bottle.

They are a ($5-10) each at a local hardware store, look around, they are well hidden. Here is the URL as well so you can see what they look like. Its a water bottle with a spike and a cap to slow the flow

Plantastic! The Plant Waterer that REALLY WORKS! Automatic watering for unattended houseplants (http://www.plantastic1.com/)

My other plants were so so, the one that had this was sweet, and only used 1/2 the water.... also your trip is short enough to water heavy and be fine.

:D - :rasta:

[ozzyleven]

Rusty, the plants are getting quite large just threw them into flowering a couple days ago. The largest one is about 3 1/2 ft. We usually water every other day, she is sucking a lot of water, close to a gal. a watering now though and I am assuming that will increase over the next few weeks as she puts on more weight. Have you had any experience with the wick method? I would like to know if it works good. And also with six plants how large of a water resevoir do you think I would have to make? Sorry for all the questions just want to see the fam this christmas, but don't want to jepordize my crop :)

[ozzyleven]

Also, thanks for the Plantastic water-er idea. My only concern with this is the amount of water the bottles can hold, but I was thinking that this might be easy to make my own version of. 2 litre bottles?

[Stemis516]

4 days are u serious? unless these are some enormous plants i would say just give them a really heavy watering b4 u leave and they should be fine

[ozzyleven]

Just worried because they are 3 1/2 a half feet right now with 8-10 weeks of flowering left. They might be monsters...

[Rusty Trichome]

Have you had any experience with the wick method? I would like to know if it works good. Yup, I have a bit of experience. I try not to recommend something I don't have direct experience with.


And also with six plants how large of a water resevoir do you think I would have to make? For 4 days, I'm not sure I'd bother unless I couldn't raise the lights and cut-back on fans and heat. (but I would make sure soil was watered well before leaving)

Trial and error. A lot depends on the diameter of the string, and how much water it can transfer. You don't want to flood with an entire gallon in one day. A simple test...Fill a pail with one half gallon of water, add the wick as directed, and see how long to empty the bucket all over the floor. (or into another bucket sitting lower than the source bucket)

[ozzyleven]

I'm just a little worried, because they get pretty hot when we aren't venting the room out. Part of the reason they suck so much water I think. Out of curiousity, all the insides of my walls are connected and air flow freely. What do you think of running some ducting from one room out to another and placing a fan in front of the duct? Would that be sufficient venting, and how big would I have to go? 4-5" ducting and fan?

[ozzyleven]

Also, room is fairly small (8x10 ft) heats up about 10-20 degrees during light period, without venting.

[stinkyattic]

Water before you leave and then cut back the lights to supplemental flouros. That will drop the temps and reduce water loss by transpiration. Also, you can do a LIGHT mist with smc or neem which will further reduce water loss. LESS IS MORE!