Originally Posted by HARDDON
The dryness is probably a result of hot air AND very aerated soil.
I prefer that kind. I gotta water daily.
Yes I went 7 days auto/watering in Jamaica.
But it was no easy thing to do and certainly not one I could teach how to do in writing right now...but...
I grow in a cabinet.
For each plant, I ran a 1" tube which was tied to the pot container itself. I anchored the tubes to the pot by drilling into the pot lid and twisty tied the hoses to the container.
I ran the tubes up along the walls of my cabinet and drilled 1" holes at the top.
I ran the tubes thru the holes in the top.
I placed those screw monkey clamps on the tubes on the outside of the grow cabinet to keep them from falling down into the grow chamber.
I used clear tubing so i could see the water as it traveled in testing phases.
I also, when finsihed, wrapped the tubes in foil tape to prevent light leakage both in and out.
I then fit the tubes clamped to a 5/8" female hose end.
This is where it is very difficult and tricky...
the easiest chance you have, it to run a garden hose with an automatic timer to the grow chamber tubes outfitted with the 5/8" female hose end.
Set the timer to your desired time and length of watering. Get a good timer and experiment with water flow.
I wanted my babies to get proper pH water and some nutes so I had a rather sophisticated dual tank stage setup that would force PRE_PREPARED water into the flow as opposed to running straight tap water.
One container contained the 'pre made' water and the other tank contained the tap water. as the tap water filled, it would displace the pre made water and force it into the grow tubes.
It took me a month to get it straightened out and tested and adjusted.
I would adivse to run the timer right from the garden hose spigot to the plants for simplicity. The Home Depot sells some good timers.
It is / was a real pain in the ass but it works.
I wouldnt do it the same way again as some of the nutes i think coagulated at the bottom of the tank and when the babies were fed, i got a little nute burn at the top.... jsut a little.
I would jsut run a timer and hosing into the plant base.
Also, water flow was an issue as i could not control have fast it dispersed so I jammed a rock inside the outlet hose at the plant base to slow the flow and allow the water to come out much more slowly.
I was going to c-clamp the hose end to do this, but got stoned when I went shopping and forgot...thus the rocks.
This was not easy....but.....
I am traveling to Mexico next week for a full week.....so, i will have the same setup working again though this time i might use straight tap water.
I do have a conditioning system so I dont need to worry about chlorine.
I will try and take pics of my setup before I leave....
Lemme see pics of your grow setup....maybe i can give you some pointers to help you retain the mositure....
4 days isnt that long, but if they need water everyday, you have to deal with it.
alot depends on the size of your plants, containers and heat . light emittance.
It might be easier just to have someone you know water them ????