watering question

[xmk]

so here is the situation, ive got all of my lights, seeds, soil and everything i need to get my first grow going. Im just dying to start but im going to be leaving for vacation in 6 weeks, ill be gone for one week, if i start now i wont be very far along in the flowering process by the time i have to leave for a week so my question is, is there some type of automatic water systerm or even just a drip system that will keep my plants watered for the week im gone? i dont have anyone i trust enough to have come and water them for me and i would really like to find a way around this, its going to kill me to wait 7 more weeks to start my grow but if thats what must be done than thats what ill do, any advice is appreciated, oh yeah and its just going to be a small indoor grow of 4 or 5 plants at most

xmk Reviewed by xmk on 03-05-2007. watering question so here is the situation, ive got all of my lights, seeds, soil and everything i need to get my first grow going. Im just dying to start but im going to be leaving for vacation in 6 weeks, ill be gone for one week, if i start now i wont be very far along in the flowering process by the time i have to leave for a week so my question is, is there some type of automatic water systerm or even just a drip system that will keep my plants watered for the week im gone? i dont have anyone i trust enough Rating: 5

[Tomthehippie]

there are watering systems u can buy but they tend to be slightly expensive. the best thing to do is to look in how to make your own. buy a weekly timer and hook it to a water pump and a bucket.

[Jake777]

I read the original post concerning plant care while absent and wonder if a water pump is economical/worthwhile with as few as the afore mentioned plants.
I read about the wick system and wondered if anyone has experience/success with that?

[Jerry Garcia 2007]

My plants are in 5 gallon buckets at that age and a week without watering will not kill them, if anything it will help root growth to the bottom of the bucket, you may experience droopy leaves but when you water after getting back they will respond very quickly, I would do a flush or water thuroughly water before leaving.

[Rusty Trichome]

I read the original post concerning plant care while absent and wonder if a water pump is economical/worthwhile with as few as the afore mentioned plants.
I read about the wick system and wondered if anyone has experience/success with that?

Yes, I've done it. For 5 days of absence. They were in need of water upon return, but soil was still moist a few inches down and they looked great.

Since you have some time, you have the ability to try the wick method out. Just get the water-absorbant string (cotton clothesline is good, but transfers the water much quicker than say...a couple of strands of kite string. Polyester string doesn't work.) and two 5 gallon buckets. Fill one with water, set it on a bench or stool and put the empty bucket on the floor, below it.
Weigh down the string inside the upper bucket, and let it loosely go over the rim and drop down into the empty bucket.
Keep an eye on how long it takes to transfer the water from one to the other. You should be able to figure out if it will work for your situation. (Wouldn't work well outdoors, lol)

Use more 'wicks' per water bucket, for a faster transfer.
Use more water buckets for more pots.
Use a smaller diameter string, to slow the transfer down.
Raise lights, and divert fans if possible.

-OR-

A bucket of water, a small aquarium pump, some drip sprinkler tubing for the transfer...and one of these...
Zilla Aqualight Power Center (Double) (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Lighting > Accessories > Timers )
Can be set on any schedule you want, on any day(s) you want.
I haven't Tried this yet, but I do have a similar power strip I plan on trying next time I go out of state. I'm using it for my coral reef at the moment, but I know it would work. I can turn on/off stuff for 1 minute, twice a week, if I wanted. Much, much better than an Intermatic.

[Jake777]

I appreciate the replys and the detailed instructions given,im off to florida for a few weeks so will let you know how i got on with the wick system.Plants are only a few weeks old so no great loss but it would be superb to come back to lively ones :thumbsup:

[Jake777]

Feeling a little guilty for getting so much sunshine while my wee plants had to suffice with a simple lighting on a timer and crude last minute wick system i was amazed to come back to 3 out of 5 perfectly healthy happy larger plants , 1 other is critical and one is plainly dead.
Not a bad result by any means , thanks guys :thumbsup:
Total time i was gone was exactly 3 weeks

[theelectrician]

glad it worked i tried wicks found them 2b a pain

[Jake777]

I have to agree Sparky , i figured a wick system to be both a pain and unlikely method but after searching days for drip feeders i relented the morning of my departure and reached for the washing line and swiss army knife.
I employed the use of 2 large " simply orange" containers filled with water , dropped one end in and the other i placed near the edge of each plant pot.Using a bamboo kebab skewer i plunged the ends of the rope down into the depths of the soil.
Water containers were placed on a shelf higher than the shelf holding the plants , quite why i lost 2 out of the 5 while 3 remained in perfect condition is unknown to me but im pleased with the results.
Growth appears to have been stunted and slowed but new growth was clearly evident and plants had all trebled in size ( survivers)