With the arrival of the vacations, you start to wonder how you will find your garden and your indoor plants when you return. You think of your family, neighbors or close friends to come and visit your garden in your absence but they are not always available and you would rather not bother them with your garden.
There are several solutions. From the most rudimentary to the most sophisticated and this going with that from the most economical to the most expensive, you will find a solution to your expectations and your budget.
The D system
The economic solution par excellence and within the reach of everyone. It is not a question of cleaning up the garbage in your neighborhood but simply keeping your empty plastic bottles in order to reuse them as water reserves.
The principle consists in placing bottles filled with water upside down, with the neck in the ground. The watering is then done naturally by gravitation according to the humidity of the ground. All sizes are allowed: 0,5l - 1l - 1,5l - 2l - 5l.
Ideal solution for outdoor use, for your vegetable garden and your flower beds. 2.
Pots or tubs with reservoir
We will not dwell on this solution which is ideal indoors but whose aesthetics are sometimes questionable.
Outside, it finds its limits beyond 15 days of absence. Ideal for your geraniums of balconies, terraces, your jardinières of ornamental plants.
Carrots
It is not a question there of sowing rows of carrots but of setting up water diffusers whose shape evokes the vegetable of the same name. They are connected to a reservoir that supplies them with the necessary water.
This water tank can be any container: a bowl, a plastic bucket,... The volume must be in relation with the duration, moreover cover it to avoid too much evaporation.
Ideal: indoors and outdoors, for plants in isolated pots that should be grouped around your water supply. It is also suitable for planters without or with a reservoir (to which it can be added).
Tip: when outside, place a second hanging planter opposite your hanging planters and fill it with water. Your balcony will stay in bloom in your absence.
Watering systems
Automatic watering systems allow you greater flexibility in managing your watering with the possibility of
- adapt the flow rates according to your plants
- program the frequency and duration of watering
However, they need to be installed 15 days before your departure in order to check that they are working properly and that the volume of water poured is adequate for the needs of the plants.
This solution is the most expensive. However, when considered in the context of daily watering of your garden, it becomes by far the most interesting.
The watering system with a pump
The watering system consists of
- a transformer with a built-in programmer
- a low voltage pump immersed in a water tank
- a network of plastic pipes
- micro-drippers (several flow rates are available)
The capacity of the water tank is to be sized according to the water needs in your absence:
Volume of the tank = Watering frequency x Flow rate of the micro-dripter x Duration of watering x Number of micro-drippers x Duration of your stay
Ideal: indoors if you do not want to move your plants. Advice: don't hesitate to place larger sub-pots or even to put pot covers for the eventual overflow.
The watering system connected to the faucet
The watering system consists of
- a programmer screwed to your water tap: the price varies proportionally to the possibilities offered
- a pressure reducer to limit the pressure to 1.5 bar
- a network of plastic pipes of several diameters.
- cross, tee and Y fittings
- micro drippers (several flow rates are available) - various micro sprinklers:
- for trays ......................... to 360º.
- stopcocks to isolate your watering installation by zone. This will allow you to intervene on a zone of your garden while maintaining the watering of the other zones. Recommended for isolating the circuit dedicated to planters and pots during their wintering period.
- Flow regulators
To create your network without too much pressure loss, start with the primary network composed of large pipes. It is the backbone of your network and guarantees sufficient pressure in the most remote areas. Consequently, it must cross all the areas you wish to water.
Note that in the case of very remote areas, it is advisable to provide a service to the primary network(s) by buried reinforced pipes. The pressure reduction will then only take place at the connection with the primary network.
Then install the secondary network made up of thin pipes, a real local service for your different plants.
Ideal: outdoors, if you plan to use it as a year-round watering solution for your garden.
Advice: install your programmer on an outdoor faucet to prevent flooding in the event of a hose rupture or if a connection breaks.
Otherwise, water your garden and your indoor plants before you leave, nature will do the rest.
