Best practices for watering potted plants
If you do not want to fall back on complicated irrigation systems that work with a pump and water connection, you can choose from numerous currentless methods. These are either available cheaply in well-stocked specialist shops or can be built yourself with just a few materials.
also read
- Building DIY irrigation for potted plants yourself - ideas and instructions
- Are you planning a vacation? 4 tips for successful watering of potted plants
- Automatic irrigation without electricity or water connection - these methods exist
Planters with a water reservoir
It is foresighted to think about a possible vacation and associated irrigation problems when planting. Buy planters with a water reservoir whenever possible, even if they are expensive. But they save you a lot of time, you just have to refill the reservoir regularly. However, these vessels are only suitable if a few days have to be bridged. For a longer summer vacation, you will need additional watering.
Irrigation balls / cones
This can be done with the help of irrigation balls or cones. Irrigation balls, for example, are made of glass and are one-piece. You fill the upper, spherical part with water and simply put the stick in the plant pot. The water will gradually seep out of the balloon. Irrigation cones, on the other hand, are made of plastic or clay, and they also work a little differently: You always need an external water container from which the water runs into the cone and from there is released to the plant. The container is either screwed directly onto the cone or connected to it via a thin hose.
Watering with PET bottles
The irrigation cones have proven themselves especially in connection with a PET or glass bottle, onto which they are screwed and finally inserted into the substrate. For the system to work, the soil has to be poured well beforehand - otherwise the bottle will empty very quickly.
More tips for watering potted plants
You can also prevent your potted plants from drying out prematurely by using
- Mix the plant substrate with clay balls (€ 20.95 at Amazon *) / Perlite (€ 32.90 at Amazon *)
- Clay stores more water than simple earth and therefore keeps the substrate moist
- Mulch the plants in the pot, for example with sheep's wool (also available in pellet form)
Tips
Those who prefer to put their plants on the windowsill in spring or pull off cuttings can provide them with sufficient water in this way: Cut a PET bottle cleanly in the middle and close the upper part tightly with the perforated screw cap. In this you fill the plant substrate and put the young plant into it. The lower part of the bottle is about two thirds filled with water. Now put the upper part in the lower part and confidently go on vacation.
Rain barrel net 8.99 EUR Buy from Pötschke Irrigation ring , set of 3 with connector 11.99 EUR Buy from Pötschke
