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If you have flowers at home, you surely face the same problem every time – who will water them when you are on vacation? Bother the neighbors about it or rely on them surviving a week without water? If you care about them and devote your energy and time to growing them, it’s presumptuous to hope they’ll last without watering. But it’s not necessary to bother anyone else either, you just need to get them a clever watering system that also won’t cost you anything. How to do it?
Watering on the cheap
You won’t need more than two ordinary things that you might have at home:
- Old wine bottles with corks
- An awl or another similar tool
How to proceed?
Start by removing the labels from the bottles. It’s not necessary, but it will look better and be less conspicuous. So immerse the bottles in warm water for a few minutes and the labels will then come off on their own. Also wash the bottles thoroughly and then fill them with cold water. If you use fertilizer when watering, it’s possible to add it to the water and mix it well in the recommended ratio.
Now prepare the corks and, using the awl, drill several small holes through them. Then insert these drilled corks back into the bottles and press them in firmly so the cork won’t come loose. Turn the bottle upside down and make sure water flows through the cork. This basically finishes it. Choose the number of holes and their size according to how much moisture the plant needs. For drought-tolerant plants one small hole in the cork will suffice; for thirstier plants don’t be afraid to make more holes so the watering is more effective.
Moisture ensured for days or weeks
Now just push the bottles neck-down into the pots of the plants you want to water. It’s clear how the whole system works. The water is released slowly and gradually and the plants receive a regular portion of moisture over several days or even weeks. When you return from vacation, simply pull the bottles out and then use them again when necessary. Isn’t that clever?
