Building holiday irrigation: water flowers with woolen thread / string

Those who travel cannot take their plants with them. So that they do not die in the absence, they must continue to be adequately supplied, especially with water. But what do you do if you have no one to take over the watering? Don't worry, the flowers don't have to die of thirst: a bucket of water and a few threads of wool are enough and the watering works like clockwork.

Plants need water all the time

Just like humans, flowers need regular water to thrive. If they lack the wet element for several days, they quickly let the leaves droop. If the dry period lasts longer, they can be seriously damaged or even die completely.

• Plants must always be supplied with sufficient water
• the need is higher on warm days
• Pouring breaks should not last too long
• The water requirement and watering interval also depend on the type of plant
• If you are absent, you must ensure that you are provided with care

What to watch out for when you are absent

If you want to see your flowers safely again after a long trip, you are not allowed to completely cut off the water supply while you are away. Unfortunately, "pre-pouring" is not ideal either. If the cachepots are filled to the brim with water, a nasty surprise can follow. Most plants don't like wet roots. You're starting to rot. For this reason, an even water supply must be ensured during a longer absence. The actual requirements can vary from plant to plant. The current weather can also influence the water requirement. Care from a friend who is granted access is certainly ideal. If this is not possible, a suitable, "automatic" irrigation method must be found in good time.

The necessary utensils

What is needed for watering with a woolen thread is usually already available in every household. If not, it can be bought for a few euros in a shop. You need:

• a big bucket
• one thick thread of wool per plant
• two nuts (for screws) per wool thread
• a box or similar to raise the bucket

Tip: The water tank should be more generous. It is better if there is still water left in it at the end instead of the plants running out of water in the middle.

The optimal location for this type of irrigation

Our flowers are usually not all close together. Rather, they are mostly scattered within the living spaces. For irrigation it should therefore be considered whether all plants are moved together in one location or a separate irrigation system should be set up for each plant on the spot target. The second approach is entirely possible, albeit more labor-intensive. It makes much more sense to put the plants close together. The choice of location is also of decisive importance:

• Light conditions should be sufficient for all plants
• sun-hungry flowers should be closer to the window
• other plants further away
• The room must not be too sunny, because then the demand for water increases
• cool but bright room is ideal

Tip: This irrigation method is also conditionally suitable for use on the balcony. However, if this is heavily illuminated by the sun, the plants should rather be brought inside or watered with another method.

The size of the water tank

The size of the water tank is crucial with this method. Finally, the plants should be provided with enough water until the last day of absence. The size of the water tank depends on the following factors:

• Number of plants to be supplied from it
• Water requirements of the various types of flowers
• Length of absence
• the prevailing temperature at the location (also depending on the weather)

For example, cacti require less water than petunias. Likewise, the water requirement is higher on hot summer days than in winter. A jam jar is certainly enough for a few days for a single plant. For longer absences and for several plants, a large 5 l bucket is necessary, maybe even several. Since not all factors are precisely known in advance, the water requirement cannot be calculated precisely to the milliliter. In any case, to be on the safe side, the container should be generously dimensioned.
Note: The water container should also not be in the sun, otherwise too much water would be diluted from the bucket due to the heat.

The right cord

Not every thread is suitable for this type of irrigation. He must meet the following requirements:

• the material must be able to soak up well with water
• it must be sufficiently thick
• the length has to be right

A thread made from real wool is ideal. Cotton or nylon are also suitable. If the thread is thin, it is twisted beforehand. Several threads of wool can also be braided into a thicker braid.

The right time to build

The irrigation system with the wool thread can be set up quickly and easily. Depending on the number of flowers to be supplied, it can be completed within a few minutes. It is therefore perfectly sufficient to start the day before or immediately before the trip. Of course, all the necessary utensils must then be available and, if necessary, procured beforehand.
Tip: If you still have some time before your vacation and have not yet tried this watering method, you can dare to test a plant. If this is successfully mastered, you can travel later with peace of mind.

Assembly instructions step by step

In order for the irrigation to work really smoothly, every detail has to be right in the construction. The easiest way to do this is to proceed step by step according to the following instructions:

1. Water your flowers until they are well moisturized. Very dry earth would suck too much water out of the bucket right at the beginning. It could then be that there is not enough water available for the rest of the period.

2. Find a suitable location for the plants. It should be bright but not too sunny and offer enough space for all plants.

3. Bring all plants to the chosen place. The flowers should be close together, but shouldn't touch each other if possible.

4. Place a sufficiently large container near the flowers. He must stand raised, approx. 10 cm above the pots of the plants. If necessary, place it on a box or similar. ä.

5. Cut threads to the appropriate length. If necessary, braid these into thicker braids so they can hold water better.

6. Attach two nuts to one end of the thread to add weight to the thread. This way the fade stays in the water and does not float on top.

7. Put the weighted end of the thread in the bucket, it must reach the bottom.

8. Insert the other end of the thread approx. 8 cm deep in the potting soil, close to the roots.

9. Fill the container with water. If necessary, a little liquid fertilizer can also be added.

Tip: Make sure that the threads are not too sunny. Then the threads could dry out completely before the water reaches the flower.

Learn from experience

With every method that you try for the first time, you are still unsure at the beginning. Especially when it comes to how much water should be installed, one can learn well from experience. The remaining amount that is still in the water tank after the trip is a good guide. The condition of the plants also allows conclusions to be drawn as to whether the type and strength of the thread were a good decision. In this way, the irrigation system can be further optimized for the next upcoming absence.