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mikesenior · Oct 16, 2009, 05:55 PM

We're leaving for the winter and I'm looking for a way to water my indoor plants for up to 3 months. The watering products I'm seeing only work for up to 3 weeks. I was told you can put 6 inches or so of water in the bathtub and set the plants in and they will take the water as they need it. Has anyone tried this or do you know if this would work?

justcurious55 · Oct 16, 2009, 06:09 PM

Would it be easier to have a neighbor or one of their kids water them for you? I loved it when I was a kid because my neighbors would ask me to water their plants or feed their cat. And I'd usually get a few dollars when they came back.

While I haven't tried putting the plants in the bath, I have lost a lot of plants to letting them sit in too much water. It took me a while to learn that the pots I was using were only meant for them to be sold in, there was no way for the water to drain so the roots would rot.

Also, I know from taking plenty of baths, that, at least in my own tub the stopper really isn't good enough to completely stop the water from draining out. It just goes very, very, very, slowly. I would imagine that all the water would seep out befre you could return.

KUXJ · Oct 16, 2009, 09:33 PM

Hi! Mikesenior, welcome to AMHD :)

Originally Posted by mikesenior

We're leaving for the winter and I'm looking for a way to water my indoor plants for up to 3 months. The watering products I'm seeing only work for up to 3 weeks. I was told you can put 6 inches or so of water in the bathtub and set the plants in and they will take the water as they need it. Has anyone tried this or do you know if this would work?

A lot of people have tried it, and it does work, but not for the length of time you require. As “bathtub watering” is only a short term solution.
The reason your only seeing systems that work only up to 3 weeks is because manufacturers of these products don't expect the homeowner to be away from the premises longer than that.

Justcurious55 (jc) revealed several problems with “bathtub watering”:

i have lost a lot of plants to letting them sit in too much water.
the stopper really isn't good enough to completely stop the water from draining out
all the water would seep out befre you could return

Now this is not to say that it can't be done, only that it hasn't been thought out as far as three months.

I have thought of two ways it could be done, 1) with a drip or 2) a wicking system.
If your still interested let me know, but I have a feeling that your pressed for time, and the best solution as jc has stated

would it be easier to have a neighbor or one of their kids water them for you?

or you'll have to take the plants with you.

K

KUXJ · Oct 22, 2009, 05:19 AM

Hi! mikesenior, in my travels I came upon this:

Do It Yourself Hydroponics

CarlsbadBill · Oct 24, 2009, 08:21 PM

The tub idea will not work for that length of time. My suggestion is to get a neighbor to take the plants into their home and care for them while you're away. If you live in a moderate climate you might put them in your garden in a shady area and allow your automatic sprinklers to water them. The length of time is too long to rely on any automatic system indoors. I used a 110v fountain pump on a 110v timer to water my plants for almost a month, but the reservoir you would need would be quite large, and there is always a risk of malfunction that might cause water damage inside your home.