Home Repair forum - Re: Snowbirds: House plant maint. question

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Re: Snowbirds: House plant maint. question

Norminn

2005-07-24, 9:10 pm

uncle k wrote:
> Note: Someone in an RV group recommended that I post this here,
> complementing your NG for having many great ideas.

I did a google search on "automatic plant watering timer vacation" and
got loads of hits - it has definitely been invented. Do you have a
sprinkler system? Leave power on? If you have a sprinkler system, you
can add micro drip tubing to existing heads and water the plants whilst
the lawn is watered. Placing plants in garage or other waterproof
place, of course. The tubing and connectors are not reliable enough to
run them into interior living space. Four months with nobody checking
the house? Dangerous. Pay your friend to come down once a month or
hire a local police officer.

uncle k

2005-07-24, 9:10 pm

"Norminn" <norminn@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:42E1842B.8020306@earthlink.net...
>
> I did a google search on "automatic plant watering timer vacation" and got
> loads of hits - it has definitely been invented. Do you have a sprinkler
> system? Leave power on? If you have a sprinkler system, you can add
> micro drip tubing to existing heads and water the plants whilst the lawn
> is watered. Placing plants in garage or other waterproof place, of
> course. The tubing and connectors are not reliable enough to run them
> into interior living space. Four months with nobody checking the house?
> Dangerous. Pay your friend to come down once a month or hire a local
> police officer.

The whole idea is to do this without using our house water system. We've
left for up to two months numerous times and never had any problem. I
agree, four months is a stretch. We do leave the power on, to run our
security system, timers, and supply enough heat to keep things from being
damaged by cold or dampness. Even if I have someone go in once a week,
there's no guarantee that a leak wouldn't start the minute they left. One
week, let alone one day, with water running through the floors would be
disasterous. I could put all the loose plants in a kids wading pool or the
like, but a serious leak would fill that in no time.

Unc

Norminn

2005-07-24, 9:10 pm

clipped
>
> The whole idea is to do this without using our house water system. We've
> left for up to two months numerous times and never had any problem. I
> agree, four months is a stretch. We do leave the power on, to run our
> security system, timers, and supply enough heat to keep things from being
> damaged by cold or dampness. Even if I have someone go in once a week,
> there's no guarantee that a leak wouldn't start the minute they left. One
> week, let alone one day, with water running through the floors would be
> disasterous. I could put all the loose plants in a kids wading pool or the
> like, but a serious leak would fill that in no time.
>
> Unc
>
>
>

My original thought was to use a container (trash can, kiddy pool, etc)
to pump water from, in garage or other waterproof location, using a
limited water supply and battery supply. You said you have a lot of
plants, but no number ... huge planters or a bunch of manageable pots?

Another thought, given the attachment to plants and length of vacations,
would be to build a greenhouse large enough to handle the houseplants
and supply their needs for long periods.

Yes, water leaks are disastrous - we had about three minutes worth from
a broken washer hose. Fortunately, tile and terrazzo floors weren't
damaged and we got a wet vac going before the water damaged cabinets and
baseboards. All day would have trashed our home.

Last resort - a garden club, nursery or friend who would plant-sit if
you haul them somewhere else :o)

Nick Hull

2005-07-25, 9:21 am

In article <VUfEe.7609$oZ.7214@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
"uncle k" <nospamatall@msn.com> wrote:

> The whole idea is to do this without using our house water system. We've
> left for up to two months numerous times and never had any problem. I
> agree, four months is a stretch. We do leave the power on, to run our
> security system, timers, and supply enough heat to keep things from being
> damaged by cold or dampness. Even if I have someone go in once a week,
> there's no guarantee that a leak wouldn't start the minute they left. One
> week, let alone one day, with water running through the floors would be
> disasterous. I could put all the loose plants in a kids wading pool or the
> like, but a serious leak would fill that in no time.

Just buy a small junk water heater (no leaks but don't need heating
elements) and fill,it 3/4 with water and compressed air head. You then
have a pressurized water supply, but with limited volume (whatever you
put in it).

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