Often during the holidays, flower lovers leave their plants for a long time without attention and care. good when there is good neighbors or relatives who will periodically visit the apartment and water the flowers.
And if there are none, what to do? There are ways to provide flowers with life-giving moisture and organize automatic watering for indoor plants . Consider the simplest and most popular.
How to save moisture at the lowest cost
You can minimize moisture loss - it's not difficult to do. It is worth noting that this method should be used only as a last resort, since it has much more minuses than positive sides.
- it is good to moisten the earthen ball by setting the pots in a container with water for a day;
- remove the pots from the windowsills in a shaded place. Everyone knows that the less light a plant receives, the slower it grows and develops. Due to this, much less moisture will be consumed. This method has a big minus, gentle indoor flowers may die without sunlight;
- thin out the plant by cutting off the leaves and inflorescences, so much less water will go away, but after such pruning, the flower will restore its strength and decorative effect for a very long time;
- put everything in a pot of flowers in a large container at the bottom of which there will be expanded clay filled with water. For greater efficiency, wet material or peat in layers can be laid between the pots;
- arrange an impromptu greenhouse for the plants, covering them with a film, but with a long stay in this structure, the flowers can become moldy or simply rot. In addition, a lot of effort will have to be made to adapt the surviving plants to stay on outdoors.
As you can see, there are significant downsides., and if you want to preserve the beauty and decorativeness of indoor flowers, then you should consider more gentle methods of preserving moisture.
How to make drip irrigation with your own hands
This is a simple and inexpensive method that will allow you to leave the plants for a long time. To build it you will need empty plastic bottles with caps.
Several holes are made in the lid. Pour water into a bottle, screw on the lid and stick it into the ground next to the plant with the lid down.
Holes should be made in such a way that the water oozes out quietly, and does not pour out in a trickle. The size of the bottle is chosen based on how large the flower needs to be watered and how long the plants are left unattended.
For a small planter, a half-liter bottle will suffice, but for large pots it is better to take a container of 2 or more liters.
Wick system
An easy-to-use and well-known irrigation system that involves the use of large capacity with water and homemade wicks. They can be any threads, twine, bandage, laces. One end is fixed in a pot with a wooden peg, the other is lowered into the water.
If you often leave home, then you can install a wick during planting by threading it into the hole at the bottom of the pot. Only in this case should a synthetic cord be used for an impromptu wick.
Before you start such an irrigation system, you need to test it - water must flow into the ground at the right speed. It is easy to adjust, it is enough to correctly set the water container relative to the pots with plants.
Hydrogel, granulated clay, balls
Works well with auto-watering hydrogel or clay in granules, which can be purchased at flower shops and soaked in water. This material not only perfectly absorbs a large number of moisture, but also gives it to plants if necessary.
To arrange this type of irrigation you need:
- take a pot a little larger in volume than the one in which it was;
- pour clay or hydrogel on the bottom;
- carefully pull out the earthen ball with the roots of the flower, trying not to crumble;
- place in a pre-prepared pot;
- fill the void from the sides with hydrogel and cover the soil with plastic wrap.
It is good enough to shed the plant or place the planter in water for a while, and your flower will receive life-giving moisture for a long time.
Droppers
Another effective method arrange automatic watering for indoor plants with your own hands - the use of medical droppers. For each pot, 1 dropper is taken.
Manufacturing technology:
- cut off the needles, fasten the droppers to the desired length, hang the load on the ends;
- fill the bucket with water and lower the weighted ends into them;
- place the free end in the pot and open the regulator to the desired state.
Important! You need to choose a method for autowatering indoor plants before leaving and test it for performance.
colorful cones
These original products were invented in our country - water is poured into colored cones, then they are connected to a special leg, which is subsequently stuck into the ground next to the plant.
The advantages of this irrigation method are as follows:
- original and practical solution;
- aesthetically pleasing appearance;
- no need to build complex structures.
These are a kind of mats made of hygroscopic material, which can be bought in any flower shop. One edge of this rug is lowered into the water, and flowers are placed on the other.
Advice! It is better to buy capillary mats complete with pallets - 2 of them set flowers in one, and pour water into the other. Using this method, you can leave the plants unattended for 2 weeks.
Industrial irrigation systems
If you often have to go on long business trips, then you can purchase industrial system automatic watering for indoor plants.
The most popular Aqua Globs, consisting of a glass flask and a ceramic cone.
The cone is placed in the ground, and the flask is connected to the water supply using a special hose.
The Gardena system is also known, consisting of pumps, a timer, tubes. By purchasing a similar automatic watering of indoor plants, you can provide moisture for up to 36 flowers.
Flower pots with automatic watering
This planter has two bottoms in between the first bottom and the second is a water tank. In this case, bottom watering is performed, and the flower absorbs as much moisture as it needs, while the risk of waterlogging the earthen coma is minimal.
Design advantages:
- the opportunity to have indoor plants for people who are often away;
- a plant in such a pot does not need careful periodic watering;
- saving time;
- excellent conditions for growing houseplants, as it regulates its own moisture intake.
The automatic watering system built into the planter is very convenient, but it has a drawback: it cannot be used for young plants. The most basic condition for uninterrupted operation- a well-formed and developed root system.
But in recent times“smart” pots have appeared on the market that allow you to water even young plants automatically.
Automatic watering planter Coubi
Coubi - inexpensive, practical flower pots that can be bought as a set, or the irrigation system itself separately. The pots themselves are made of eco-friendly and high-quality material.
Cache-pots are produced in different color scheme, so picking them up for the interior is not difficult.
Automatic watering pots lechuza
These are German-made smart planters with automatic watering, which have recently appeared on the market. Distinctive feature of these structures is that the flower will be supplied with moisture for 12 weeks.
Products are made of durable, environmentally friendly plastic, which is not afraid of temperature changes. For outdoor use, you can purchase special lechuza planters with automatic draining of excess liquid.
Flower pots with automatic watering Green Apple
Modern system automatic watering, equipped with wheels, and a reservoir from which water is supplied.
A special indicator is mounted in the planter, showing the level of water in the container, and with its help the amount of liquid can be adjusted.
Vases are made according to modern technologies made of high quality polystyrene.
Planter Ikea
These planters with an automatic watering system can provide indoor plants with moisture for 2 weeks. These are high-quality, inexpensive products made from recycled materials.
The vases come in a variety of colors so finding the right color is easy.
Do-it-yourself pot with automatic watering
Due to the fact that it is very expensive to buy pots equipped with an automatic watering system, especially if you need a large number of them, you can independently build such a system using improvised materials.
Instructions for the manufacture of automatic watering with minimal cost:
- cut a two-liter plastic bottle in half;
- make small cuts - up to 3 cm, on the bottom of the bottle. There should be 8 of them and bend them inward - these are holders for the second half of the bottle;
- take liter bottle and cut it in half. Make several holes in the bottom and stretch synthetic lacing through them;
- plant a houseplant in this impromptu pot;
- install the flower in a pre-prepared water container made from a 2 liter bottle.
Such an automatic watering system is able to provide the plant with moisture for a long time. In addition, you can make a more attractive system by taking two pots of different sizes. Water is poured into a large flowerpot and a smaller pot is placed in which the flower is located.
In this video, another option for automatic watering:
Finally
Explore all the options above and choose for yourself optimal system automatic watering. If there are no funds to buy industrial equipment, you can use improvised materials, and then frequent business trips will not affect the growth of indoor plants.
What do we want to see our indoor plants?
as picture in trendy interiors: dense, flowering, in stylish pots. One way to achieve this is a new direction - self-watering pots. The main advantages of such pots:
* Plants in them receive water and nutrients constantly and evenly, due to which they grow denser, healthier foliage, bloom more abundantly.
* You can plant different plants in one pot, creating a mini-flower bed, a floristic composition. At conventional cultivation plants often suppress each other, and in this case they complement.
* Variety of colors, shapes, textures, imitation different materials allows you to harmoniously complement and complete any modern interior.
*Simple and convenient system working with such pots makes it easy for a non-professional to care for plants, achieving excellent results. The window sill, the floor under these pots is always dry and clean, excess watering does not flow out and does not form spots, which is also important.
What is the principle of operation of planters with automatic watering?
The organization of the pots is simple - the lower part is intended for water, a nutrient solution, which rises through the soil capillaries into upper part with soil and roots. In turn, the roots of the plant grow into the lower part and feed from there. Between the layer with water and the main earthen clod, a layer of drainage material of various fractions is provided, which ensures the breathing of the roots.
Thus, this simple principle can be implemented with the help of bottom watering - when water is poured into the pan, or into the bottom pot, and the top pot has wide openings for root germination, as well as a reliable drainage layer on the two main pots.
There are also options with wick irrigation, when special cords are pulled between layers so that moisture rises along them.
The most advanced options are special levels-floats that tell you when it's time to water, as well as a bottom valve to drain the water if necessary.
The main disadvantage of a planter with automatic watering is the problem of stagnant water, in which the roots do not breathe, rot (you cannot plant a plant in a pot without a bottom drain, a planter, and here). different plants in varying degrees sensitive to this, but the vast majority of indoor and not only plants need air access through the soil. But there are several simple rules, following which you can reduce this problem to nothing:
For growing plants in this way, it is important first of all to plant the plant correctly. A separating drainage layer is definitely needed - its thickness depends on the size of the plant, its type, type of pot, and usually takes 2-7 cm. This layer can be arranged from fine expanded clay, vermiculite, expanded clay, moss. Mixtures of materials such as lechuza-pon, ikea are best suited for these purposes. Drainage is poured into the bottom of the pot with holes.
Then we plant the plant with soil. The soil should be chosen lighter, more porous than with the usual method of growing, so that there is air access to the lower roots of the plant. At the same time, plants without a pronounced stem - bushy, herbaceous are less sensitive to this factor, but plants with woody stems, palm trees and trees, need the most porous soil possible. For example, citrus fruits grow successfully in a self-watering pot only when soil or citrus mixture is mixed in half with drainage material (it's not a bad idea to add long-lasting fertilizer granules, humus to the mixture in this case).
Manufacturers say that the pot begins to "work" after 3 months, when the roots sprout from the bottom layer, but practice shows that even up to this point, the properties of the soil to raise water through the capillaries gives positive effect straightaway.
Another important factor for successful maintenance, more or less complete drying of the soil between waterings. Before watering, the level float must be completely lowered, upper layer soil 1-4 cm (depending on the size and type of plant) dry. This provides a fairly high protection against the development of anaerobic putrefactive bacteria, and does not harm the plant at all.
After drying, watering is carried out to the maximum level of the float, while it does not have special significance, whether it will be watering under the root or directly into the water tank.
If there is too much water in the pot, or if the temperature drops (for example, cold season), and the plant did not use up water, or flooded with precipitation in the open air - it is advisable to drain excess water through the lower hole, if provided, or over the edge. And after that, a few days the plant should also be dried without watering.
Also, plants can be bathed 2-3 times a year under warm shower, as with the usual method of cultivation, while it is also useful to wash and spill the soil, and drain and dry the excess water.
In such planters, we recommend replacing the top layer of soil once a year, as a rule, nutrients are washed out from there first, and diseases and physiological waste accumulate. Thus, this is another way to naturally cleanse and improve plant nutrition.
It is better to apply fertilizers and stimulants with each watering, in small doses, 1/3-1/4 of the recommended ones, diluting them in water, or adding them to the lower container with water. Natural (humus, ash), granular fertilizers can be poured from above, loosening the soil, they will also be gradually consumed evenly, regularly continuously supplying the plant with the necessary nutrition.
Among the countless varieties and hybrids of sweet peppers, there are such as, for example, Ramiro peppers, whose popularity is literally global. And if most of the vegetables on the shelves of supermarkets are nameless, and it is almost impossible to find out about their varietal affiliation, then the name of this Ramiro pepper will certainly be on the package. And, as my experience has shown, this pepper is worth knowing about it and other gardeners. That is why this article was written.
Autumn is the busiest time. It is no longer hot, in the morning there is heavy dew. Since the earth is still warm, and foliage has already attacked from above, creating a very special microclimate in the surface layer, the mushrooms are very comfortable. Mushroom pickers are also comfortable at this time, especially in the mornings when it is cooler. It's time for both to meet. And, if not introduced to each other - get to know each other. In this article I will introduce you to exotic, little-known and not always edible mushrooms that look like corals.
If you are a busy person, but at the same time not without romance, if you have your own site and you are endowed with aesthetic taste, then explore the opportunity to purchase this wonderful ornamental shrub- Caryopteris, or Nutwing. He is also a "wing hazel", "blue fog" and "blue beard". In it, indeed, unpretentiousness and beauty are fully combined. Cariopteris reaches its decorative peak at the end of summer and autumn. It is at this time that it blooms.
Ajvar from pepper - vegetable caviar or thick vegetable sauce from bell pepper with eggplant. Peppers for this recipe are baked, and for quite a long time, then they are also stewed. Add to ajvar onion, tomatoes, eggplant. For harvesting for the winter, caviar is sterilized. This Balkan recipe is not for those who like to make preparations quickly, undercooked and underbaked - not about ajvar. In general, we approach the matter in detail. For the sauce, we choose the most ripe and meaty vegetables on the market.
Despite the simple names ("sticky" or "indoor maple") and the status of a modern substitute indoor hibiscus, abutilons - plants are far from the simplest. They grow well, bloom profusely and delight looking healthy greens only in optimal conditions. On thin leaves, any deviations from comfortable lighting or temperatures and violations in care quickly appear. To reveal the beauty of abutilons in rooms, it is worth finding the perfect place for them.
Pancakes from zucchini with parmesan and mushrooms - a delicious recipe with a photo of the available products. Ordinary squash pancakes can easily be turned into a boring dish by adding a few savory ingredients. In squash season, treat the family to vegetable fritters with forest mushrooms, it is not only very tasty, but also satisfying. Zucchini is a versatile vegetable, it is suitable for stuffing, for preparations, for main courses, and even for sweets. delicious recipes- compotes and jams are made from zucchini.
The idea of growing vegetables on the grass, under the grass and in the grass is at first scary, until you feel the naturalness of the process: in nature, everything happens that way. With the obligatory participation of all soil living creatures: from bacteria and fungi to moles and toads. Each of them contributes. Traditional tillage with digging, loosening, fertilizing, fighting all those we consider pests destroys the biocenoses that have been created for centuries. Moreover, it requires high costs labor and resources.
What to do instead of a lawn? So that all this beauty does not turn yellow, does not hurt and at the same time looks like a lawn ... I hope that the smart and quick-witted reader is already smiling. After all, the answer suggests itself - if nothing is done, nothing will happen. Of course, there are several solutions that can be used, and with their help, reduce the area of the lawn, and therefore reduce the laboriousness of caring for it. I propose to consider alternative options and discuss their pros and cons.
Tomato sauce with onion and sweet pepper - thick, fragrant, with pieces of vegetables. The sauce cooks quickly and turns out thick because this recipe is with pectin. Make such preparations at the end of summer or autumn, when the vegetables have ripened under the sun in the beds. From bright, red tomatoes you get the same bright homemade ketchup. This sauce is a ready-made spaghetti dressing, and you can also just spread it on bread - very tasty. For better preservation, you can add a little vinegar.
This year I often saw a picture: among the luxurious green crown of trees and shrubs, here and there, like candles, the tops of the shoots are “burning”. This is chlorosis. Most of us know about chlorosis from school biology lessons. I remember that this is a lack of iron ... But chlorosis is an ambiguous concept. And not always lightening the foliage means a lack of iron. What is chlorosis, what our plants lack in chlorosis and how to help them, we will tell in the article.
Vegetables in Korean for the winter - delicious Korean salad with tomatoes and cucumbers. The salad is sweet and sour, spicy and slightly spicy, because it is prepared with seasoning for Korean carrots. Be sure to prepare a few jars for the winter, cold winter This healthy and fragrant snack will be very useful. For the recipe, you can use overripe cucumbers, it is better to harvest vegetables in late summer or early autumn, when they are ripe in open field under the sun.
Autumn for me is dahlias. Mine begin to bloom already in June, and all summer the neighbors look over the fence to me, reminding me that I promised them a few tubers or seeds by autumn. In September, a tart note appears in the aroma of these flowers, hinting at the approaching cold. So, it's time to start preparing plants for a long cold winter. In this article I will share my secrets autumn care for perennial dahlias and preparing them for winter storage.
To date, the efforts of breeders have bred, according to various sources, from seven to ten thousand (!) varieties of cultivated apple trees. But with their huge variety in private gardens, as a rule, only a couple of popular and beloved varieties grow. Apple trees are large trees with a spreading crown, and you cannot grow many of them in one area. But what if you try to grow columnar varieties of this crop? In this article I will talk about such varieties of apple trees.
Pinjur - Balkan eggplant caviar with sweet peppers, onions and tomatoes. A distinctive feature of the dish is that eggplants and peppers are first baked, then peeled and simmered for a long time in a roasting pan or in a saucepan with a thick bottom, adding the rest of the vegetables indicated in the recipe. The caviar is very thick, with a bright, rich taste. In my opinion, this cooking method is the best of all known. Although it is more troublesome, the result compensates for the labor costs.
Watering is one of the main conditions for the full growth, development and flowering of indoor plants. But it is not always possible to fulfill this condition qualitatively and in a timely manner. Leaving their homes for a long time, many growers have to deal with this problem. Self-watering flower pots are the only solution to this.
Appointments of pots with automatic watering
For the first time this invention appeared in Denmark, then it became widespread throughout the world. This is a unique technology for growing indoor flowers, which does not require much effort, cost and knowledge. Using it, you can grow any indoor flowers you like at home.
The automatic watering pot is made in such a way that for the next two weeks you can completely forget about watering your pets. In addition, this irrigation system eliminates the risk of overflowing the soil and root system of indoor flowers. Plants take in as much moisture as they need.
Models and modifications
H 
and today they are making different models pots with automatic watering, which differ in design, material of manufacture and color.
According to the type of humidification, there are two types of pots with automatic watering:
- Containers in which a standard volume of water quantity is set.
- Pots that can be adjusted required level water, depending on the size of the plant and its characteristics.
Instructions for use for all models are almost the same. All that is required from the owner is the regulation of the water level and the constant replenishment of its deficiency. First of all, you need to correctly set the level, and then follow the mark.
The modern market for such products offers several types of pots with an automatic watering system.
Coubi pots
They are made of high quality plastic, equipped with an automatic watering system. coubi planters are easy to use, making it easy to keep track of the water level in the tank. This greatly facilitates the care of indoor plants. By using self-watering coubi pots, you have the opportunity to grow healthy and beautiful flowers at home, eliminating the risk of waterlogging or drying out. coubi automatic watering can provide plants with moisture for almost 20 days.
Lechuza pots
Modern unique system automatic watering for indoor flowers. This container is equipped with wheels. Moisture supply is carried out from the tank. Automatic watering systems Green Apple are made of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or polystyrene.
With the help of a special indicator, you can adjust the water level in the tank, which is very convenient. Planter Green Apple is designed to nourish plants with moisture from two to twelve weeks, depending on the size of indoor flowers and their characteristics. 
Green Apple - pots with automatic watering High Quality with an unlimited service life. These are containers of different sizes, square, rectangular or round shape and various colors.
Recently, they have become very popular ceramic pots green apple various shapes With beautiful design and painted drawings.
To date, Green Apple balcony planters are made, equipped with an automatic watering system. Basically, these are rectangular models made of durable and high-quality plastic. Green Apple pots are made using the latest technologies. They are durable, decorative and provide maximum care for plants during the absence of their owners.
The Green Apple automatic watering system is very popular among many flower growers. Unlike other containers of this purpose, Green Apple wins in many ways, including in terms of cost. The variety of models, shapes and sizes allows the buyer to choose the most best option for your pets.
Planter with automatic watering Ikea
This type provides uniform moistening of houseplants for a long time - about two weeks. All Ikea models are made from recycled materials. Ikea planters are highly durable and exquisite design. Models of the most diverse shapes and colors attract the attention of many flower growers. It's great inexpensive option which every grower can afford.
Do-it-yourself pot with automatic watering
Automatic watering of indoor flowers can be done by yourself. Many growers use such a system quite successfully, in particular for indoor orchids.
Given the characteristics of this flower, all of the above pots with automatic watering from well-known manufacturers hardly suitable for this plant. The root system of a flower loves light, so it is not for nothing that orchids grow in transparent containers. Yes, and a constant excess of moisture in the pan is not in the best way will affect the general condition of the flower.
Usually, watering an orchid is done by placing a flower pot in water for a while. But this procedure is not very convenient and pleasant for the plant itself, which each time needs to be transferred from one place to another.
To make homemade design, you will need two plastic bottles with a capacity of one and two liters.
A step-by-step process for making automatic watering for orchids:
- A two liter bottle must be cut in half.
- On the bottom of the bottle, eight cuts are made with a depth of not more than three centimeters. In the future, they will become a support for the pot. Plastic, which is not used for racks, is bent inside the container. This design will be used as a water tank.
- Planting an orchid is done in a liter bottle, cut in half. The edges of the bottle with the bottom must be bent outward by one centimeter. Landing capacity racks will be inserted into the gap from the bend.
At the bottom of the pot - a plastic bottle, you need to make several holes. Stretch a cord through them, through which the soil substrate will be fed with moisture from a plastic reservoir.
A plastic tray is filled with water, then a flower pot is placed on top. Cords stretched through the bottom of the pot are lowered into the water. It is very important that the material through which the moisture of the orchids will pass absorbs moisture well. It is very easy to check this: one part of the cord is lowered into a container of water, and the other is left outside. The material, which after a while completely absorbs moisture, can be used for automatic watering. 
The disadvantage of this design is that with each replenishment of the liquid, the orchids will need to be removed from the tank. But this problem can be solved. From the neck of the bottle it is necessary to cut a watering can. On the wall of the plastic tank, mark the place for installing the watering can and cut it out. If the spout fits in size, it must be fixed to the hole made with hot glue.
This design was tested by flower growers using Phalaenopsis orchids as an example. A do-it-yourself automatic watering system for orchids has confirmed its performance. With this type of moisture, the plants did not stop developing and blooming. By the way, this design can be used for other indoor flowers.
