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Balcony planter box and watering system

GregJ
Growing in Experience

Balcony planter box and watering system

I have an apartment that has a balcony.  I want to grow herbs out there.  My problem is I travel a lot.  Is there a semi-foolproof system that will water plants occasionally?

Thanks.

greygardener
Becoming a Leader

Re: Balcony planter box and watering system

You'll want a self-watering planter box. They have a water reservoir at the bottom that the plant can draw from without drowning it. Something like this - http://www.vegepod.com.au/home1/features/self-watering/

aly
Making a Splash

Re: Balcony planter box and watering system

Hey @GregJ, we managed to put together a rather simple automatic watering system for our vegie gardens. We purchased a tap timer, hose, trickle drippers, barbed joiners, clamps and zip ties. We cut the hose to our required lengths and ran it along the perimeter of our garden beds. We drilled holes into the corners of the bed frame and used zip ties to hold the hose in place. We then made some small incisions with a stanely knife along the hose and placed the trickle drippers evenly around the hose, securing them with the clamps or zip ties. We used the barbed joiners to connect each of the garden bed hoses together. This was all connected to the tap timer which we have set to run every morning for a few minutes. We adjust this here and there to match with the weather and how the vegies seem to be travelling.

 

Here’s some photos of our irrigation system:

 

Garden Bed 1Garden Bed 2

 

Also, the products we used:

http://www.bunnings.com.au/aqua-systems-two-dial-electronic-tap-timer_p3130596

http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-12mm-x-15m-handy-garden-hose_p3110360

http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-veriflow_p3121714

http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-19mm-barbed-tee_p3126120

http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-25mm-poly-ratchet-clamp_p3126992

 

Hope that helps, good luck!

Kermit
Amassing an Audience

Re: Balcony planter box and watering system

Interesting to see the vegepod makers claims about the benefits of "container gardens", particularly in regards to faster growth rates. The water efficiency certainly makes sense, though. Anyone used one before? 

AHoy
Having an Impact

Re: Balcony planter box and watering system

@GregJ

 

Late reponse but have a look at these - might be what you are after in terms of self-watering - https://www.bunnings.com.au/vegepod-2-x-1m-raised-garden-kit_p3321636

 

Andy_Mann
Former Community Member

Re: Balcony planter box and watering system

@GregJ, these Self watering pots/troughs  could be handy, but if you're away for lengths of time, herbs can become overgrown & weak.

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