Watering insanity

[DirtyCoconuts]

i have a 100' 3/8 hose that connects to the kitchen sink...i added a reliable sprayer to the business end and i can do almost all the house plants in 15 min.

now, that's no orchids but it is still 50-80 plants so you should consider getting one too

[dbarron]

But where are you letting the excess water run? My floor doesn't need to be submerged ;0

[Roberta]

Back when I utilized my spare bedroom as a "greenhouse" here is what my setup looked like: http://orchidcentral.org/GrowingAreas/indoor.jpg

The bins were big enough to accommodate the runoff (I used a 2-gallon pump sprayer). The water in the bins would just evaporate (which helped humidity slightly) They eventually got nasty with algae, but not quickly, I cleaned them about twice a year and that was sufficient.

[Toadwally]

My vandas hang inside during winter. A tarp below direct all watet into a giant plastic tub.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Originally Posted by dbarron

But where are you letting the excess water run? My floor doesn't need to be submerged ;0

i have two five gallon water jugs that i cut the top off of. i place one under the plant i am watering and then move to the next with the second jug....by the time i have watered the second plant the first is done draining and i mov ethat jug to the next plant....at the end the jugs are dumped into a plant outside or under a raised bed.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

I'm currently building my setup to water in place and catch runoff. Will try to remember about this thread when it's finished so I can share some pictures and ideas.

What I'm doing right now for 30-plus plants is walking around with a tub with an over sink dish drying rack placed on top. Then I put every plant on top of the rack, water it, place it back, take the next plant. Takes about 1h with a watering can. For my new setup I'm planning on getting a pump.

This is the sink drying rack: Amazon.com

This is the tub I use: Amazon.com

[estación seca]

I've always wanted to live in a barn.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I've always wanted to live in a barn.

Come for a BarnBnB vacay anytime! The horses and goats would love the extra company!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

i have a 100' 3/8 hose that connects to the kitchen sink...i added a reliable sprayer to the business end and i can do almost all the house plants in 15 min.

I have a similar setup using 1/4" PE tubing and simply a valve to control the flow to another short length of tubing.

When I feed, I use a 4-gallon, battery powered sprayer on wheels.

I followed the advice of others here (I don't recall if it was Water Witchin or Roberta) and have my plants sitting in 2.5" deep boot trays which have drains to a bucket, so I have no need to take the plants to the sink.

I did learn a lesson last night though - I watered yesterday about noon-ish. By dinner time, the drainage buckets were about an inch from the top and it appeared that all of the drainage was done - or so I thought. Woke up this morning with water all over the floor in the tiled (whew!) dining area.

[Roberta]

WW had the boot-tray idea. Buckets do have their limits...

That battery-powered sprayer on wheels has been a lifesaver (or maybe plant-saver) for me. In my yard I have found a spot in the middle where I can reach both ends of the yard with the 100 ft hose that my unit has, so don't even have to move the sprayer. It generates plenty of pressure.