Quote:
Originally Posted by SundayGardener
Water Witchin, I would happily contract you to set up a watering system for my shelves!
I didn't realize how much water weighs until I hurt my back. Now watering orchids has become one of my most painful activities, even with help. A gallon is the maximum weight I've be told to lift, but the lifting isn't so hard as the holding the weight away from the body to pour.
Anyway, I have saved this thread for future reference! I don't have a drainage hole but while lying on the floor (the best friend of anyone with back pain) I starting thinking creative thoughts about an unused toilet as a potential drainage site....
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I understand a hurting back. Own the Tshirt. This was an old set-up, but I couldn't do the lifting either. Wasn't using R/O at the time. Had an adapter connected to my kitchen faucet, and a forty foot hose with a shutoff on the end. I'd get water temp just right, snake hose across house, and water with the hose. Sounds messy, but it really wasn't. Just need to not have water pressure on very high.
Now that I use a lot more R/O, same thing, except pump in bottom of R/O container, smaller hose, restrictor on pump to lower pressure. Otherwise, same type of watering.
I used to do this without a drain hole in floor. Excess water ran into large container, container had a submersible pump in it with small tube, tube ran out window and water went outside. Many ways to skin a cat. The toilet idea is absolutely doable.
Have also in past used a tank type sprayer, kept it on a small dolly. Filled tank while on dolly (hose to tank from sink) Wheeled dolly over to plants, repeat as needed. Could use a smaller sprayer if you don't have tons of plants to water.
---------- Post added at 09:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:25 AM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by emmajs243
Sorry guys! Life happened! Got busy....
I did just want to throw out there....I never said anything about my concerns being education based...needless to say biology based. Or about them being accurate! I merely said maybe from being taught to run through possible contamination methods in my head constantly that is why I immediately jump to worrying about them!...Then again, who really can say why any of our brains work the way they do!
Just wanted to clarify though WaterWitchin, totally didn't mean it in any belittling or disrespectful way! Its just....when you already a more paranoid/OCD type of person and your aware of this fact and trying to improve on it....Its really tough to figure out where the paranoia stops and what is a realistic concern. So anytime I throw out these "concerns" running through my head, it is solely because I am trying to figure out..."Am I worrying about nothing OR...am I worrying about trying to NOT worry and these are realistic concerns?" You know what I mean? I haven't quite figured out that never ending question yet so thats when I turn to what I consider "normal people" to help validate what is what!
Ok but after going back over this thread...I never had ANY idea in-place watering was even really an option on this sort of level! Holy crap guys! Mind blowing!
I will say....Really like the louvers idea Katrina!!!! Just goes to show that any idea can be adjusted to fit ones needs! I didn't even know they made "louvers" needless to say that was what they were called! Super cool! Also, the contraptions for catching hanging plants...awesome! I have been racking my brain on if there is a way to do hanging plants indoors without having to take each of them down and totally opened my mind to new possibilities!
Unfortunately, Sunday Gardner....I too tried laying on my floor to see if I look at things from a new perspective if creativity would also hit me and I too could find a drainage source....I think I am going to be left with buckets on this excursion! MAYBE during summer I can run a hose through a screen fixed with some type of circular fitting for the hose to run through and then one of those drainage pipes away from the house and towards the irrigation ditch? That was my only floor inspiration!
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No worries Emma. I know OCD/paranoia when I see it.
And also don't know ya well enough to say you're overthinking or OCD/paranoid.
I'm also a fairly blunt individual, and attempt to shut my mouth instead of accidentally insulting someone I don't know well. I have a pretty good grasp in the ADHD world, so I understand what you're saying.
On the topic of contamination from water, with my set up it's not a problem. The holes are higher than the tray. No two holes face the same direction. So no water can splash from one pot's holes into another, nor would bumping the tray cause water from one plant to another. The water never gets to the lip of the tray anyway. Using the light grates wouldn't help either, the way these are set up it's unnecessary extra "stuff."
Pathogens are everywhere, as E.S. says. So are many micro organisms...it's how sourdough starter survives for decades. We're growing orchids, not conducting lab experiments in a semi-sterile environment. It can be a pretty relaxing hobby away from your work environment if you allow it.
When I had my set-up with buckets (as above stated somewhere) I did it in the coldest months of the year when the orchids were inside. (they're all outside for six months, inside for six months). So don't let cold weather delay that. You only have to have the window open an inch to do it, it drains fast, and you can stick a towel across rest of window opening.
Laying on the floor is an excellent exercise, ESPECIALLY if your back hurts. I use it a lot to see a different perspective.
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