Clever ideas for the indoor grower to make flushing the hell out of pots easier?

[vegetalmatter]

I grow in the living room of my apartment, and with about 50 or so plants, it takes more time than I'd like to take them to the sink at each watering to fill the pot up to the top and let it drain. Knowing that flooding the hell out of plants and doing it often is the most ideal way to water, how would you rate my modified method?

Every other week I take them all to the sink and flush with tap water for good few minutes or so. I then tilt the pot and empty out the reservoir and refill with RO water + dilute K-Lite.

During the week, I use a pump sprayer with RO water to spray the top of the leca evenly and long enough that water starts draining out of the holes for a few seconds. I try to spray & let drain as much as possible, but the trays I am using under the pots to catch drain are only so deep. I do this at least every other day or more often whenever I feel like "doing orchids"

Is your opinion is this "enough"? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to flush more often when growing indoors? I've been growing for less than a year so it is probably too soon to see any ill effects of my shortcomings and still have lots to learn

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[DirtyCoconuts]

Number one you living room must be an awesome place to be
Two- are you able to make your own things well? If so, look at waterwichin’s thread about moving water and make a few draining trays. Then you can use a few buckets as over flow catch (via a tube) and water the hell out of everything as often as you like

[fishmom]

I use a rolling kitchen cart to take my supplies to my orchids, which are in 4 different rooms. On top of the cart, I have a plastic dishpan/tub, a narrow-mouth watering can, and a plastic gallon container which I use to carry water or fertilizer mix. I still have to go to the sink to fill the gallon container, but it saves many steps over carrying each plant. I catch the water in the dishpan and reuse it on plants outside.

[estación seca]

I'm not clear... do your containers have drain holes, or do you need to tip them sideways to empty water?

[DirtyCoconuts]

home depot and lowes both sell two size mortar tubs..they are very string and hold a lot of water. pretty cheap too

[Keysguy]

Boy, those are beautiful looking plants! You're doing a great job!

[Dollythehun]

I use a "rubber" gardening tub and place a baking rack on top. I can water above it and use the water for other plants. I catch rain water and store it in 3 gallon kitty litter buckets which makes moving it easy.

[vegetalmatter]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Number one you living room must be an awesome place to be
Two- are you able to make your own things well? If so, look at waterwichin’s thread about moving water and make a few draining trays. Then you can use a few buckets as over flow catch (via a tube) and water the hell out of everything as often as you like

I have seen now a few threads about trays with tubing that empty into buckets. Great idea.. and to be able to water in place and never pick up a pot again (UNLESS I WANT TO) is very exciting..Now if only I could find trays that will fit perfectly into my shelves and look nice..the hunt is on..

Originally Posted by fishmom

I use a rolling kitchen cart to take my supplies to my orchids, which are in 4 different rooms. On top of the cart, I have a plastic dishpan/tub, a narrow-mouth watering can, and a plastic gallon container which I use to carry water or fertilizer mix. I still have to go to the sink to fill the gallon container, but it saves many steps over carrying each plant. I catch the water in the dishpan and reuse it on plants outside.

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I use a "rubber" gardening tub and place a baking rack on top. I can water above it and use the water for other plants. I catch rain water and store it in 3 gallon kitty litter buckets which makes moving it easy.

Bringing the "sink" to the orchids.. Nice!

Originally Posted by estación seca

I'm not clear... do your containers have drain holes, or do you need to tip them sideways to empty water?

They have holes on the side like a typical S/H pot. I just tilt them after flushing at the sink to empty the remaining tap water in the reservoir before filling with RO water

Originally Posted by Keysguy

Boy, those are beautiful looking plants! You're doing a great job!

thanks keys! but I would be a fool to claim credit for the health of these plants seeing that I've only had them for half a year at most. But I would say that most are actively growing and only few have shown any sign of decline so hopefully I'm headed the right way

[Dollythehun]

I believe WW said she got them at Gardner's Supply.

[estación seca]

Member katrina posted detailed information and photos of her setup, which involved making drains in boot racks. All the trays on one cart drained to one bucket. She described the exact boot racks she used. It was a few years back.