Hi Mary,
I posted different threads because there is a LOT of information available, and if I do it all in one post, then people won't read the entire thing, or they'll get burned out on the information or can't find what they are looking for.
Now, as for being gone a week, your idea would work, but there are a couple of ways you could do this.
Get some plastic 2 liter bottles, like soda comes in. Poke some very small holes in them, with something about the size of a needle. Bury that bottle a bit into the soil of the container, plant plants around it, and when you are ready to leave, fill that bottle with water. Make sure you have holes all the way around the bottle, or only the plants on the side with the holes will get the water.
Another way, find someone who makes pottery. Get them to make you some clay jars, large enough to hold up to a couple of gallons of water. Put those in the soil and plant around them. Then, when you get ready to leave, fill them with water. The water should seep out of the un-fired clay into the soil.
I would also suggest that you test these 2 methods while you are at home, to make sure that they work properly. Either one should make your soil damp for the duration your gone.
Another way would be to plant your plants in a homemade self watering pot using the 2 liter bottles for soda. Lydia posted how to do so in her forum I believe, with pictures to explain it better. I don't remember the name of her forum though. |