Watering 3 week seedling while on holidays for 4 weeks ... is it possible ?

[nick_nick]

Hello all,
I have a very nice looking 3 week seedling but I am leaving in 10 days for 4 weeks holidays...
I live in Athens and grow currently in my big balcony in a 4 lt pot (22cm in diameter and 22 cm in height) which should hopefully be ok until I come back.
The big problem is watering...
I could take it with me on holiday but it is a bit risky.

I am thinking to install an auto watering system with one drip head 5 cm from the center dripping a small amount of water say x lt and 4 drip heads 10 cm away from the centre all around the edge of the pot dripping 5 times as much water (5x lt).

I must say I am not experienced canna grower , I have done it only once some years ago but I was home all the time.

Do you think it will work ?
Do you have any suggestions to make ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[One drop]

Hi welcome to the farm hope you enjoy the site, first off what medium are you growing in ? If you going to be gone I would advise you use 1/4 strength nutes to be safe it enough food to keep it going with out having any major ph or Nute burn issues , but first your medium? Od .

 

[nick_nick]

The soil I bought was expensive with several fancy 'things' including perlite and zeolite. It is very fluffy and airy.
But I am afraid the biggest problem will be over or under watering ... any comment on what I described above ?

 

[One drop]

I can see it working if the soil is full of nutes just set ph correct water like you describe above
you will need the plant to be elevated in a drip tray with pot risers to help it stay up out of run off . Od .

 

[nick_nick]

Thanks One drop.

 

[One drop]

Thanks One drop.

Anytime mate dose you grow site get lots of hot sun ? Is think about putting the plant in the shade , what if your system fails , better for plant to survive in shade than in sun , if you are sun bound try to get some white or cream coloured shade cloth and wrap it round the pot to keep it cooler in heat of the day .

 

[nick_nick]

good idea, I will use a styrofoam type insulatimg material arount the pot, and a shading cloth for the plant leaving 70% of the sun light to come through because the sun is very very strong in the balcony from 10am to 2 pm.

 

[One drop]

good idea, I will use a styrofoam type insulatimg material arount the pot, and a shading cloth for the plant leaving 70% of the sun light to come through because the sun is very very strong in the balcony from 10am to 2 pm.

Make sure the shade cloth is white or cream , green is no good it reflects 75%of the UV rays , black to hot . Regards Od .

 

[nick_nick]

The cloth is green but has very big openings allowing 70% of the sunlight come in ...
It is a mesh.

It is used mainly for tomatoes ... here in Greece.

 

[nick_nick]

any more comments welcomed

 

[One drop]

Hi Nick how are you going to control the run off of the run off and also the ph of the water ? Od .

 

[nick_nick]

Hi Nick how are you going to control the run off of the run off and also the ph of the water ? Od .

The ph should be 'ok' since everything worked ok 2 years ago when I was at home the first 2 months of the grow before going for 3 weeks holidays.

For the rest ... I will pray , God will understand ! I hope.