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Thoughts on water irrigation methods

DaveKearleyDaveKearley Posts: 127
in Tools and techniques
Our garden is 99% containers, watering is daily at present and we are due a holiday so I fitted a water irrigation setup to take care of things hopefully. Our son can pop in once or twice while we are away but not everyday.

Being a smart-home nut (almost) I have the water control valve controlled by my smart-home system. I have been working on using weather forecast etc to control how much water they get each day. Rain is not really a factor as due to foliage cover, very little rain ever reaches the pot soil.

Currently, I am looking at the days max temperature forecast and converting the value to a time to give approximately the same sort of volume as I would with a hose.

I was wondering if it might be better to look at the previous days peak temperature and watering based on that value instead  i.e. replacing water used rather than adding water that might be used.

I know its not that clinical but I just have a "programming/analysing" mindset :)

Any thoughts?

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,307
    edited May 2022
    DaveKearley said:


    I know its not that clinical but I just have a "programming/analysing" mindset :)

    Any thoughts?
    Yes, change your mindset :)

    I'm the same after years working in IT  - you can't beat an over-complicated system for a simple task :) - I love to fiddle around with graphs in Excel etc etc, but plants don't work like that.
    I'd estimate roughly how much water you give them before your hols and just maintain that while you're away.
    Always best to water in the morning rather than the evening.
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DaveKearleyDaveKearley Posts: 127
    Yes i guess that was it but with the weather varying so wildly at present do they not need less or more, I think without noticing, i would water more if the previous day turned out to be a sweltering hot one but if it was cloudy and dull i would give less??

    Spent many years dealing with data collection, manipulation and reporting, messes the brain up after a while :) 

    Certainly morning watering, always have.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,307
    DaveKearley said:
    Yes i guess that was it but with the weather varying so wildly at present do they not need less or more, I think without noticing, i would water more if the previous day turned out to be a sweltering hot one but if it was cloudy and dull i would give less??


    Yes - that sort-of  makes sense.
    Enjoy you're hols and I hope you don't get a power cut while you're away!
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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