Self-Watering Probes – Vacation Plant Waterers – 5 Pack
April 5th, 2010 | 
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Product Description
Self Watering Probes are a simple and effective way of watering your plants while you are on vacation. Just soak them in water for a couple of minutes to prepare the tips, then insert the probes into the soil of your pot… More >>
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I tested these before I left for vacation. They did not seem to work at all. I was using them on outside pots and unless I was doing something wrong no water came out of them from the water bowl
Rating: 1 / 5
Follow the directions carefully. It may all sound so simple, but do follow them. Because, THEY WORK! I did have one that was not quite doing it. But then I filled the tube as well as the reservoir and it worked fine. These were so worth the purchase. I have a few big house plants that like a lot of water daily. These little things worked very well for the week I was gone. I did put two in the bigger plants. So happy to have found these.
Rating: 5 / 5
These have worked very well for me when I’ve been away for 2-4 weeks.
I’ve had a few issues, though: I have a large plant that needs three of these to get enough water to thrive during the summer; likewise I had a small plant whose tray overflowed during the winter when I used one and had the plant at the same level as the bottom of the bucket (pay attention to the instruction booklet’s explanation about how the relative height of the water and the plant influences the amount of water the plant gets, and set things up so you won’t end up with water damage if you’re wrong!).
Rating: 5 / 5
We recently went on a 20 day vacation, and were concerned about our plants. Typically we ask our cat-sitter to check the plants and water them as needed, but that is an imposition we are usually reluctant to add to her pet-sitting chores.
I checked the local home improvement stores, but did not like any of the systems they had. I did some research at Amazon and came across these. As an engineer I like the principle behind them, and was curious if they would actually work.
A week or so before leaving I set the plants up with the self-watering probes and monitored them. They appeared to work as promised, but the proof would be in the performance while we were away.
I’m happy to report healthy plants, and the units working as promised. I had calculated the amount for the water reservoir based on the instructions, and when we came home the level was where I expected it to be. I think I will now use this as a regular watering system, even when we are home, as we live in Colorado, and moisture is always a problem. With this system I don’t have to worry about when or how much to water the plants, and any little worry I can dispense with is a big plus.
I highly recommend this product.
Note: one thing not explained in the description is that larger pots require more than one probe per pot. The instructions say 15cmm pot (~6″) one probe, 20cm (~8″) two probes, and 40cm (~16″) four probes. They also list an approximate flow rate based on the height of the reservoir relative to the pot, and the type of soil contained in the pot. I adjusted the number of probes and height of the reservoir based on the water requirements of the plant. I would suggest actual trials before they are needed, as over-watering is often as bad as under-watering, if not worse.
Rating: 5 / 5
I was a little skeptical about this product but it performed wonderfully over the Christmas break. 5 stakes were enough to water a small herb garden I have at my desk at work for 10+days without issue.
Rating: 5 / 5