GARDEN GREENHOUSE EQUIPMENT           Propagators and mist cases are very good for raising cuttings in your greenhouse. But which type and when to use them. Find out here.

Go to pages about Selecting a Site For Your GreenhouseGo to pages about Selecting the Correct Greenhouse For Your NeedsGo to pages about Greenhouse Equipment - bench, capillary matting, heating, shade protection etc.Greenhouse manufacturers, retailers and suppliers

   
Bookmark This Site | Privacy | Links | Contact Us | Site Map    
Your weather dates have not been set. They have defaulted to medium UK / USA settings.
Click here to set the weather dates to your area of the UK or USA.
 
Vegetables
Fruit
Herbs
Help on the Allotment
Greenhouse World
Plants
The Perfect Lawn
Water Garden Features
Beginner's Corner
Pest and Disease
Veg, Fruit & Herb Calendars
Flower Garden Calendar
Bristol Garden Centres
Bucks Garden Centres
Coventry Garden Centres
Other Garden Centres
Garden Techniques
Houseplants
Book Reviews
About GardenAction
Archived Newsletters
Leftovers!

 

 
 Greenhouse Equipment Watering and Heating 

TOPICS IN SELECTING EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR GARDEN GREENHOUSE

  Greenhouse Staging
  Propagation & Mist Cases

Soil Warming Cables
Greenhouse Heaters

Watering and Feeding
       (you are here)


Watering and Feeding in Your Greenhouse
Water and a supply of nutrients are essential in all greenhouses big or small. The range of equipment spans the simple watering can filled from a tap with liquid feed added manually, right up to automatic watering kits which can run by themselves for up to 40 days.

Below we describe the equipment available and their advantages and disadvantages.


Watering Cans
There is a bewildering array of watering cans on the market and many simply do not do the job as well as the best. A watering can will be used for watering plants and accuracy is important for this. They will also be used to apply nutrients and sometimes other chemicals such as weed killers where accuracy is even more important.
 
Capacity of the watering can is important. To avoid constant refilling of a watering can, buy the biggest size that you think you can comfortably carry. Watering cans of 6 litre capacity are fine for most men, though women may find these too heavy when completely full. Make sure the rose (where the water comes out) is brass. Plastic ones will deform in heat or cold leaving you with a watering can which dribbles!

When buying a watering can remember that they can last literally decades, so buy the best one you can afford that does the job you want. Click here for a range of professional watering cans that do the job well and efficiently.

Capacity of the watering can is important. To avoid constant refilling of a watering can, buy the biggest size that you think you can comfortably carry. Watering cans of 6 litre capacity are fine for most men, though women may find these too heavy when completely full. Make sure the rose (where the water comes out) is brass. Plastic ones will deform in heat or cold leaving you with a watering can which dribbles!

When buying a watering can remember that they can last literally decades, so buy the best one you can afford that does the job you want. Click here for a range of professional watering cans that do the job well and efficiently.

Automatic Watering Systems
These systems rely on gravity or electricity to deliver water in controlled amounts to individual plant pots. These systems can supply water (or water with liquid feed in it) to many plant pots at the same time. They are great timesavers and can also be used to automatically water plants when you are not at home. Click here for a range of automatic watering systems from our recommended suppliers.

Capillary Matting
This system of watering is covered in another section of our site but we repeat it here because it is probably the cheapest method of automatic watering. It is also surprisingly accurate given its simplicity. Again, this system is good for saving time and for watering plants automatically when you are not at home.

A special purpose greenhouse staging, called a capillary bench, is also widely available. This bench has a surface with edges raised a couple of inches (5cm). The surface is lined with capillary matting which goes over the side of the bench into a vat of water. The capillary matting will suck up the water and remain damp at all times. Pots placed on the surface of the capillary matting will then suck up the water and remain automatically watered.

This is very useful at any time of the year because the potted plants will remain evenly watered. It is especially useful if you plan to leave the plants uncared for whilst you go on holidays. Add some liquid fertiliser to the water vat and the plants will be automatically fed and watered.

You will need a level bench, some plastic sheeting to protect the bench and capillary matting to transfer the water and feed to your plants. A reservoir of water is also required. Simply lay the plastic on the bench, then cover with capillary matting. One end of the mat should be placed in the water reservoir. Then place the plants firmly on the capillary matting and they will draw the water from the reservoir, through the matting and into the soil.

Click here if you wish to buy capillary matting equipment online from our recommended suppliers for this equipment.


The water in the reservoir should be level with the base of the plants initially. As the plants draw water, the water level will be lowered. Capillary matting is capable of drawing water up about 10 cm (4 inches).

TOPICS IN SELECTING EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR GARDEN GREENHOUSE

  Greenhouse Staging
  Propagation & Mist Cases

Soil Warming Cables
Electric Greenhouse Heaters

Watering and Feeding
      (you are here)


OR JUST

GO TO THE NEXT GREENHOUSE PAGE

 

Links to Other Garden Sites || Privacy Policy

Copyright 2000-08 David Marks. All rights reserved.
   


GardenAction provides the amateur gardener with lots of information for free. If you would like to donate some money to us, DON'T!
Instead, we ask that make a small donation  to a very worthwhile charity. Money contributed up to mid July 2008 will go to CAMDA and CDPF. 
You donate direct to them by supporting a GardenAction author in his attempt to travel from England to Mongolia at his own expense. You donate direct to the charity. Even a couple of pounds will be greatly appreciated.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE
  

 
 

 

VEGETABLE PLANNER
Double sided fact sheets for fruit and vegetable care. Plastic laminated for use in the garden. All dates set for your home town. Only £1.99 or $3.79 per sheet.
CLICK HERE
FOR DETAILS

 

Proud to be a partner with:

 

GARDENING
COMPUTER
DESKTOP
DIARY
30 day free trial

Planting, sowing, care, pruning and harvest dates all in your computer desktop diary. Designed by GardenAction. Ideal birthday present for only £7.49 and it lasts forever!
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS