Show n Tell ~ Easier Way to Water?? - Orchid Board

WaterWitchin · #1 02-09-2014, 10:35 AM

A WaterWitchin tale of aging in place as easier ways must be found. After hand surgery last fall, and finding out parts of me are riddled with arthritis, was told it is imperative to find more ways to provide less stress to my joints and cartilage... or lack thereof.

Instead of hauling my orchids from various places around the house during winter months, I concocted a plan of action. This involved me drilling a hole through an oak floor, followed by my beloved husband's semi-conniption fit. Who knew he'd care so much.

So I "borrowed" one of those heavy duty shelving units from our store, bought some 1/2" PVC, and drilled a hole from the sunroom floor into our basement, then stuck the PVC pipe into the hole...

Beneath it in the basement (which I fondly call The Dungeon) is a drain where excess water at times flows out of the house to a spot downhill where there are well-watered redbud trees.

I laid the black tray you can barely see on top of the shelf, then marked and drilled a hole through the tray. Inserted the other end of the pipe into the hole and sealed it with silicon.

And now I realize another picture is required. Going to post this, then go take the picture and come back to commence Show n Tell II. No one says I'm organized.

Orchid Whisperer · #2 02-09-2014, 10:53 AM

It sure sounds like a good plan to me! If need be, that hole in the hardwood can probably be plugged later.

Ray · #3 02-09-2014, 10:53 AM

You need trays with drains.

WaterWitchin · #4 02-09-2014, 11:01 AM

Okay, Show n Tell II. So then, I went to next shelf and black tray, and drilled a hole thru the second tray. Stuck in another piece of pipe, and siliconed it.

The first pipe (on left) is about an inch above the bottom tray's surface. The next shelf up, you can see the pipe hanging down, and it's about an inch below the lip of the tray below it.

Rinse and repeat two more times, and it looks sort of like this...

Now when I water, I start at the top and work my way down. (Just to be consistent. Not because I'm organized or that it would matter, other than it makes it easier to not miss anyone when watering.)

If you go back to that first picture, I think you can see the cord to the heat mats dangling down... those are on the bottom shelf for the ones who like more heat, or the ones in transition.

Now this is accomplished about two months ago, and I find that things are drying up faster than I'd prefer. There's a fan in the window that is on 24-7, that blows air OUT the window. Yes, it's winter, and I'm nuts but not THAT nuts. Here it is with a side view, showing part of the fan...it's actually three whirlies, not one.

This means the air movement is good, but the LECA dries up faster than originally anticipated. Have not decided whether to live with it for the five months they must be inside, or develop a new project/scheme so I don't have to tote water from kitchen to sunroom. Those jugs get heavy after awhile.

So that's my

if you need a winter project, don't have a heated greenhouse, and want more time to go look at getting more orchids, rather than watering two by two.

Orchids4ever · #5 02-10-2014, 05:47 PM

This sounds like a great Idea-but-one Question-How are you going to clean your Windows? You can not move the Shelf now or you break the pipes.
Just wondering .My Friends call me Mrs.Bleach

I am always looking at how to clean things

katrina · #6 02-12-2014, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

..... so I don't have to tote water from kitchen to sunroom. Those jugs get heavy after awhile.

I use a hose sprayer that attaches to the faucet...50' hose. I hook it to my laundry room sink and away I go...water everything in place.

I got mine on eBay a few years ago...similar to this one.....
Indoor Outdoor Lightweight Plant Watering Hose 50 Feet | eBay

WaterWitchin · #7 02-12-2014, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katrina

I use a hose sprayer that attaches to the faucet...50' hose. I hook it to my laundry room sink and away I go...water everything in place.

I got mine on eBay a few years ago...similar to this one.....
Indoor Outdoor Lightweight Plant Watering Hose 50 Feet | eBay

I use something similar (Python siphon) for my aquariums. Thought about getting a longer one, as the one I have is about 5' too short to reach the orchids. But then I wouldn't be able to weakly weekly fertilize.

The one you show is a lot cheaper than a Python though, so I'll check it out... would at least work for the other waterings. Thanks for the link.

Having said that... hmmmmm. Perhaps a five gallon bucket, and put a pump in the bucket after mixing in fertilizer?

And then again, I could fill the bathtub upstairs with water and drill a hole through the ceiling. Bet my beloved would LOVE that idea!

WaterWitchin · #8 02-10-2014, 08:35 AM

LOL... I know, Ray Iconoclast.

Took me three years to get up the guts to drill the hole in the floor, six months to find the right trays for it at a decent price, then another six to get around to taking pictures.

And then another half hour to re-take the picture I lost of the inside of the tray. Because I'm just slow that way.

Off topic, but not badly... BTW... I guts'd 'er up and drilled another hole in floor behind my aquarium. Beloved husband hasn't noticed the next hole yet, or the tube running along the floor in The Dungeon. Boy oh boy, is it ever a piece of cake to do water changes now.

WaterWitchin · #9 02-10-2014, 07:35 PM

LOL... Well, Mrs. Bleach, the only pipe that's halfway connected is the bottom one. Then the whole shelf moves anywhere.

They (the orchids) are inside until May-ish. Then are outside until October-ish. During that time period, I shove the one pipe on bottom down, clean whatever I want, then it gets reinstalled, probably differently, in the late fall.

Behind the one window closest to the fan.... well, one of my Standard poodles broke out the main window just prior to this setup. So all that's there is a storm window for now. So windows come and go.

If you want to see this up close and personal, please let me know.... I have 57 windows in the house, and rarely get to the outside of 'em.

Would make a sane, window cleaner weep.

Orchids4ever · #10 02-10-2014, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

LOL... Well, Mrs. Bleach, the only pipe that's halfway connected is the bottom one. Then the whole shelf moves anywhere.

They (the orchids) are inside until May-ish. Then are outside until October-ish. During that time period, I shove the one pipe on bottom down, clean whatever I want, then it gets reinstalled, probably differently, in the late fall.

Behind the one window closest to the fan.... well, one of my Standard poodles broke out the main window just prior to this setup. So all that's there is a storm window for now. So windows come and go.

If you want to see this up close and personal, please let me know.... I have 57 windows in the house, and rarely get to the outside of 'em.

Would make a sane, window cleaner weep.

I have only 7, but they are big 5x10-5x8 and 5x6 that's enough for me

57 Windows? my gosh-you must have a real nice big House . 57 ? I think i pass on seing them up close and
personal

I just look at them from here when you post.