The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

Conservatory water supply

sueps

By Sueps

United Kingdom Gb

I have a cold water tap in my conservatory for watering, but I think in the winter the water is too cold for some of the plants.
The conservatory is too far from the kitchen to carry water and I don't have room for a water butt.
I think I need some way of heating the water slightly; has anyone any ideas how I can do this?
Forgot to say I do have an electricity supply in there!




Answers

 

Fill a plastic watering can and leave it in the sun.

29 Nov, 2010

 

What sun?..hihi

29 Nov, 2010

 

Agree with Owdboggy, keep a full can/bucket of water in the conservatory and it will reach room temperature on its own.

29 Nov, 2010

 

Yes and if you do want to take the chill off, top it up from your kettle.

29 Nov, 2010

 

Thanks for the replies; but unfortunately I would need at least 10 cans to water everything.
There are alot of plants in there, including a bed 9ft long by 20" wide and about 20" deep, crammed with plants; 2 huge rubber plants and about 35 others in pots! (That's why I said I don't have room for a water butt!
I usually water with a hose pipe and Hozelock sprayer connected to the tap.

I wondered if there was some electrical water heating device like the ones you can put in a washroom; but it must be something which only warms the water gently.

29 Nov, 2010

 

How about half a kettle of boiling water added to a 2 gallon watering can? You would have to experiment to get the right proportion, Sue.

29 Nov, 2010

 

You must be giving them much less water in winter and you only need the chill off? So what about a baby bath and a kettle. The only thing that I can think of is one of those catering sized water urns they hold several gallons. A small 15 Litre Swan Catering Urn comes at about £47. You would only need it on for minuets to take the chill off.

29 Nov, 2010

 

That depends on how long a Minuet lasts. Some of the Chopin ones are quite short!

29 Nov, 2010

 

Ouch!

29 Nov, 2010

 

Please don't take this the wrong way but heating water in order to water plants is so environmentally upside down. As gardeners we have a duty of care...perhaps custodians...to the natural world. My answer would be to have a few less plants and have a water butt. Also leaving the water standing for a few days would reduce its chlorine and therefore be of more use to your plants. :)

29 Nov, 2010

 

I have the answer you seek Sueps. You do have room for one of those plastic beer barrels with a tap as they are only a couple of feet high. With water 'on-tap' in your conservatory you have it - - - well - - -'on-tap'
Fill said barrel with water & leave overnight to equalize the temperature & you can water from there. You dont need to heat water for plants. Also mama nature has got that one covered in the cold season, she slows down the plants thus not requiring so much water anyway.
Your right chilled water is not good for plants, I have a ton of containers of various shapes & sizes in the conservatory for the same reason as it's now crammed to the gills with plants seeking refuge from the cold in amongst the orchids & cactus. You can always disguise your beer barrel with a cloth & a fern ontop. Just kidding S, let us know what you come up with, always on the lookout for ideas. Keep warm ;-))

29 Nov, 2010

 

I would not water the plants when it is very cold.

29 Nov, 2010

 

I agree MG - problem solved?

30 Nov, 2010

 

Yup

30 Nov, 2010

 

A large water tank (or beer barrel) will also act as a heat reservoir and help keep the temp up a little.

30 Nov, 2010

 

Thanks for all the interest; but unfortunately I don't have room for any kind of receptacle which would hold enough water. (And with my slightly arthritic elbows I find it much easier to use the hosepipe straight from the tap.)

As for not watering them at all while it's really cold; it's been really cold for nearly 2 weeks, will probably stay this cold for several more weeks, and I don't think my two 8ft rubber plants will survive without water for 2 or 3 months, or much else for that matter.

Evidently there is no device available like a washroom water heater but which only takes the chill off; pity, that would have been ideal!

2 Dec, 2010

How do I say thanks?

Answer question

 


Not found an answer?