Vacation waterings

leigh_1 · June 12, 2011

So, I'm going on a 2 week vacation in July and I have 8 tomato plants in containers on my balcony. I would like them to survive without watering. So I've came up with this plan:
1) I will use peat moss and vermiculite in my potting mix. They both retain water. I will give plants a good soak before I leave.
2) I will prevent evaporation. I'll use transparent cling film and tuck it all around the plant as mulch. Water vapor will condense into liquid and go back into the pot.
I'm going to try this method on one plant before my vacation.
What do you think about my plan? Will it work? Am I missing something obvious, as usual?

June 12, 2011	#1
leigh_1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: C Posts: 6	Vacation waterings So, I'm going on a 2 week vacation in July and I have 8 tomato plants in containers on my balcony. I would like them to survive without watering. So I've came up with this plan: 1) I will use peat moss and vermiculite in my potting mix. They both retain water. I will give plants a good soak before I leave. 2) I will prevent evaporation. I'll use transparent cling film and tuck it all around the plant as mulch. Water vapor will condense into liquid and go back into the pot. I'm going to try this method on one plant before my vacation. What do you think about my plan? Will it work? Am I missing something obvious, as usual?