A Container Garden and it's Water

A container garden is a stressful thing. Especially when you don't have an outdoor faucet.

Because containers dry out so fast (like every single day) it takes a lot of water to keep your plants alive (like every single day!).  Last night I used 17 gallons of water to water my plants. I know it was this much because I save milk jugs during the summer and refill them as I use them. And last night I used my 13 jugs and then used 4 of my refilled ones. I store them outside. It's not the most attractive thing in the world, but it beats having them clutter my front hall.

I want desperately to get a rain barrel. I know there are plans all over the web and magazines on how to build them. Frankly, I've been too cheap to buy the 50 gallon garbage can needed for the project.

You know what would really work? A way to evaporate humidity from the air. Living in the midwest, I'd never want for water again if I could do such a thing!

I know that dehumidifiers already exist. That's kind of what made me think of it. That and the sweat pouring down my back every time I'm outside despite it being only 80 degrees outside. Every time I dog sit for my aunt, I have to empty her basement dehumidifier at least twice in a long weekend. I hate dumping that perfectly good water down the drain, but carting it back home would be a bit over the top.

I heard a speaker at a gardening class say that he has over 50 pots in his backyard and on his patio, but his water bill is only $50 a month because he employs a drip system. Now, we all know they work because we all have at least one water globe in a potted house plant.

So, all you budding scientist out there, here's my thought. A dehumidifier, that doesn't need electricity, that's small enough to fit in a garden pot. Okay. Hop to it. Well, what are you waiting for?

Okay, so you have no scientific knowledge and you don't want me coming after you for a cut of the profits. Fine, here's another idea that I'm going to employ myself. Homemade drip bottles. I'm thinking a 20oz pop bottle, with a small hole drilled in the lid, and maybe a straw attached to it. I'll have to get back to you when I have a prototype. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for my dehumidifier.