Automated soil water draining?

One of my main inefficiencies with watering -- I have a 4x4 tent that came with a "water tray" for the floor. When I water the plants and the water comes out from the bottom holes, I have to sit there and clean up the surface with paper towels and it's really annoying.

What I'm hoping to do is set up 4 buckets with individual drip pans that all lead to one bucket of "dripped" water that I can then empty once all they're done leaking water from the bottom.

Do they have any sort of bucket holders or cheap systems like that? I'm just looking to clean up as little as possible when watering.

Thanks!

If you put individual drip pans under the pots, what's the issue with leaving the water there? The soil will suck most of the water back up after it's drained if you want 30-45 minutes, assuming you're using individual pans.

non.unique.name said:

If you put individual drip pans under the pots, what's the issue with leaving the water there? The soil will suck most of the water back up after it's drained if you want 30-45 minutes, assuming you're using individual pans.

Click to expand...

It was my understanding that you wouldn't want for the water to seep back into the pots... is that not true?

I like to use hydro trays for my drip pan. If you are only using it for a drip pan, you can usually get a cracked one cheap. 4x4 tray on a couple 5 gal. buckets, with a bucket under the drain hole.

I gave up keeping it water free. I just let the water go on the floor in the pan. It all just evaporates within a couple of hours. Then once per month, I take all the plants out and clean it up.

Just make sure that you don't allow foliage rot on it, as that may promote pests.

Right now, I'm using Coke bottles to grow in with the top cut off and holes near the bottom. I have those in the racks you see them being delivered into the store in. They are about 3/4" high, which is high enough to keep the pots from re-wicking the water back up.

-spek

I use individual trays and just suck it out with a wet/dry shop vac. Works great and easiest method ive found.

non.unique.name said:

If you put individual drip pans under the pots, what's the issue with leaving the water there? The soil will suck most of the water back up after it's drained if you want 30-45 minutes, assuming you're using individual pans.

Click to expand...

thcme said:

It was my understanding that you wouldn't want for the water to seep back into the pots... is that not true?

Click to expand...

You don't want it soaking up any extra water. If you you give it a perfect amount of water, it's only sucking up what was originally supplied.

Old thread, but maybe there are some new ideas. Soaking up old water hasn't hurt the girls in 12 months of perpetual harvest in this garden, but my room is pretty dry most of the time and there isn't a lot of overflow most of the time either so they aren't sitting around in water for very long when they do.

I currently use the flimsy saucer's from HD for each individual plant, but need to rethink it. Any ideas would be great. Breathe sideways on those things and they crack...at $2.50 for the size I need, I hate buying them for 36 plants, even though 2.50 never feels like much when you are buying 3 or 4 replacements.

SETUP:
4 - 600w XXXL (2 side-by-side pair) 2-6in 450cfm (one pulling, one pushing)
~4 plants under each hood (16 total, give or take)

CURRENT BENEFITS:
-individual plants can be freely spun and arranged.
-overflow is contained for each plant.
-total size is about the same as the size of the pot
-excess easily shop vac'ed up
-pan goes with plant to post flower dark room, trim room and storage until disposal of soil (residual moisture will seep out of smart pots and leave a spot on wood, pergo floors, or carpet)

CURRENT LIMITATIONS:
-flimsy and an unnecessary cumulative expense, regardless of number used or duration of use.
-restrictive, I'd rather not worry about hitting the fan or the dehu or the ac, I want to spin my girls, slide them, and maybe even dance when we need to.
-having to shop vac the excess leads to planning for inadequate over flow (at least in the clean water waterings I like to have a lot of overflow and a previous garden had a drain in the floor - ideal.)
-it is awkward to transfer plants. first you have to carry the plant, then the tray. lifting with the tray will break it. I just stepped on one, there goes $2.50, seriously, f-those things

GOAL:
-permanent drainage that will not only hold at least 4 plants, but also allow for free movement of the plants within the footprint of the light (and overlap of lights).
-durable enough to be kicked, rolled into by my gardening chair, etc.
-overflow can commingle, as plants will be on the same schedule. However, switching to 2-2-2-2 has been known to happen to save power during the hottest parts of summer (shut down 2 lights and fan, less AC, fewer fans, smaller veg) and then I wouldn't want the four under one footprint all sucking off the same sloppy seconds.

Basically, what are some ideas for drainage in a 10x14 room. I'm not against tables vs directly on the floor. easy collection of excess is a plus, even to a shop vac'able location. homemade or purchased, any good ideas appreciated. rubbermaid tub tops aren't much better and washing machine tubs don't have the space.

If you don't want you runoff getting sucked back up use the drip trays but put some small stones or blocks under the pot to elevate it off the tray.

No you don't want the water being sucked back up into the pot. That's just asking for big trouble..

Just use individual trays for the pots. When they fill up with runoff while watering just shop-vac the trays. Quick, easy clean...

Rig up an adapter for your shop vac. Run individual small vacuum hoses to each saucer, water, then turn vac on until drainage stops. A water sucker. You are still going to need at least one drip pan.

Or go hydro.