I'm a bit OCD about the look of this thing because it needs to be discrete so I want to keep the strip inside with one cable out, rather than several cables coming out of it. I have a lock on it. I will buy an industrial grade outdoor surge strip from McMaster and hopefully that should be safer than all of the power strips in my house. I appreciate the tips on the watering...I need to learn that for all of my plants at home...Ive killed a bunch of house plants...have to do more reading. One quick q, should I water the soil or both the plant leaves and soil?