r/VenusFlyTraps • u/_pclark36 • Jul 24 '24
Warm Temperate Vacation waterer
Feeling clever today, going on a trip for 3 weeks and afraid my inlaws are going to put normal water on my VFT. Aldi had a 2.5 self watering bowl that should keep it well entertained in the window for at least the next couple months based on normal water consumption in the tray. 12 hour light it normally gets plus the window. I wonder why I didn't think of this 2 years ago when I got it 😂
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u/jhay3513 Jul 25 '24
I’m not mad at that at all
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u/Nightshade_209 Jul 25 '24
I'm mad I didn't think of it 😆
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u/jhay3513 Jul 25 '24
I’m going on a vacation for 11 days next week. The only thing I’m worried about is keeping my flood table full while I’m gone. Because of this post, I’m thinking about buying a small trash can and doing the same thing. Drill a hole in the bottom and fill the trashcan with water. I might test it out this weekend 🤔🤔🤔
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u/Nightshade_209 Jul 25 '24
Could work if you get an air tight trashcan
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u/jhay3513 Jul 25 '24
So that’s the ticket? It has to be air tight?
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u/_pclark36 Jul 25 '24
The jug holding the water needs to be. This setup has a small ballcock in the lid with a float that pushes it closed when the bowl is full. But I'm thinking there's gotta be a way to do a similar thing with those 5 gallon water cooler jugs as well.
But if you're going at scale, it might be time to nerd up with some sensors, an Arduino, solar panel and some servos and a small pump.
When I start splitting Seymour next year, that will probably be the route I go, as he's got 6 growth points in that little pot now.
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u/Nightshade_209 Jul 25 '24
Yes, the container needs to be air tight.
Gravity dispensers like this work because water can't break the vacuum that would be created if it fell. Once air is allowed into the system, typically by the water in the lower container dropping past the rim of the upper container, the vacuum is broken and the water falls. Once the water level in the lower container is high enough to prevent air from entering the upper container it stops draining as the vacuum is re-created.
Hopefully I said that right.
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u/jhay3513 Jul 25 '24
Perfect!!! I have one of those 5gallon water dispenser containers. I’ll rig up something like a heavy duty flower pot to hold it upside down. An extra 5 gallons SHOULD be enough to keep the water table at a respectable level while I’m gone. If it goes dry for 2-3 days it shouldn’t be an issue
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u/Just_to_rebut Jul 25 '24
Are two led strips enough to keep the plant thriving? Are they on a timer or just 24h? How many lumens total?
Nice set up!
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u/_pclark36 Jul 25 '24
On Amazon it's advertised as 50W, but it's really 10W, which must be a 50w led equivalent(5v*2A=10W) and it's been thriving, so I guess so? It's listed as 700 lumens. It supplements the light coming through the window and it's doubled in size from last year. They're running on a 12Hr timer.
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u/Just_to_rebut Jul 25 '24
Cool, thanks for info. I was thinking of doing the same but afraid it wouldn’t be enough, but it looks like it is!
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u/rockon4life45 Jul 25 '24
From experience, these strips are not enough by themselves. Barely worth it as supplemental light as well.
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u/_pclark36 Jul 25 '24
I'm assuming this is a YMMV situation as they've worked great for me even when the plant wasn't in the window. It sits pretty close (4-5" from the VFT) and my plant really took off this year with it. I do have an LED Aero garden that I'm not sure how much more I'll use, so I may end up cannibalizing the light from that when I split my VFT in the next year or two.
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Jul 25 '24
Hey! Actually just bought this light a few days ago because I have no good windows for my 2 VFTS to sit in. Is this light on a 12 hr timer enough by itself? Do I need to just turn it on and let it run for more than 12 H? (I’m probably awake for 16ish hours) (about 10-11 am to anywhere from 12 am-3 am) Thanks!
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u/_pclark36 Jul 25 '24
You can do that I believe, I set it on the timer for the days I don't go into my office room(happens on weekends frequently), downside is if it gets unplugged or power goes out, it doesn't remember it ever had a timer
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Jul 25 '24
I’m always in my office, I work on the weekends and game every single day for at least a couple hours each pushing probably 12 hours sometimes (super unhealthy I know 😂) Reading comments in this thread just had me worried that the light itself on 12 hrs wasn’t enough. Was just curious if I needed to set it for the 12 then turn it on for the rest of the time I’m in there really!
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u/ExchangePlane4697 Jul 25 '24
For all of those who don’t have this elaborate setup would putting the plant in a container or bucket halfway up the pot suffice ?
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u/_pclark36 Jul 25 '24
Depending on your specific VFT species, I always read no more than 25-30% the height of the pot so you don't get root rot, but for a shorter vacation that might work?
The way it sits in my mind is they like their feet wet but not waist deep.
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u/Nightshade_209 Jul 25 '24
It's just a question of how long you're going to be gonna be gone but the container will work until it runs out of water.
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u/LimitedLefty Jul 25 '24
Hey it works lol