Expert: Mike Mascio - 12/8/2010

Question
I live in Arizona.  Our planting seasons are unlike other parts of the country.  Our planting season beings in the fall not spring.  I planted petunias this fall in peatmoss and garden soil that I mixed.  They have been planted for a couple of months and are awesome.  I water once every 3 or 4 days.  I water in between the plants by hand careful not to get the plant wet.  It has gotten to 32 at least 2 nights, but no more.  It is mid-December and I'm going out of town for about a week.  I need a make shift watering system to water them while I'm gone.  How can I go about doing this.  The planter they are in is in the center of our brick courtyard.  They share the planter with an Orchid tree.  

Answer
The best makeshift watering tool is a plastic milk container with small holes drilled on the bottom. The bottom one inch of the container should be placed one inch below the surface of the soil. The soil will then draw the water as it is needed.

Another option is a soaker hose attached to a timer on your outside faucet. Most garden centers sell these and the people there could easily explain how to hook it up.

I hope this information helps. Please write again if you ever need assistance.

Regards,

Mike