Bottle adapter blumats are awesome for this. 2L bottle on one of those will keep a medium sized plant alive for 10 days. I've not tested any longer than that but I think 12 is as far as i'd push it without adding a second.
I always liked the idea of an automated watering system but I think the above is a bit over-engineered. Have you seen these before? They adapt to any water-bottle, and i've used 1 x 2L bottle to feed a plant while on holiday before and it wasn't watered for a period of 10 days and looked like it could go for a couple more. Perhaps a 3L bottle or 2 x 2L bottles and you should cover yourself nicely. I would recommend testing this though, assuming your holiday is far enough away.
Note that you need to pierce a small hole in the top of the bottle or you'll create a vacuum and it won't dispense correctly.
Do you know those auto-water things? There are a few kinds... the attractive ones are blown glass, but they seem to water a bit fast (probably fine for the weekend). There are also these ceramic stake things that turn bottles into waterers.. I also use digital auto water pumps with irrigation tubing for longer trips. The really fancy ones have an app you can control them on your phone with.
That's the one I've been using. There's another on Amazon with dual pumps that can be controlled separately that I'll try soon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093LFH7NM/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_glt_fabc_C0DJ2SG9YD90BY8ZARYN
This is what I went with. I have RO water in my brewshed and I'll be filling a 5 gallon water jug for the device to pull from. We'll see how well it works.
Get some tubing and create a siphon with a bottle (wine bottle?) e.g.; Blumat Classic Plant Watering Stakes | for Everyday Home or Vacation Use | Indoor or Outdoor Water Spikes for Plants | Automatic Drip Irrigation (6 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H9HZ4FB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_59G3DN9X3E74K9BZQCFA.
Depending on the size of reservoir, it can hold you for a decent trip—I’ve used them for 10-14 days in summer.
Lol it’s just a calypso bottle I reused. And it’s in a terra-cotta water stake from amazon:
And the little decorative plant labels were a Christmas gift with a bunch of necessary expletives. Maybe on Etsy..? I don’t have the link tho
Yea man, I have one going right now. It's about 16 inches deep which seems to be fairly standard and they are cheap. The fabric pots dry out pretty easy around the edges so it wouldn't be a bad idea to use something like this Blumat Bottle Adapter (3 Pack): Self Watering Spikes/Houseplant Watering Stakes, Automatic Irrigation System, Use When On Vacation,Terracotta Spikes to use with Recycled Plastic Water Bottles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008P8TWWG/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_W493ZZ4Z98EJHJVWS3HD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Blumat Classic Plant Watering Stakes | for Everyday Home or Vacation Use | Indoor or Outdoor Water Spikes for Plants | Automatic Drip Irrigation (6 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H9HZ4FB/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_8HRQ3K5H1XN1HVNQ6FJX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
My mother gave me a citronella-scented geranium last summer and I've not managed to kill it yet, despite not giving it priority with light or water (I don't like plants that other people choose for me, and I don't like flowers in general). I even gave it a bad haircut at the beginning of the winter, stuck the branches in soil, and now I have two of them. I use them to test my drip-watering devices - one's just a wine bottle upended in a terra cotta plug, so I don't have to worry about it but once a week. (If over/underwatering if his problem, maybe those could help your brother?)
They have terracotta spikes you can put in your soil and use a wine botttle or any bottle of your choosing. Works a thousand times better than just the free flowing gloobes. You want to get the spike all the way down flush and at an angle going towards the roots.terracotta watering spikes
Are you looking to breed or just keep them and whatever happens, happens? I would go as big as you have room for. This way you can have multiple generations living there. If you are looking g ti breed though, get some more caves. I would recommend at least three for every two fish just to give them a choice.. I’ve seen breeders use plant spikes as caves.
REMIAWY Plant Watering Stakes 6 Pack Automatic Plant Waterers for Vacations, Plant Watering Devices Terracotta Self Watering Spikes for Wine Bottles Great Plant Nanny for Indoor & Outdoor Plants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M8WKZDZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_PGSQ9AGFCWRYTYQ2JQW8
Well it was a little bit of an experiment. Its these. Which are similar to Grow Oya which I've heard good things from on some of the gardening youtube channels I follow, but Grow Oya has been sold out for a while. The idea is to be more efficient with water, less evaporation and less maintenance. I also thought that since citrus don't like to sit in damp soil that this would moderate the water they receive and keep the soil a little bit on the drier side.
I've gone back and forth on whether to use them or not because the top part of the soil doesnt really get moist so its harder to tell if they need watered or not. Which is why I've been using a wooden stick to check soil moisture. In reality I think im going to stick with traditional watering and use these for when Im out of town.
RAINPOINT WiFi Automatic Watering System, DIY Drip Irrigation Kit Indoor, Customizable Auto/Manual/Delay Watering Time via APP, Plant Waterer Self Irrigation System for Potted Plants Vacation Watering https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B093LFH7NM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_VNGCB9NBC9W8RXAPEXBJ
I bought these watering stakes when I was going to go on a 2 week vacation. I came back and all my plants were happy.
I still use these and once a week, I have a reminder to fill their water jars.
RAINPOINT WiFi Automatic Watering System, Indoor Intelligent APP Automatic Watering System, Indoor Plant Watering and Irrigation System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093LFH7NM/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_GMMV55MK85Z8ZYY8YK06?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
so this device can put out 6 gallons an hour without drippers on it, so that's just the pump in water and the water coming out the other side.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DIG-4-GPH-Pressure-Compensating-Dripper-10-Pack-B224B/100191668
so those drippers come in different volumes and you're just going to kind of figure out what ones work best for you.
So you would get the first one rather than the second one?
And also, I found these on amazon: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B008P8TWWG/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_26H3FJ8AXDA9GH8JKFCB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Would two of these per plant, each with a 1.5 liter (50fl oz) bottle on them be enough for five days? Or is just one per plant with a 2lt (half a gallon) bottle suffice?
Here is the amazon link. and for the nutrient container, I just cleaned out a plastic cat litter jug and have been using it. I poked a hole in the top for the tube and another for air. super simple.
So I had to arrange for watering for a plant for about the same amount of time. I ended up getting a little WiFi enabled water pump and after some experimenting I figured out how long to run it to give the appropriate amount of water. I wanted decent saturation but not enough that could ended up overflowing. (I was watering daily). Keep in mind I only used it for one plant but it could definitely be used for more. Since you are a ways out, that would give you time to experiment with watering.
RAINPOINT WiFi Automatic Watering System, Indoor Intelligent APP Autom... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093LFH7NM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_fabc_8CSGA9N3JJHA8XXS1X44
Haven’t tried it myself, but want one…
Yes—they are wonderful! Works much better than the glass bulb waterers, according to Amazon reviews. I haven’t tried both, but I’m quite satisfied with the plant nannies I bought!
I bought these on Amazon - but mine aren't drinking glasses, they are used to water plants. Fill them up and stick them in your plants. I also have the mushroom and snail versions. I'll come back with the link.
Thanks! I’m terrible about over watering so I got those on amazon. We’ll see if they work!
Edit link: KiKiHome New Plant Waterer Self Watering Globes, Hand Blown Clear Glass Plant Water Bulbs for Indoor & Outdoor, 3 Cats https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07XP9RKG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zW7eFbFA49ESS
i'm sure it would work for bog plants... my only concern is that you can't change the amount of moisture that gets into the soil, the thing sits in the water, and you just refill as needed.
i've been using some of these for my nepenthes, https://www.amazon.com/Blumat-Watering-Houseplants-Austria-Vacation/dp/B07H9HZ4FB/
they work awesome. and, you can increase / decrease the amount of watering by raising / lowering the water supply's height relative to the plant.
I think Summer Rayne Oakes recommended some auto watering stakes in one of her videos. Maybe that would help some of them?
I use the watering spikes and they’ve been working perfectly so far for my plecos. Pretty cheap too.
[Modern Innovations Terracotta Plant Watering Stakes for Home and Vacation Plant Watering, Set of 4] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K0K2ZB6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_FJLhDbXJDQT15
unless you have an autoflower, I dont see it switching over and smelling that soon. Just make sure you have someone water it or get these https://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Globe-Mini-Decorative-Hand-blown/dp/B00IRH8DM0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471648509&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+watering+globes and you will be fine.
Take a read on the scrogging and look to see if you think its too late to do. I didnt put my scrog net on till after the second round of topping.
EDIT How did you germinate them?
Just re-read your post. If you put it in better place next time, you could use a self watering system like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8VYQ28/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My mother-in-law killed one of my indoor African violets during the winter so I feel your pain. I just ordered a set and crossing my fingers for the best.