Self-Watering Probes - Vacation Plant Waterers - 5 Pack

by Generic

Product Features

• Includes 5 self-watering probes (and hoses).
• No electronics or complicated timers to set.
• May use liquid fertilizer in water if desired.
• Water reservoir not included.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0002VAHXC
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,760 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden)
  • #37 in Patio, Lawn & Garden > Plants & Planting > Plant Containers & Accessories

Product Description

Self Watering Probes are a simple and effective way of watering your plants while you are on vacation. Just soak them in water for a couple of minutes to prepare the tips, then insert the probes into the soil of your potted plants and place the hose ends in a water reservoir nearby. The water will be slowly emitted through the ceramic cones, automatically watering your plants without the need to set timers or worry about electronic devices being turned on while you are away. Made in Austria.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

113 of 113 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two month trial worked, we'll see about 6 months.........., May 3, 2008

By 

S. Robinson (MN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Self-Watering Probes - Vacation Plant Waterers - 5 Pack (Misc.)

We're snowbirds, splitting the year in half, and have always had to find someone to watch my wife's plants.
This year we decided to try these spikes. We put a couple plants on them for about 2 months, with good results, so decided to see if they'd make it until our return in November. We got some 18 gallon totes for water reservoirs (netting about 14 gallons). The test plants were in 10" pots with 2 spikes each and took about a gallon per month for both.
I'll try to remember to update this review on our return, but we are expecting the same satisfactory results.

Well, we had one of our friends check on things last week (mid Sept) and all of our plants are doing wonderfully. They added water to the totes. This is about 4-1/2 months after leaving them. It seems that if there is enough water, this could be an indefinite solution. We are very impressed and have recommended them to several of our friends that have similar needs.

Adding this to review - 04/01/2011: We had to boil out the tubes so that they would continue to work (per manufacturer's instruction). We have a fair amount of mineral in our water, so the deposits in the tube made them less effective. I think they made it 3 years before this happened, but in hindsight, I think we'll probably perform annual maintenance (boil and blow out) so that they don't get completely plugged. A couple people asked about the larger water reservoir and for that we just use the 18 gallon storage totes (Homz, Rubbermaid, etc.) that you get at the home center stores. I drilled little holes into the totes by the handles so that I could put the lids on to minimize evaporation. I have 5 totes with three tubes in each one. This could be adjusted for length of abscence and number of spikes, just do the math (for us, 15 spikes x 7 months x 1 gallon = 105 gallons). I'm a little shy on the total volume, but that has worked, so the actual demand might be a little less than a gallon a month.I am back getting some more of these, both for a couple additional plants and, due to the lack of maintenance a couple of the tubes are being difficult.

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Like it, don't love it, March 26, 2009

By 

tortle (usa) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Self-Watering Probes - Vacation Plant Waterers - 5 Pack (Misc.)

When they work, they're great. When they don't work, well...

First you can't use them in a clear container. Two you can't use them when your watering container is higher or on the same level as the plant. Three the cord is short and is very obvious.

IF you put the plant on a side table and the container on the floor, the cord can't reach the floor and there for can't reach the bottom of the container.

If you put the plant on the table and the water container on the table, the water will be too high and will over water your plant.

If you use a clear container it will grow algae and look gross, really, really quickly.

So dark container below the plant but not too far below the plant. Probe must be thoroughly soaked and full of water before inserting into plant. Check every couple of days to make sure that probe took (easy enough, check if probe is still full of water). Repeat process if probe didn't take.

Check regularly to see if probe is still working. If you accidentally let the water go below the end of the cord, you must redo initial process even if probe is currently full.

I'm not saying they are horrible, but if you plan to use them they do require maintenance.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These Probes Did the Job, May 12, 2007

By 

J. Shepherd (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Self-Watering Probes - Vacation Plant Waterers - 5 Pack (Misc.)

I purchased these probes to keep plants alive while I was away from home on a 2 1/2-week trip.

They worked perfectly on plants in 6" pots. However, a plant in a 4" pot was over-watered and died.

I am extremely pleased with the probes, and I am relieved that when I go on trips in the future I do not need to impose on a friend or family member to water my plants while I'm away.