Has anyone ever bought any of the water reservoirs for wick watering from Reed's? I was just wondering if they were flimsy plastic or if they would hold up pretty well. I was also wondering if they are a good price. I have been using other things to wick my minis in but I have not found anything to wick my larger violets in. I just thought I might buy a few and give them a try but I wanted to see what you guys think about them. Here is the URL to look at them. http://www.reedsgreenhouse.com/store/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=Water+Reservoirs&osCsid=ce52b3e9059dbf457f4729513e62f359&x=9&y=7
Jesse
Water reservoirs
I have looked at them but never bought any. Does Bluebirds sell them also ?
I would email him if no one else has tried them and ask him. If you do please let us know.
Jesse, to me those look just like the sturdy deli containers I picked up at Chef's Smart, a restaurant supply type place in Winston-Salem (don't remember the road, but they're next to that really good wine store, Total Wines).
I think any sturdy plastic container would work... some folks swear by margerine tubs because they're fairly heavy and because they're more opaque, so less algae grows in the water. Algae is not a big deal, IMO, but you do have to watch that it doesn't clog up the wick. You could maybe use that spray paint made for plastics to color up the clear ones & make them more attractive also.
I got a few of the 2-piece Oyama planters, and the AVs in them are very happy, but I have to say that the bright white doesn't fit with the decor in any room of the house (even the ones with white walls).
I think I'm going to order a few, just to check them out, maybe a dozen. I just can't decide whether or not to order the 8 oz or the 16 oz. I'm going to order them without holes and drill my own holes. I was thinking it would be cool to have two holes, one for the wick to go down through and the other to stick my little watering can spout in to refill them. That would make my life much easier I think. I just can't decide what size to order. What do you think?
Jesse
I'll bet the 8 oz ones are very similar to the little containers DH gets pimento cheese in when he's in NC....
Seriously, I don't think I'd order deli containers from the nursery...
Two holes sounds like a good idea, especially if they are both under the pot to limit evaporation. You could lift the pot up a little to refill without pulling the wick out of the other hole.... and that'd be easier than taking the lid off!
I'm not going to take the lid off. I would just put the end of my watering can into the other hole and fill it that way. It seems like that would be much easier than taking the tops off. I'm trying to make things easier on me right now because I have so much to deal with, especially DH's seizures.
Jesse
Two holes definitely...one for wick and one to refill. Anything to make life easier and less stressful can help so much. Sounds like you have your hands full, Jesse.
Yes I do so I need things as easy as possible. So I just ordered a dozen of the 16 oz ones without holes. I will drill my own holes. That way I can make sure they are exactly where i want them. I think having two holes is an awesome idea so that you don't have to stop and take the lids off every time. I will let you guys know how it all works out when I get them set up.
Jesse
Sounds good... let us know how it works out! :-)
I use those same type deli containers you are getting which I got at a local restaurant supply store in town called Frederick Produce. They sell them by the sleeve of 50...maybe it's 25, can't remember now. The lids are sold separately the same way. I made my own holes. Also, I got some (16 oz.) squares at the dollar store I like as well shown in the photo. I think it was 4 containers with lids for a dollar.
The ones that I just ordered were the 16 oz containers including the lids. I am going to drill my own holes exactly where I want them in order to make watering easier. They were only $.25 each. I pay $1 for each of the neat little things that I put my mini AVs in so I was thinking that this is a good buy. I can't wait to get them.
Jesse
Yes, Jesse, the price is good. I hope you get them soon!
Snow! Where is Frederick Produce??? That sounds like a place I need to know about, seeing as how I just brought a bunch of deli containers all the way from NC this fall, LOL.
Hah! I googled it and found an address... :-)
Good you found it, Critter! It's located right off East St. They have the 8oz. and 16oz. Perhaps larger sizes as well, but I wasn't interested in those at the time, although they would be good for freezing soups, etc.
I picked up a sleeve of 32 oz containers last year, and they were great for wintersowing and potting up perennials! The place I went to in Winston-Salem also had those little 1 oz cups that I've used for mini plantlets and tiny trailers and a 5 oz size that works really well for standard plantlets before they're ready for a 4 inch pot (6 oz cups seem to be just a little too deep).
If the ones Jesse is getting are as sturdy as the ones I got from the restaurant supply place, I think they'll work really well!
Yes, that would work well, Critter. I'm sure FP has them plus the other sizes. Fun to browse around. All they have is boxes to carry your stuff home in. If that doesn't suit you, you could bring your own handle bags.