how to keep seedlings moist while on vacation?

My seedlings are up and growing well. I mist/water them daily and have a timer set up for the lights. However, we are going out of town for a week next month and though I will have a neighbor look after them, I am very nervous (I did the same thing last year and she didn't water them daily, so I lost a lot of them). I've seen expensive watering systems online, but I really don't have the money to invest in a lot of those. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to keep the trays moist? I know that I could put the plastic covers back on to help, but I'm concerned about fungus. Thank you!

Cancel your vacation,we are talking about a greater good here.I think your priorities are whacked.Tell your neighbor,"If you kill my seedlings again,you will surely burn in --ll.LOL.What if you put a gallon water jug with a pin hole over the seedlings,somehow.

I keep my seedlings outdoors, so I don't know if this will work indoors, but here's what I do. I have a bunch of those big aluminum steam trays from the dollar store. I fill them with about 1-2 inches of water and plunk my containers (6 pack pony packs) in the trays. They can easily go a week to 9 days without me this way. I have never lost anything using this method, but like I say, I keep them on racks outside so damping off, etc. is not a problem for me.

To keep them safer from any "too soggy" issues, you could invest in a capillary mat and tray system. The mat sits on top of the tray of water and wicks the water up through the bottom of the pot to the roots. So it's the same idea as above, but your pots aren't actually sitting in water.

Here's a link

http://indoorgardensupplies.com/vattex-capillary-mattingvt-p-735.html?osCsid=4bfbf2e166c13caa295337b7d0820154

I once set up a self wicking system by poking a strip of pantyhose into the drainage holes of each container and then setting them on overturned 4 inch pots in the steam trays so that the pantyhose strip dangled down in the water. That worked very well as a poor man's version of the capillary mat system, however it was a lot of work, and I have found that my plants don't suffer with the simple, easy version, if it is only for about a week.

Hope that helps,
Susan

This message was edited Mar 16, 2009 6:34 PM

Span6, I'm facing the same problem next month for spring break. This will be my first vacation while having small seedlings.

I already know I would loose everything

I too have have set them in trays of water for a week.

Try using Watersorb or other hydrating crystals in the bottom of the tray.

Completely hydrate the crystals and put a thick layer in the bottom of your tray. While you're gone, the seedlings will absrob water from the crystals but won't actually be sitting in water.

There's a Watersorb Co-op with very speedy delivery going on right now.

May the luck of the Irish be with you and your seedlings!

Liane

For what it's worth, Lee Valley has some wonderful gardening stuff, and I'm sure I saw a self watering system in their catalogue. It uses a capillary mat and a tank that holds a lot of water, with the mat dipped into the tank and then spread under flats. Not sure if it would work with any flat, or just the one they used themselves, but it might give you some idea on making up something on your own, just looking at it. They do have nice picture of their stuff online and they are a super company to deal with.

I have them ... and they are great... wish I would have bought more of them