How to Continuously Water Plants

Fill the 5-gallon bucket with clean, fresh water. Set the bucket on the floor or ground near the plants. It doesn't matter if the bucket is above or below the level of the plants. The laws of capillary action causes the water to travel up the length of the rope to its end, which delivers water directly to the plant's soil.

Measure the distance from the bottom of the bucket to the top of the pot of each plant. Add 18 inches to this measurement to ensure the ropes are long enough.

Cut nylon rope into lengths matching the measurements you calculated for each plant. Use one rope for pots up to 6 inches in diameter, two ropes for pots from 6 to 10 inches in diameter, and three ropes each for pots more than 10 inches in diameter.

Push the dowel into the soil of the potted plants about midway between the crown of the plant and the edge of the container, creating a hole about two-thirds the depth of the pot. For plants with more than one growing point, push the dowel into the soil near the center of the pot. For larger pots, space the holes evenly around the surface of the soil.

Insert one end of a measured and cut nylon rope into each hole made by the dowel. Firm the surface soil around the rope to keep it from working its way out. Both the rope and the soil swell once the capillary action gets going, which keeps the rope securely in the soil.

Place the other end of the rope into the bucket of water, coiling the excess rope in the bottom of the bucket.

Monitor the rate at which the plants draw up the water, so you know about when to refill the bucket of water or how long your plants will remain watered in your absence.