I'm horrible at keeping my plants happy and healthy, and even my outdoor plants often suffer from my forgetfulness. There's just too much to think about, and unless it's raining, I all too often forget about my dear green friends. Naturally, I'm filing
this green idea under "Why didn't I think of that?".
Plant a tiny garden under the condensation pipe of your air conditioner. Regardless of your A/C model, water will drip from the pipe daily, keeping your garden healthy, wealthy and wise. Although the water that drips isn't a lot by any means, it's consistent, giving your plants plenty of water to grow.
Of course, be sure to choose plants that will only grow a few feet tall so the pipe won't be blocked by their leafy greens! Try dwarf azalea, holly fern and vinca, as they only grow up to three feet tall and enjoy shaded areas.
Now you'll have an excuse to crank up the A/C on those hot summer days!
Source
Quick Study: How To De-Clutter Your Wallet
Editor Brie Dyas's Swiss Army Knife
Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
Holly ferns -- actually, most ferns -- and vinca would do well in this environment. Azaleas and other like shrubs actually like to dry out between waterings, so this may not be a good plant for direct a/c drip. If you collect the condensate, however, and then use that moisture to periodically water the shrubs, you are doing them a great favor. Another excellent water source is to collect your shower "splash" water and use that for irrigation.
Reply