Author Topic: evaporation/mosquito mitigation  (Read 17288 times)

tankertoad

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evaporation/mosquito mitigation
« on: May 04, 2021, 02:56:41 pm »
This may not be worth it for many, but it gets pretty hot and dry here in central Texas.  If you have any old, or even new if you don't need the caps, spray cans of paint around, take a look inside the cap.  The cap's inner cylinder outside diameter is just a bit smaller than the inside diameter of the watering tube, so the inner cylinder in the cap will fit very nicely into the watering tube.  The cap won't blow off unless the wind is pretty strong because the inner part of the cap fits into the watering tube.  It's bound to help some with water loss due to evaporation, and might help a bit with mosquito issues, although there is still a way for mosquitoes to get in through the overflow vent.  Easy to remove and replace during watering.  Just tinkering.  Might help some folks.

Mary-Alice

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Re: evaporation/mosquito mitigation
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2021, 11:59:38 am »
I am thinking I might just slip a produce bag over the top of the tube, the one I bought my red onions in. It has very small holes and I think will last the season, I can still water through it. I will simply tie in onto the tube. If mosquitoes get to be a problem at all, maybe there is a way to use those mosquito dunks....not sure, I will have to look into it. Have you read anything about using those? I am sure hydroponics growers have had to deal with this before, hopefully there will be some good information....I will keep an eye on your post/thread in hopes to learn more....

rotor

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Re: evaporation/mosquito mitigation
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2022, 09:12:56 am »
just take some old window screen and glue it on the drain hole and over the fill tube, should come with the box 2 cent fix.

Everyone is focused on  the fill tube but I bet they come in from the drain

CathyM

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Re: evaporation/mosquito mitigation
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2022, 06:10:41 pm »
I use the toe of an old sock over the tube, held on by an elastic/rubber pony tail holder.  Panty hose would work fine, too, maybe a bit cut longer so the water hose would fit down in there without having to remove the panty hose every time.  I started to use one of those mesh onion bags myself, but mine seemed like the mesh wasn't dense enough to keep mosquitoes out.  I do have some Bt bits/mosquito dunks, and I have read some people use them, but I wasn't sure if it would really be good for the plants and not sure I want it in my food.  I guess it would be okay, though; it's just a bacteria.  Still, I don't want snails, frogs or snakes in there if I can prevent it.   

Before I put the box together, I cut a piece of mesh screen and glued it over the drain hole on the inside with silicone.  With any pressure (pushing up from the outside), it will come off, as the silicone doesn't really stick very well well to the box, but it does keep it in position, at least for now.  And someday if it gets clogged up with potting mix, I'll have to redo that anyway.  But I figure it will hold off the mosquitoes and other creepies for a while, hopefully.