I have realized recently that I will be doing lots of traveling in the next few months. I was wondering if anyone could recommend me an automatic water timer. Are there any other solutions I should consider(I keep my trees outside)?
Thanks for the help
~Josh

JoshSiegel wrote: I have realized recently that I will be doing lots of traveling in the next few months. I was wondering if anyone could recommend me an automatic water timer. Are there any other solutions I should consider(I keep my trees outside)?

Is that in your avatar what you think is a bonsai? I'd put that in the ground and let nature take its course.

Thanks Auk. I'll put it in the ground immediately. Do you recommend any specific soil besides the regular one in my backyard?

na, just plant it, and leave it. in 5-10 years consider putting it back into a pot.

The simplest way to keep the soil wet would be as per my drawing in attached.
You should make sure the water level is so low, just to cover the bottom level of the soil in the pot. You adjust the water level by raising the bottle. When the water evaporates the bottle will release more. The good part of this is that you can use more bottles if one is not enough.
If you use very well draining soils should be OK for any tree.

That's a really good method. I'd never feel safe leaving my plants in stagnant water for too long, though.

BonsaiLearner wrote: That's a really good method. I'd never feel safe leaving my plants in stagnant water for too long, though.

True, but that's why I pointed out that the water should cover only the bottom of the pot. And it moisturises the air immediately around the tree reducing the drying of leaves. For a week there should be no problems.
I don't trust the automatic watering systems and I especially don't trust neighbours.

It is a very BAD method. The roots will be perpetually wett. Due to capilary actions the substrate component in the pot will always be saturated with water. Roots should be allowed to dry out a bit frmo time to time.
Furthermore, the water will draw upwards through the substrate, cause salt buildup on the soil surface. This is a sure-fire way to give your plants trouble.

And, as it is a juniper, so it is outside, it will not really moisturize the air around the tree.

I used this method on a juniper. I even kept the 4cm tray full of water the entire summer as it was drying very fast. Had no problem att all. But I use high pots, 70 percent anorganic soil with botom drainage layer of lava rocks. I guess this prevented to much water being sucked up.