[chickpeacurry]

Going to be on holiday for one week.  I have about 10 chilli plants at various sizes.  I don't seem to be watering them very often at present and I have read they don't need a lot of water.  Do you think they could be left for a week if they were not in direct sun, they are in the house.  I have a  large tray with a mat which you can fill with water.   If I left them standing inn the tray of water could they drink too much or will they just drink what they need.   

[Dai]

Ive only been growing chillis since late last year and i forgot to water mine for a week on occasion so i would have thought they would be fine.
not sure if it can be bad to leave them in water though, I guess you could get root rot?
Maby you could give them a good watering before you go and then cover the soil with something that would keep the moisture in like vermiculite or something similar?

[sunshineband]

The should be fine for a week if you give them a good soak before you go

Alternatively, you can stand them on the capillary matting on the draining board and drape the end if it into water in the sink

Make sure they have enough light though or you will find them with a 'lean' when you come back 

[JayG]

My chillies are now in one of those troughs with a water reservoir at the bottom which you can fill through a tube just above the compost level, but I previously grew them in a plain trough and they were always fine after a week if given a good watering beforehand (I sometimes forget to water them anyway and the compost gets bone dry but they don't seem to mind.)

[Kirpi]

I have done this before by completely soaking a bath-towel in water and standing the pots on it like a capillary mat. Put the towel on a plant tray or square wash bowl to prevent it leaking water everywhere.

Drives the OH mad, but the plants like it!

[devonbarmygardener]

The should be fine for a week if you give them a good soak before you go

Alternatively, you can stand them on the capillary matting on the draining board and drape the end if it into water in the sink

Make sure they have enough light though or you will find them with a 'lean' when you come back 

I had a problem with a kitchen full of tiny flies after using capilliary matting as a couple of pots of seedling 'damped off'.
Just a warning - it probably works fine for others!

[Totty]

They seem to thrive in neglect. Give em a really good soak before you go and they will be A Ok.

Totty

[bravemurphy]

The should be fine for a week if you give them a good soak before you go

Alternatively, you can stand them on the capillary matting on the draining board and drape the end if it into water in the sink

Make sure they have enough light though or you will find them with a 'lean' when you come back 

I had a problem with a kitchen full of tiny flies after using capilliary matting as a couple of pots of seedling 'damped off'.
Just a warning - it probably works fine for others!

Planted my stuff that had been sat on matting and was horrified to find that it had all gone mouldy so it is now in the bin.

[bigben]

Last year I left my chillie plants for a week without watering more than once and they were ok. I guess if we have a really hot week the might suffer but with some of the weather we have had recently you could leave toms a week and they might survive

[3759allen]

put the pots into shallow trays and leave then soaking. i've had a problem with mine drying out and this seems to be working ok. just fill the tray as much as you can before you go, it'll take at least 3-4 days for them to use that water. i'd rather leave them wet for a week than too dry.