To give your plants a slow but steady source of water, you can make your own drip watering systems. These can sustain your garden if you are going away for a few days or for plants that need watering more often that your restrictions or time will allow.

Simply collect some plastic drink bottles (bottles from milk, soft drink, sauces, cordials, etc) and make a few small holes in the bottom (these form air holes later).

 Dig a small hole next to or between your plants.

Fill the container with water and tip it upside down into the hole.

This way, water will also reach the root area and encourage deeper growth.

For longer trips away, do the same thing but cut off the bottom of the container altogether. Keep a lid on the container but put nail holes in it to slow down the water flow from the bottle. Each time it rains or the garden is watered, the containers are refilled.

The same concept can be achieved with tin cans, old buckets, pieces of pipe and so on - use whatever is handy. You may even be able to find somethign that looks quirky and attractive in your garden as well as practical!