I've used the cones that screw onto soda bottles and it helped on a daily basis with a particularly thirsty plant. I haven't gone the route of a capped bottle with the drain holes though, which would stop a lot of evaporation problems. For an upcoming trip I'm thinking of grouping the containers as best I can and having the pet sitter turn on the sprinkler when arriving, and off when leaving. Not optimal, but better than several hundred dead plants.

The soda bottles the way you want to use them are mini greenhouses and would be too hot to leave on all summer. Once the leaves touch the sides they will burn. They are great for warming the soil, protecting plants from frost in the spring and for starting frost hardy plants earlier. I don't know what made you think you could plant closer if you used them. A plants roots need the same amount of space whether or not they are covered with anything. If you want to have more room in the garden then think of having some vining plants and have them grow upwards on trellises or chicken wire secured on sturdy posts. You can make a teepee with bamboo poles stuck in the ground and tied at the top. On these you can grow cucumbers, peas, pole beans, and vining tomatoes--make sure they are vining not bush varieties. I'm sure there's more but I can't think of them right now. Maybe someone else can add to my list

I've never tried goo gone but twice now I've put what I thot was red colored glass in the dishwasher but it wasn't colored glass but some sort of colored coating over white/green glass. This coating turns cloudy in the DW and I've had to scrape it off. On this last one DH used paint remover which worked fairly well except for the crevasses. I really need to look closely at cheap YS colored glass before I buy it.

Went up to grocery store to buy a few items and to get steamed spiced shrimp for tonight's dinner. Next to the seafood counter was a lady giving samples of some fried shrimp product..she asked if I wanted to taste them..I took one and my eyes went to the trash bag beside her card table set and there was an empty 2 litter soda bottle in it. I asked her if that was trash and if I could have the empty bottle..she looked at me and of course said Yes so I felt I had to explain to her why. She said she'd never heard of such but she'd have to tell her Mom. So folks, keep your eyes open; you never know when you'll come across a free WS container.