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Going away for a week and don’t want to leave your plants without water? We’ve found the most affordable ways to keep your plants fed and nourished while you’re gone

Keeping plants watered regularly, with busy schedules, can be difficult, and it’s even harder now that the hosepipe ban has been activated in places across the UK. But most importantly, ensuring your plants don’t wither or die while you’re absent for a prolonged period of time is a big concern, especially if you don’t have someone who can pop round and do it for you.

That’s where at-home irrigation hacks can come in clutch, so you can jet off in peace knowing your cherished house plants and greenhouse growers will be just as you left them by the time you get home. But if you’re worried this could come with a hefty price tag, don’t worry, as we’ve outlined below plenty of affordable ways to keep plants watered while you’re gone, including DIY hacks that won’t cost a penny.

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When it comes to maintaining outside plants, this summer could prove to be more difficult as millions of people are set to face hosepipe and sprinkler restrictions amid sweltering weather across the UK. Specific water firm customers will not be allowed to use hoses for anything from gardening to filling up paddling pools, as temperatures peaked at 34.7 °C in England last week.

Although South East Water will enforce its hosepipe ban on July 18, Yorkshire Water imposed its rules from yesterday (July 11). Both firms warned that reservoirs had struggled amidst the driest spring in over a century, while demand for water has only surged.

To find out more about whether the hosepipe ban will affect you, click here.

1. Watering Globes

Using something like this 10-Piece Plant Watering Globes can be ideal for setting up an at-home irrigation system for your plants, ensuring they’re kept thoroughly watered for days on end. Ideal for busy lifestyles too, these affordable globes can simply be spiked into the soil of your plants and left until the water runs out, which typically lasts four to five days. This particular set on Amazon retails for £17.99, but you can find a similar multipack at Robert Dyas for £12.99.

2. Irrigation Gadgets

Automatic Watering Systems can be a great asset to have for keeping your plants nourished on a schedule that works best for you and the plants. Though some smart irrigation systems can become relatively pricey, there are models available that work effectively for small clusters of plants, whether in your home or in a greenhouse, while going easy on the wallet.

This model on Amazon is currently available for £24.39 and boasts a cordless design that can last up to 50 days on a full charge. With this automatic irrigation system, you can flexibly adjust the irrigation time (1-30 minutes), the irrigation frequency (3H/6H/12H/1-7 days), and the maximum flow rate of 400 ml per minute. You can easily and conveniently adjust the irrigation mode according to your plants’ needs, ensuring they’re kept watered whenever you’re out of the house.

Shoppers who bought this system have bestowed it with plenty of 5-star reviews. One satisfied shopper says: “Very easy to use and works perfectly well. I keep it plugged in to make sure battery doesn’t run out. It’s a simple and reliable tool. My indoor garden is already sprouting.”

While another shares their thoughts, writing: “Easy to use, allowed me to leave for 10 days without my indoor plants being abandoned.”

Other water dripping systems are available at lower price points, including this Garden Gear Mighty Dripper at Thompson & Morgan. This dripper is perfect for when you’re heading off on holiday, as you simply fill it with water and away you go. With six adjustable dripper settings, this contraption can last for days and hold up to 10.5 litres of water, ensuring your plants are nourished when you’re not there. This dripper retails for £14.99.

3. DIY hacks

Our Beauty & Wellness Editor, Laura Mulley, recently went on vacation. She shared one genius DIY hack she used to ensure her plants were looked after while she was gone—and this trick won’t cost you anything.

Simply find a plastic bottle, ideally a larger one, but this can vary depending on your plant’s water needs or how long you’ll be away, and cut it in half using scissors. Poke holes in the cap of the bottle and then place it back on the bottle, then put the bottle, cap-down, into the soil (about an inch deep) and bob’s your uncle.

Oasis fans are still holding out hope for a new album from the Gallagher brothers and believe a key detail could shine a light on new material coming after their tour

Fans of the rock outfit Oasis are convinced a new album is will happen despite the Gallagher brothers saying no material is on the way. Noel and Liam Gallagher reunited earlier this month for a sold-out show in Cardiff, Wales, with homecoming shows at Heaton Park in Manchester now taking place before the pair head out on the rest of their UK tour.

Listeners are holding out hope for new material from the brothers and believe there is a key detail to back their claim. A post to the r/Oasis Reddit page had fans discussing what could be a hint from Noel Gallagher regarding new material from the Gallagher brothers. Whether it comes to light is yet to be seen, but fans are holding out hope regardless.

A fan of the band posted: “People say there’s not a chance of Oasis releasing a new album, but… They definitely will.” Hopeful fans and friends of Liam Gallagher believe new material is on the way, but some are unconvinced.

The fan continued: “We all know that Noel said he’d written a whole album of stadium-sized rock n roll guitar songs, and this was while he was secretly planning a huge tour of stadium rock n roll gigs, so what’s he going to do with that material?

“He won’t go back and do a stadium rock album with High Flying Birds- why would he?! And he’s not exactly known for just throwing material away.

“After the success of these gigs and the obvious joy he’s getting from working with Liam again, I feel we’re 100% getting a new album at some point. It would just be ridiculous for him to bin the songs.”

Not every fan was as optimistic as this user, though some are suggesting a new album – which would be the band’s first since 2008’s Dig Out Your Soul – could happen.

A listener replied: “I’d say it’s 50/50. I think the tour setlist is indicative of where his head is at in terms of Oasis. He’s really not giving much oxygen to later Oasis tracks, which suggests he sees the real value in the classic early stuff.

“He knows he can’t beat that early stuff – so wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he just doesn’t try to.

“He can scratch his songwriting itch in Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and not try to compete against the Oasis brand quite as much.

“But to play devil’s advocate here, if he has songs that would better suit Liam’s voice, he might just go for it.

“I don’t think we can say anything with a huge degree of confidence. If I were to bet, though, I’d err toward saying that there won’t be any new songs, and that this is purely a nostalgic endeavour to earn some cash.”

Others believe there is still no chance of a new album from Oasis. One fan wrote: “I’d love it to happen but I really don’t think it’s likely. The stakes are too high, and honestly the way these gigs are currently going, there couldn’t be a more perfect end to the story.

Nicki Minaj isn’t afraid to voice her opinion, no matter how fiery it may be. She recently went head to head with singer SZA, but this isn’t the first time she’s been embroiled in an online feud.

Nicki Minaj has always been known for her rapping skills and Barbie aesthetic, but over the years she’s also become known for her heated feuds. From Megan Thee Stallion, Taylor Swift and Mariah Carey, Nicki is far from picky about who she argues with.

Just last night, SZA found herself on the other end of Nicki’s vicious digs as the pair embroiled in a heated argument which started after SZA posted online: “Mercury retrograde.. Don’t take the bait lol silly goose.”

Just minutes later the Superbass singer clapped back, with a response – and she didn’t hold back. “Go draw your freckles back on bookie #JusticeForDemoree #DepositionPerez Liar liar pants on fire. Sounding like a f****ng dead dog.”

And it didn’t stop there, with Nicki going on for hours and hours. While some fans were shocked, asking how it got so heated, those who know Nicki Minaj weren’t surprised. Let’s take a look back at the enemies Nicki has made along the way…

Megan Thee Stallion

The two singer‑rappers actually started out as friends, after Nicki joined Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer anthem in 2019. But it all went downhill when Megan released a song early last year called Hiss, where she let out all her feelings towards certain people.

In the lyrics, Meg said: “These h**s don’t be mad at Megan, these h**s mad at Megan’s Law,” which Nicki took as a direct diss to her and her husband, Kenneth Petty. Nicki was relentless in her response, going on for days and even releasing a song called Big Foot in response.

This feud in particular left some of Nicki’s fanbase – nicknamed ‘Barbz’ leaving the stan culture, after Nicki went as far as speaking about Meg’s late mother and the Tory Lanez 2020 shooting. While many people say that when in a rap beef nothing is off limits, some think certain things don’t need to be said.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift and Nicki had a brief disagreement on X which was fuelled after MTV announced that year’s VMA nominations – and Nicki’s hit Anaconda was left out, while Taylor’s Bad Blood with Kendrick Lamar was nominated.

Nicki took to X to rant, without directly tagging Taylor, she stated: “I’ve done nothing but love and support you. It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot.”

Nicki denied the tweets were about her and said she loved her – but the Taylor and Nicki spat ended up leading to Nicki and Miley Cyrus going at each other.

Miley Cyrus

While the feud started with Taylor Swift, it turned into more of a blow‑up with Miley Cyrus in the end. Disney star Miley admitted she felt personally attacked by Nicki’s comments online, but instead of taking to X, Nicki waited for her moment on the VMA stage.

After winning Best Hip‑Hop Video, she said: “Back to this bi*ch that had a lot to say about me the other day in the press; Miley, what’s good?” – which quickly became an iconic moment for Nick.

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Miley made it clear she didn’t want any problems, responding: “Nicki, congratu‑f**king‑lations.” Meanwhile, things stayed quiet for years, until 2019 when Miley reignited the argument with a lyric: “I love you, Nicki, but I listen to Cardi,” on her song Cattitude. Of course, Nicki went full blast on her again during an episode of Queen Radio, after Miley sided with Cardi B – another star who Nicki had feuded with.

Mariah Carey

The pair first worked together as far back as 2009 when Nicki featured on one of Mariah’s songs, but things turned sour when they both joined American Idol as judges. An insider claimed Mariah didn’t see Nicki as “worthy of judging.“

According to the source, Mariah had been saying little things to “jab at Nicki from day one” and added She doesn’t think Nicki can sing and doesn’t think she should be judging folks. Nicki has been taking all of the jabs, but on this particular day, she lost it,” reports People.

Shortly after, a leaked TMZ video showed them arguing at the judges’ panel, with Nicki shouting: “I told them I’m not f*ckin’ putting up with her f**kin’ highness over there,” while Mariah fired back: “Oh why, why do I have a three‑year‑old sitting around me?”

Mariah added: “I can’t see my kids because you decided to act like a little crazy b*tch and go all around the stage.” The feud escalated further when rumours surfaced that Nicki threatened Mariah with a gun – which Nicki denied, tweeting: “Hey y’all. Let’s just say Nicki said something about a gun. People will believe it ‘cause she’s a Black rapper. Lmao. I’ll then hit up Barbara [Walters] n milk it.”

Cardi B

This may be Nicki’s longest‑standing feud. Fans noticed tension when the two shot their music video parts on different days. Cardi later implied Nicki switched her verses, and Nicki responded on X saying: “The corniest thing you can be is ungrateful. Give thanks.”

It seemed like things had cooled until September 2018 when they got into a physical altercation at an event. Videos showed Cardi attempting to throw a shoe at Nicki, yelling: “Play with me b*tch… keep f*cking playing with me. Play with my f*cking kid b*tch… I’ll f*ck your ass up.” Cardi was later seen with a bump on her forehead.

If this feud couldn’t be more memorable, it became even more iconic when Nicki admitted she was “humiliated” by the incident – which might have been a first for her. To this day, their feud remains unresolved, with the two still trading digs on X.