Did you put plenty of drainage holes in the bucket? I have killed more plants with too much water than I ever killed from too little water.
I watered my garden today with rainwater we catch from the roof in a swimming pool. Hubby put a connection in the pool close to the ground, and a splitter on it so that I all I have to do is turn the gizmo and gravity does the rest.
It sure beats hauling water which is what I used to do.
Got plenty of holes. I think I’m just not hauling enough water out there. I soaked them good today using up the last of the captured run-off in the barrel. So it’s back to the 1-gallon jugs in hand until I can get some water plumbed, or until it rains again. I placed those buckets with the idea of chasing the sunlight, not thinking about water.