Standard drip irrigation systems include filters, pressure regulators, and emitters that produce a consistent water flow. You could look for a tubing-to-hose converter at a plumbing supply store and feed that into a drip system. Note that many aquarium-type pumps don't like to run dry, so you'd need to make sure the reservoir stayed filled. Also, you wouldn't want it entirely sealed, since some air needs to be able to enter as water is removed.

If reservoir and pump can be sheltered from the elements, try Ecologic for 5-gallon reservoirs and good-quality pumps, tubing, and fittings.

Another thing to consider is that if your kitchen or bathroom sink has a threaded outlet (into which the filter screws), you can probably buy a faucet-to-hose converter (preferably quick-release) at a hardware store and run a hose out to your balcony. Not a pretty full-time solution, perhaps, but workable for vacations. Just be sure to put the timer upstream of the hose so that it isn't under constant pressure.

I've been thinking of getting one of those faucet to hose converters...would love to be able to water my plants with a sprayer or sprinkler instead of having to lug water out with a watering can.

They work well. If you have a shallow sink, you might want to get a 90° faucet angle adapter. Dripworks sells them (go to catalog page 35).

Marie - get yourself a hose! There is one called "RealEasy" that is 50ft, connects to an adapter on my kitchen sink, and is the perfect length to unwind completely do my whole 40ft balcony (plus the distance from the sink through the dining room to the balcony). The tubing is narrower than a standard hose which makes it easy to roll back into its holder, but the diameter is big enough and sturdy enough to get some good water pressure going (as opposed to some of the cheaper models). The fitting takes a common standard sized hose attachment (I believe 1/2"? I think regular hoses come in either 1/2" or 5/8" or something like that?).

{{gwi:1626}}

Unless I had my containers down on a patio or porch or somewhere near the ground, I'd be afraid to drip irrigate unless I was certain I had something underneath to catch any boo boo overflows.