Self-watering containers are always better, especially when used with a good water-wicking mix (not the Moisture Control mixes). As for watering, the key is not when or how often or any sort of schedule. Those don't work. It needs to be available when the plant needs it - that's why self-watering container works. A drip irrigation system is even better as it delivers small amounts on a regular hourly basis and can be adjusted as the weather requires. No way a person can match that type of regular delivery and moisture control. As is often discussed here, the bigger the container the better and the easier it is to stabilize the moisture levels. Yours is a small container for anything other than one of the dwarf or 'patio' type plants - you don't give the variety - so next time go bigger. Whenever I check the soil with my finger, it is moist up to the first or second knuckle. l In that case it doesn't need water nearly as often as you have been watering. Too little water is always better than too much. Stick your finger full down in the soil, better yet use a wooden dowel 8-10" deep. Dave

The old system was an Amana with a 3.0 ton outside unit and a 3.5 ton inside unit, which the estimator pointed out was a bad idea (not ours -- it was here when we moved in). For whatever its faults were, it actually worked well and we had really low electric bills, even though it had only ~8 SEER. I didn't see any specs on a heat strip, but will ask about that as well as about changing to one of the thermostats you mentioned. Thanks for the quick help!

harden them off to sunlight before you plant them ... get them out to full bright shade for a few days ... before you blast them into sunshine ... you are on the verge of loving them to death.. they are not.. and never were houseplants ... ken

Does it set fruit at high temps? We can have 110 days too, and the tomatoes thrive, but they just don't produce.