auto watering system

buckwheat1085

buckwheat1085

Well-Known Member
I have a grow spot 3 hours from my spot and i dont want to go out there a lot
so the options I have thought of are:
-there is a thing you can order from the UK that screws on to 2 liter bottles and it makes it an aqua globe
-there is a stream there so maybe somthing with that and hoses

do you guys know any ways to automatically water plants?
 
beginningbotanist420

beginningbotanist420

Well-Known Member
This works for me, but i don't the size of your setup...


Get...
  • 1-3 drip irrigation drippers per plant. Don't get the expensive "pressure adjusting" or whatever, just get the cheap throw-aways.
  • A 5 gallon bucket, a big funnel, a 5 gallon gas canwith the bottom cut off, or something to collect water.
  • Tubing [I used 1/2" for ~5 plants, and it was plenty]. the more plants, the wider the tubing. Get enough to go from the stream to your site, and then about 25% extra, just in case.
  • T-connectors, tubing to fit your drippers, and other random parts/pieces.
  1. First, drill a [1/2"] hole in the in the bottom of the 5-gallon bucket. [not directly in the middle, but closer to one of the edges]. If you use the funnel or the gas can, skip step 1 and make sure your tubing fits on the spout.
  2. Run the tubing through the hole and caulk the seal. [Use aquarium caulk!!!]
  3. Bury the bucket about halfway in the stream, so it won't float away. This will also help water into the tubing.
  4. Run the tubing to your to your site, keeping it on a gradual downhill slope! It will not work if it doesn't flow downhill!! Don't be afraid to go around hill if you have to, this is why you got the extra. If it levels out a little, its ok as long as it returns downhill soon.
  5. Set up your drippers as needed.
Browndirtwarrior inspired me to do this, and it worked VERY well for me.

:peace:
 
Green Funk

Green Funk

Active Member
So, does anyone have any good experience using any form of watering spikes?

I had thought about doing something similar, where you cut the finger off a latex glove, use electrical and duck tape to seal it onto the tip of the watering line, and poke a few holes in the latex tip with a needle. It works really well in the fact that the tip inflates until the needle holes are expanded enough to outflow whatever pressure is being exerted on it.

I figure such a constant slow release of water wouldn't even require a timer or pump or anything, just a res slightly elevated above the plot. Maybe get a manual on off valve, if the tips are using water too fast? Cheap and easy...
 
H

handy66

Active Member
ha i saw the aqua globe & thought the exact same thing. I started looking into this myself. Canadian Tire sells water bottles that have about a 3" pull out spout on them that should work based on the same principles. Air can only enter the bottle when the spout is pulled open like the aqua globe. So pull open the spout, stick it in the soil, & as the soil drys water should be able to escape & leak into the soil. Capillary action i believe is the proper term why this works. You could probably use as many bottles as you need to per plant then camo them with natural vegetation. Another method if you need more water would be to bury or hide a reservoir uphill or above your plants, hook up a simple drip system then let gavity do the reset. That should keep them watered for a reasonable amout of time. Just make sure when you fill the reservoir to keep the ph as low as possible as it will gradually rise over time.
 
Green Funk

Green Funk

Active Member
thanks for the advice handy! I was going to try the res method this year. The location is so remote that I would never be able to lug all the water I need. There are some streams and whatnot nearby, and I considered trying to rig up a car battery to a pump and timer, but I wanted to try to keep it as simple as possible (and cheap).

So one of my plots will be a drip irrigation system, but with an electric on/off valve that comes on about every 2-3 days.

One plot will be with my home built (latex glove) drip system, using a large gravity-fed res, and a manual on/off valve to ensure the flow isn't too fast.

I am now also considering adding a water spike plot, just to see what works best (for next season).
I will be adding water polymers to all the plots as well. I was told if you plant in the ground (without a container), you lose much less water. bigger holes make for less watering (and better herb). having the plot sunk in a few inches from the surrounding land helps also. Put mulch on top to retain moisture and it makes your plots stand out less.
 
S

Secret Grower

Active Member
I've used garden hoses with nylon rope run through it acting like a big wick. You just need to make sure to bury the line so the sun doesn't dry it out. Works for those areas that you don't want to visit too much.
 
P

PlantsWateringSystem

Member
buckwheat1085 said:
I have a grow spot 3 hours from my spot and i dont want to go out there a lot
so the options I have thought of are:
-there is a thing you can order from the UK that screws on to 2 liter bottles and it makes it an aqua globe
-there is a stream there so maybe somthing with that and hoses

do you guys know any ways to automatically water plants?
Click to expand...
Hi,
Try this link:
http://plant-care.us/
It's excellent and it is Introductory Price - $19 for now
Itzik
 
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