Whether or not you’ve gotten two potted plants or twenty, this text (and video) will assist you determine learn how to arrange a simple, automated drip irrigation system for your potted plants.
We don’t dwell within the tropics; we dwell on the outskirts of Greenville, SC (Zone 7b). Nonetheless, we develop over a dozen sorts of citrus, plus papayas, guavas, bananas, and avocados.
Reading: Drip system for potted plants
Rising these cold-sensitive plants requires giant pots, so we are able to transfer them out and in of a heated storage with our specialised pot mover on chilly winter days and nights. For the reason that plants aren’t in-ground, we additionally should often water and fertilize them.
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Dropping time resulting from hand-watering plants
On scorching, dry summer time days, we’ve got to water our potted fruit bushes twice every day or the plants will get careworn and doubtlessly drop their fruit. Hand-watering that many potted plants in the summertime takes about 20 minutes every session, so a minimal of 40 minutes per day is spent watering potted fruit bushes.
We attempt to overlap plant watering with occasions once we’re outdoors letting our toddler run free, so we don’t really feel like we’re squandering precious minutes. Nonetheless, we’d nonetheless somewhat have that point again in our pockets to do different issues.
The opposite large problem: leaving city. We rent a duck sitter each time we go on trip, and that individual can also be tasked with plant-sitting, which primarily includes watering our potted plants.
Regardless of offering crystal clear directions and having “plant people” watching our plants whereas we depart city, we’ve nonetheless had incidents the place we come again from trip to seek out careworn plants which are dropping their fruit. This loss means a whole yr of effort is for naught relating to fruit bushes like citrus. Fairly irritating.
What to do? Since we’ll be taking our toddler on a number of household holidays this summer time, we lastly realized that now’s the time to get a easy, automated drip irrigation system for our potted plants.
After a little bit of analysis, discussions with irrigation professionals, and trial-and-error, we’ve been pleasantly shocked by how straightforward and comparatively cheap it’s to get drip irrigation arrange for our potted fruit bushes. Frankly, we’d in all probability pay a plant sitter extra over the course of per week than we paid for the drip irrigation system for our 20 fruit bushes — not dangerous!
If drip irrigation appears daunting and complex to your from the skin, to not fear! We knew subsequent to nothing about drip irrigation once we acquired began so we’ll attempt to make our directions as easy and straightforward to comply with as potential…
There are some actually good drip irrigation kits for potted plants you could purchase to make issues easy. The perfect factor about shopping for a package? You don’t should spend time determining every part you want and monitoring down each bit.
The draw back of shopping for a package?
- It might or might not have every part you want for your particular circumstances.
- It should nearly definitely have much less OR extra supplies than you want. (A package designed for 20 plants isn’t excellent when you have both 10 or 30 potted plants.)
Meaning you’ll both have to purchase some further gear otherwise you’ll be paying for further gear that you simply don’t really want.
Earlier than you resolve whether or not to purchase a drip irrigation package or particular person elements for your personal personalized system, we’d suggest you are taking a couple of minutes to grasp the fundamentals of a potted plant drip irrigation system so you possibly can work out which choice is finest for you.
For us, a hybrid method labored finest. We bought a package, however we additionally purchased some further elements and items to fill the gaps between what the package included and what we wished for our distinctive setup.
Hopefully, the knowledge, video, and product suggestions under will assist you determine precisely what you might want to arrange your personal potted plant drip irrigation system!
Half I. Potted plant drip irrigation elements defined
Let’s begin with a listing of the elements (a few of that are elective) you’ll have to have for an automatic drip irrigation system for your potted plants and a short rationalization of what every half is/does. (This record is ordered chronologically, beginning at a spigot.)
Potted plant irrigation elements defined, from A to Z:
a. Hose splitter (elective, however advisable)
We like having a devoted spigot for our drip irrigation system. Nonetheless, we steadily want to make use of the identical spigot our irrigation system is on to get water for different functions (resembling working a backyard sprinkler, watering seedlings, and so on.).
Fairly than having to often unscrew and reconnect our drip irrigation system every time, a easy hose splitter connected to the spigot solves this downside.
- Amount wanted: 1 per system | buy hyperlink
b. Timer (elective, however extremely advisable)
If you wish to fully automate your irrigation system to run at set occasions every day somewhat than manually turning your water on and off, you’ll need to get a timer. Be aware: In the event you get a drip irrigation package, a timer might or will not be included.
In our setup the place our pots are fairly far-off from the spigot, the order is spigot > timer > hose > irrigation system (see under).
- Amount wanted: 1 per system | buy hyperlink
c. Consuming-safe water hose (elective)
There’s a 20 yard span between the water spigot on our home and the world in our driveway the place our potted plants begin. We used one in every of our previous Flexzilla drinking-safe water hoses to bridge the hole. Our irrigation timer is attached to the spigot which then ties to the hose which then ties into the drip system by way of the backflow prevention valve.
- Amount wanted: Measure the gap between your spigot and the place your irrigation system will begin and get a hose sized accordingly. Once more, that is elective – you’ll solely want a hose when you’re NOT hooking your irrigation system on to a spigot. | buy hyperlink
d. backflow prevention valve + e. 25 PSI strain regulator + f. 150 mesh display screen filter
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These are technically three separate gadgets, however they are often bought as an all-in-one. In the event you get a package, they usually come collectively, with some meeting required.
- Amount wanted: one in every of every half per system | All-in-one buy hyperlink (*this product already contains merchandise g. under, which ties from normal 3/4″ male faucet/hose to 1/2″ poly tubing)
Descriptions:
- Because the identify implies, a backflow prevention valve prevents water out of your irrigation system from going again into your property’s water provide. This half must be supplied when you get a package.
- A 25 PSI strain regulator retains water strain in your irrigation system at optimum ranges to stop blowouts whereas serving to guarantee even water distribution all through the system at every watering. You received’t want or need to go larger than 25 PSI (kilos per sq. inch) for an irrigation system for your potted plants.
- 150 mesh display screen filter helps forestall particles from entering into your system or your drippers/sprayers from getting clogged.
g. 1/2″ poly faucet becoming
This half hyperlinks the tap system to your major 1/2″ poly tubing. These fittings are generally constructed into the backflow prevention valve/strain regulator, however generally not.
- Amount wanted: 1 per system
h. 1/2″ poly tubing
The 1/2″ poly tubing is the primary water provide line for your drip irrigation system. It’s agency however versatile with the consistency of a thick milk carton.
Irrigation programs for small potted plants (or for fewer potted plants) have 1/4″ tubing that goes all the best way into the pots. Given our bigger variety of plants (20) and huge dimension of our plants/pots, 1/4″ could be insufficient.
Poly tubing is included in kits, however be certain it’s 1/2″ (or a minimum of 3/8″) when you have bigger/extra plants like we do.
Kits additionally embrace stakes to pin the tubing to the bottom. Since our pots are on concrete, we couldn’t use stakes, which is why we ran our 1/2″ tubing via brick holes to carry it in place (as you possibly can see in our video and images).
- Amount wanted: Measure the gap your potted plants go, from first plant to final. Take note of whether or not you’re going to be attaching your system on to a spigot or working a hose between your spigot and your irrigation system. Instance: We run a drinking-safe hose between our spigot and our irrigation system/potted plants, and our 20 potted plants stretch about 50′ down our driveway. Meaning we’d like a minimal of fifty′ of 1/2″ poly tubing (it’s all the time good to have further available). | buy hyperlink
i. 1/4″ couplers
Couplers are the small plastic items that join between your 1/2″ poly tubing and your 1/4″ vinyl tubing. These are included in kits. Nonetheless, a package might not have as many couplers as you want relying on what number of plants you’ve gotten.
- Amount wanted: 2 per plant when you mirror our system. (These are the identical couplers utilized in merchandise l. under, which is why we use 2 per plant/pot.) | buy hyperlink for 100 pack or 25 pack
j. 1/4″ gap punch software
That is the software you might want to punch holes within the 1/2″ poly tubing with a purpose to insert your 1/4″ couplers. These are included in kits.
- Amount wanted: 1 | buy hyperlink
ok. 1/4″ vinyl tubing
A tender, versatile tubing that transports water out of your 1/2″ poly tubing as much as your potted plants.
- Amount wanted: Measure the gap between your 1/2″ essential poly tubing line and your potted plants, permitting for slack. Instance: We have now 20 plants that require about 30″ of vinyl tubing per plant/pot, so we would have liked a minimal of fifty′ of vinyl tubing. (It’s all the time higher to get greater than you suppose you want!) | buy hyperlink for 50′ or for 100′
l. Extra 1/4″ couplers OR 1/4″ vari-flow valves
In the event you suppose you’ll need to: a) flip irrigation off to a few of your potted plants however not others, or b) sluggish the movement price on some plants however not others, then you definately’ll need to get 1/4″ vari-flow valves. We plan to water all of our potted plants uniformly every day, so we simply use extra 1/4″ couplers. These elements join between your 1/4″ vinyl tubing and your 1/4″ drip tubing.
- Amount wanted: 2 per plant if utilizing couplers OR as many wanted for pots you need variable/decrease irrigation charges for. (Couplers are identical half listed in merchandise i. above, simply utilized in a distinct spot in your system.) | buy normal couplers in merchandise i. above or 1/4″ vari-flow valves
m. 1/4″ drip tubing
Drip tubing is how water exits your irrigation system and enters your pot. We selected drip tubing somewhat than sprayers as a result of: 1) we like its simplicity, and a couple of) we figured the tubing could be far much less engaging than sprayers to our toddler.
Nonetheless, you may select to make use of small sprayers in every of your pots if you need. In the event you plan to make use of drip tubing like we do, you’ll need to be certain: 1) you employ loads of it in every pot to make sure a large distribution of irrigation factors across the circumference of the pot, and a couple of) to not put the drip holes proper subsequent to the tree trunk to reduce the prospect of inflicting the tree to rot.
For our giant 20″ diameter x 20″ deep pots, we used 5′ of drip tubing with 5 holes per pot.
- Amount wanted: | buy hyperlink for 50′
n. goof plugs
You insert goof plugs into the top of your lower items of drip tubing. This permits strain to construct up so water goes out of every drip gap and into the pot.
- Amount wanted: 1 per pot | buy hyperlink for 50 or for 30
o. finish crimper for 1/2″ poly tubing
Your essential 1/2″ poly tubing must be crimped (folded again) and held in a crimped place for the entire system to be pressurized, therefore the top crimper.
- Amount wanted: 1 per system | buy hyperlink
p. Backyard u-hooks/spikes
Push these spikes into the soil in your pots to carry your 1/4″ vinyl and drip tubing in place, except sufficient/satisfactory spikes are supplied in a package you buy. You may as well use these to carry your 1/2″ poly tubing in place in case your potted plants are on the bottom somewhat than concrete like our pots.
We additionally use these spikes in our backyard for different functions, and so they final for years. Those we used are over 10 years previous, which is why they’re a bit rusted!
- Amount wanted: 1 or 2 per pot – extra when you’re utilizing them to carry 1/2″ tubing in place / buy hyperlink for 50-pack
The one different belongings you’ll want to put in your potted plant irrigation system are:
- good sharp cutters for your vinyl and drip tubing (we used backyard snips),
- batteries for your timer.
Half II. Video tour: watch drip irrigation system in potted plants
Now you’ve been launched to every half you would possibly have to arrange your personal automated drip irrigation system for your potted plants. Need to see all of them collectively in motion?
Right here’s a fast video that will help you see precisely how the assorted elements and items of our advisable potted plant drip irrigation system join and work:
Be aware: Video not displaying or enjoying? You might have to quickly disable your advert blocking software program and check out once more. Adverts assist us maintain the lights on and maintain our website free, so thanks for your assist!
Half III. Which drip irrigation system must you get for your potted plants?
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It’s essential to notice that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer relating to getting an automatic irrigation system for your potted plants. When you’ve got small 5-gallon potted plants, your setup will likely be completely different than somebody like us with 20 giant potted plants.
If you wish to customise your personal potted plant irrigation system, use the knowledge and buy hyperlinks in Half 2 above to get precisely what you want. In the event you’d somewhat buy a pre-assembled package to maintain issues easy, listed here are a number of good choices for completely different eventualities:
- Raindrip R560DP Automated Watering Package – Perfect for as much as 20 SMALL potted plants or hanging baskets; wonderful firm with wonderful buyer rankings.
- Vermida drip package – Perfect for as much as 12 LARGE potted plants. 3/8″ tubing (not fairly 1/2″) however nonetheless satisfactory when you have bigger potted plants like we do. This system has adjustable sprayers, not drip line.
- Or browse different potted plant irrigation kits to see if one thing else works higher for your setup.
Half IV. Extra ideas for your potted plant drip irrigation system
1. Stagger your pots.
When you’ve got two rows of potted plants like we do, you’ll need to stagger/offset every pot somewhat than lining them up straight subsequent to one another. That method the holes + coupler tie-ins to your 1/2″ poly tubing are additionally staggered which reduces the potential for blow-outs whereas serving to present even water strain/distribution.
Staggering your potted plants can even assist each get extra optimum solar publicity.
2. Rigorously take into account variety of drip holes and placement in every pot.
We use giant 20″ tall x 20″ diameter pots for our potted fruit bushes. In every pot, we use about 5′ of drip line with 5 holes/pot. We additionally be certain to evenly distribute the drip holes across the circumference of the pot and to place them about midway between the skin of the pot and the trunk.
Aspect observe: we used drip strains as a substitute of sprayers in every pot to make our irrigation system much less engaging to our toddler who LOVES water. We additionally didn’t need spray/mist to go outdoors of our pots and we felt we may get extra even moisture distribution with drip strains.
That doesn’t imply sprayers can’t or don’t work in a pot – it simply means drip strains had been our private desire.
3. Don’t bury your drip strains in mulch.
We extremely suggest utilizing about 2-3″ of mulch in your potted plants. Nonetheless, when placing in drip irrigation, make certain NOT to bury your drip strains below the mulch.
Burying your drip line in mulch may both trigger the drip holes to clog and/or forestall you from seeing any time a clog occurs.
4. Recurrently monitor your drip irrigation system.
Flip it on and overlook it? Most likely not a fantastic concept for a drip irrigation system.
As an alternative, it’s possible you’ll need to set a recurring calendar reminder to periodically test your new potted plant irrigation system to verify every part is working. Since our pots are on concrete, we are able to see {that a} small quantity of water has dripped out of the underside of the containers after the system runs. That makes it simpler for us to test that each pot is getting watered.
In case your potted plants are on mulch, grass, or one other kind of permeable floor, you’ll in all probability need to test every pot whereas the water is on to verify water is popping out of every drip line and gap. How steadily? That’s as much as you.
We plan to test our drip irrigation system a minimum of as soon as per week, primarily as a result of we’ve got a toddler who may pull one thing out or break one thing with out us noticing.
5. Shorter, extra frequent waterings are higher than longer, much less frequent waterings.
It’s higher to water a number of occasions per day for shorter durations than it’s to water as soon as per day for an extended interval. (Another excuse to make use of an irrigation system for your potted plants!) This situation permits for extra even water distribution within the soil and larger water retention.
What amount of water does every of our potted plants get per day?
When it’s over 90°F, we set our system to water each 6 hours for quarter-hour every. If it’s below 90°F, we water each 6 hours for 10 minutes every. A small quantity of water ought to exit the bottom of the pot after every watering.
With our system and water strain, a 15 minute irrigation session = 0.375 gallons of water, which suggests every of our giant potted fruit bushes receives about 1.5 gallons of water over a 24 hour interval on a scorching, 90°F+ summer time day.
If we’ve got heavy rain/thunderstorms, we are able to simply flip the swap on our hose splitter to show the water off for a interval to verify our plants don’t get an excessive amount of water.
How are you going to check the amount of water your system produces?
A easy technique to check the quantity of water every of your potted plants are getting by way of your automated irrigation system? Put a drip line part from one in every of your pots right into a bucket throughout a watering session and measure the quantity of water on the finish of the cycle.
We hope the knowledge on this article helps you simply arrange the proper automated drip irrigation system for your potted plants! We want we’d set our system up years earlier, so we may have on a regular basis we spent hand-watering again in our pockets and extra fruit resulting from persistently well-watered bushes.
Pleased gardening!
KIGI,
Also Read: Natural sources of vitamin e
Extra useful articles for pot-heads (no, not that sort!):
- How you can root-prune potted fruit bushes, with video
- Video tour: potted citrus backyard (in Ag Zone 7b)
- Step-by-step: learn how to develop your personal natural citrus at dwelling in any local weather zone
- How you can develop guavas in containers in non-tropical areas
- How you can go bananas and develop bananas in pots (in temperate climates)
