Automatic Container Watering

[D. Morrowii]

I like to hand water but sometimes I’m not able and lately some of the palms in the cones have become extra leafy making it difficult. So I’ve been messing with some options for auto watering. These 2 different methods were fairly inexpensive to put together since its just tube, fittings and stakes. Except for the 1.5” diameter cones where I used 2 micro sprinklers. For the 2.5” cones I just poked a small hole in the 1/8” tube with a safety pin. A mini valve ahead of main connection helps to adjust the sprays. Then I just added it to the existing drip system. Anyone else doing something similar? Am I over thinking it lol? Opinions welcome. 

 

[Honez]

This is amazing.  I wish I knew how to do this right.  I have tried twice and always get next to no water pressure.  Followed the directions to a T lol.  Plus I have to move the pots around alot.  Good job!!!

[D. Morrowii]

Thanks @Honez It probably helps that our utility water pressure is pretty high at 70 psi. All my drip stuff is regulated down to 25 psi though. Also this wasn't attempt 1,2 or 3  I’m pretty sure this is gen 5 or 6. 

[Silas_Sancona]

39 minutes ago, D. Morrowii said:

I like to hand water but sometimes I’m not able and lately some of the palms in the cones have become extra leafy making it difficult. So I’ve been messing with some options for auto watering. These 2 different methods were fairly inexpensive to put together since its just tube, fittings and stakes. Except for the 1.5” diameter cones where I used 2 micro sprinklers. For the 2.5” cones I just poked a small hole in the 1/8” tube with a safety pin. A mini valve ahead of main connection helps to adjust the sprays. Then I just added it to the existing drip system. Anyone else doing something similar? Am I over thinking it lol? Opinions welcome. 

 

That is actually pretty brilliant..  and efficient.

Not sure i'd use the micro sprinklers for plants outside of a shade house ..opting for perhaps a slightly bigger pin hole in the spaghetti  for watering the established seedlings in cones instead, but, where you're located, you generally have less issues with rapid evaporation / potential for burning the leaves..  or such potential exists for a shorter period of time before summer rains start, compared to here in the Desert.

Have been contemplating a similar set up, starting the main 1/2" drip tubing off a " Y " fitting attached the hose bib and a timer. This way everything in cones / small pots could get watered once or twice daily / bi- daily ..depending on how hot / dry it is.  Takes the " darn it, forgot to water X ..or X " guess work out of watering,  thus reducing seedling loss.

Curious where you found the clips ( for securing the spaghetti to the rack of cones ).

[D. Morrowii]

Thanks @Silas_Sancona I do keep the 98 space tray under cover at all times - except for pictures. I agree that the pin holes might be better if slightly larger but I’m still testing. The stakes are just the standard orange box store parts from Rain Bird. Nothing special there just wedged in along one of ridges of the cone. I was looking for a clip of sorts but was unable to find one for the 1/8” tube. One sort of neat thing was that if you put a dripper  ahead of the tube with holes you get gentle drops from each hole. You would then have to run a tube for each row which seemed a bit too crowded. 

[Silas_Sancona]

4 minutes ago, D. Morrowii said:

Thanks @Silas_Sancona I do keep the 98 space tray under cover at all times - except for pictures. I agree that the pin holes might be better if slightly larger but I’m still testing. The stakes are just the standard orange box store parts from Rain Bird. Nothing special there just wedged in along one of ridges of the cone. I was looking for a clip of sorts but was unable to find one for the 1/8” tube. One sort of neat thing was that if you put a dripper  ahead of the tube with holes you get gentle drops from each hole. You would then have to run a tube for each row which seemed a bit too crowded. 

Very cool..  Yea, could see how running the tubes down each row, for a gentler drip would get crowded, esp. as seedlings gain size.. Pin hole looks like it should do the trick, esp. if what you're using in a soil medium allows the water to disperse through it, rather than draining straight through the mix, where the stream of water is directed, leaving other parts of the root ball dry. 

Adding this to the list of " ..To tinker with " projects, haha..

[ZPalms]

I thought it was bad to get water overhead on palms? I've always watered directly into the soil but never overhead, Can watering overhead only be done with specific palms?

Also where did you get these pots and cell holder? 

Edited May 5, 2022 by ZPalms