New Drip system, incorporating potted plants

14 years ago

Hi,

My wife and I are DIYing a drip irrigating system off of our automatic timer system. We have about 4 antisiphon valves left fallow from a landscape makeover we did about 4 years ago. We've built two zones so far, putting in an inline pressure regulator and filter canister on each.

In the middle of doing this for the flower beds we thought "hey why not water some of these potted plants". Problem is the drip emitters are not getting the pots wet enough. The water seems to fil one very small spot in the pot, and then drip through and spill on the patio. The rest of the pot soil remains quite dry.

We thought about changing to a bubbler or sprayer for the pots, but they put out way too much water given that we're having the beds drip for an hour at a time.

Any creative suggestions outside of running a seperate valve/timer for the pots (didn't want to waste a whole valve for just potted plants).

Thnx

Comments (4)

lehua49
14 years ago
Hi bw,

The idea I've tied and has worked reasonably well with a trial and error process is using a small diameter micro-water line with a number of emitters. The emitters have adjustable flow ability and work very well with the trial and error method. Didn't seem very expensive but I was focused on solving the problem versus cost. It worked well in conjunction with other watering needs in other areas. Even with this system you might have watering interval problems with plants that need water everyday and ones that only need water every could of days. JMHO, GL Aloha
kiril
14 years ago
Get some 1/4" inline drip tubing and create a circle with it. Run blank feed tubing through the drain hole to a barbed T, which you then hook your circle to. Get the PE type tubing with a 6" dripper spacing. Stay away from vinyl tubing.
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benchwarmer
Original Author
14 years ago
thnx 4 the replies

lehua, I understand your idea. We are running 1/4" line to the pots, with the lowest flow on those emitters we could find (0.5GPH). The problem is that the drip doesn't seem to saturate the whole pot. Bubblers and misters put out more GPH, so the water runs through quickly.

kiril: I'm not sure what you are saying. Can you be more specific?

I was thinking about hooking up an inline timer off the main valve. So, the main valve is hooked up to my regular irrigation timer. I then calibrate a batter powered one to come on at the same time, but turn off sooner than the main. I don't see why this wouldn't work, except that I'll have to stay on top of the battery and that I'll have even more valve covers in my garden beds (I suppose I could just leave them exposed, but I like to bury them.
lehua49
14 years ago
bench,

Time to get off the bench and trial and error. Let us know what happens. Aloha