Automatic irrigation system

Hi. I'm currently researching growing techniques.

I understand that watering is very important. Having been involved in gardening before (not cannabis) I found it difficult to be disciplined enough to water regularly and completely.
So I began thinking about ways to water more efficiently.

Is it possible to set up an automatic watering system which would water depending on soil moisture or at specific times?
Howabout foliar sprays?


*I'm planning on growing with soil or soil-like substrates (coco, etc. The purpose is to encourage mycorrhizae and beneficial bacterial activity). I will be using organic nutrients,
*I've been thinking about a rather novel design (at least, I think it's novel) which would be almost a blend between soil and hydroponic techniques: 5 gallon pots sitting in a deep tray. Pots slightly jacked up so the holes on the bottom of the pots are above the surface of the tray.
Water by flooding and draining the tray, allowing the pots to soak up water from underneath, encouraging downward root growth and nutrient retention. Any ideas?


However, this is the first time I'll have attempted anything remotely technically challenging in terms of growing, cannabis or not. I'm ignorant.

What components would I need?
I've been thinking about this and I've drawn up a list of things I *know* I need, and stuff I suspect I need but don't know a lot about.

Reservoir tanks, with lid so I can mix liquid nutrients & pH/EC balancing before distribution.
Some form of hosing connecting reservoir to individual pots, or to the tray design I spoke of above. I'm uncertain how to do this - If just poked holes in a horse, for instance, wouldn't water pressure diminish the farther away the hose got from the tank, leading to inconsistent watering? How do I ensure even and accurate watering.
Rubber hosing - Not sure what size I would need. Very open to recommendations.
Some form of connectors or splitters to divert water flow to individual rooms/trays/pots.
Solenoid valve(s) - Not completely sure what they are, would appreciate an explanation of what, exactly, they are, how they work and how to use them.
Some form of pump.
Some form of controller


Four ways I could think of:
-Manual control (I turn on the pump, open the valves myself. etc.)
-Preprogrammed to water at a certain time.
-Monitors soil moisture and waters (Can this be done with individual pots (discrete watering routes so it could water one pot, but not the others?) or would you have to average it out of all the pots?)
-A combination of scheduled times and soil moisture monitoring (IE: "Water at such and such a time, UNLESS soil moisture drops below such and such a level before then.)


Basically, I'm clueless and I'm here looking for information on how to go about this, what I need, how to put it all together, etc.

Thank you for reading my ignorant questions and hopefully responding!

very good questions. My guess would be (and I'm planning on doing this myself), is that if you're growing indoors (assumption), that as long as you water your plants the same amount (frequency and amount), plant them in the same soil, use the same nutrients, and they're the same strain, they should need watering about the same amount. I plan on using a small (130 gph) pump to water about 3x per day and just put it on a timer that is evenly spaced out. Not sure if this will be all during the sunlight hours, dark hours or a mix of both, that's something I still have to research. but basically, unless you want your setup to insanely complex, I would just go with a preprogrammed timer. you can premix your nutes in a big reservoir you pump from, and that way you can go away for the weekend and not have to worry about your girls.

just googled the topic and it appears i was wrong on how much/often to water. check this link for some suggestions on the patterns you want your automated system to emulate:

http://www.concept420.com/marijuana_watering_tips.htm

I designed a system recently that can be adapted to water 4-6 plants for up to a week at a time between reservoir refilling. It can be set to water daily up to 8 times, every other day, only on certain days of the week and at whatever times you would like. Thinking of selling them for around $75. That's a little more than the price of the individual components but I figured there must be some growers out there that either don't want to mess with designing/building a system or don't know how to.

Check out blumats.

x 2 on the Blumats. Just received and installed a set last week, I am ordering 2 more sets today, way too easy.

I hope people are still following this thread because I need help.
I am putting my ideas out so experienced growers can find the flaws in it, or it's genius and everyone will start doing it. I have not seen irrigation systems similar to what I am envisioning. Of course, there will be 2 separate systems, veg & bud but both are basically the same. The reservoir is a 20 gallon plastic garbage can with the smallest aquarium water pump I could find, 140GPH. I understand this pump is not powerful so the reservoir will need to be placed rather high. The cheapo timer I'm using uses half hour increments so I will be pumping 70 gallons, I bet it is only 40 gallons, still way too much. If I have the water pumped in to a reservoir that gravity feeds to all 15 plants and all extra water will reach a drainage point and returned to the garbage can. I will have to adjust the line valve so it is watered just right in 30 minutes. I am sure this is the basics of many peoples systems. But does this sound like it would work well?

I was think of once a day watering into 5 gallon pots with excellent airation/drainage because these should be super charged plants.
3 X 1000w HPS in a 6' X 12' area, for 15 plants allows 4 square for each and they will need it after vegging for 45 days. Also added CO2 at 1500+ PPM, top quality nutrients, very accurate humidity and temperature control, and the best genetics I can buy. I am so close to starting I can smell it. I personally talked with the guy from Dr. Greenthumb seeds. They have better strains available than any others I can find. The reviews are all excellent, 100% germination, etc.
All input will be appreciated.

Wassup guys i hope its not too late. But i jus built a lil pvc version of jade kines rain table. Ill put some pictures up soon its not all the way finished but it does work pretty good.