Self watering drip system?

Project Ponics

Well-Known Member
So I'm looking to build a self watering system for a few plants in the next week or two before I go on vacation for two weeks. I only have 2 plants with about 5-6 weeks left of flower so it will be a small simple set up. But I'm going to buy a 8 outlet manifold so when I get back I can have it running in my 8x4 tent.

As of now I've always hand fed my plants, looking to make life a bit easier.

Anyone have any recommendations, not sure what all I need for the set up.

All advice would be very helpful, thanks.
 

BDGrows

Well-Known Member
Look into something automated which can measure soil moisture. If it can detect how moist the soil is, or lack of moisture and feed accordingly, it should accomplish what you're wanting.
 

Project Ponics

Well-Known Member
Look into something automated which can measure soil moisture. If it can detect how moist the soil is, or lack of moisture and feed accordingly, it should accomplish what you're wanting.
will do thanks, im not as worried about measuring the soil but I know it'll be a big help having one.

I'm more concerned about them just getting water to the roots more than anything, I can time it out to make it work good.

I was told floraflex makes some awesome drip irrigation products.
 

BigHornBuds

Well-Known Member
will do thanks, im not as worried about measuring the soil but I know it'll be a big help having one.

I'm more concerned about them just getting water to the roots more than anything, I can time it out to make it work good.

I was told floraflex makes some awesome drip irrigation products.
Floraflex does make good gear, but they don’t have anything I’d want to leave n go on vacation.

I’d look into blutmats
https://www.blumat.com/en
 

Apalchen

Well-Known Member
If your leaving for vacation soon I wouldn't use blue mats as I've heard there is a learning curve and floods are possible. If you got a while they are good option if feeding mainly plain water. Do you have drainage set up? And what medium are you in and how often do you water.
 

Project Ponics

Well-Known Member
If your leaving for vacation soon I wouldn't use blue mats as I've heard there is a learning curve and floods are possible. If you got a while they are good option if feeding mainly plain water. Do you have drainage set up? And what medium are you in and how often do you water.
Should of been more specific sorry.
No I do not, just 3 gal fabric pots with saucers under them.
Coco loco straight up and once every 2 days.
 

Merlin1147

Well-Known Member
I had the same issues. I didn’t want to tie an irrigation timer in to my house pressure water in case of hose failure so I use a plastic tote with a bulkhead fitting that I can screw in a hose bib. Then I use the Toro Zero Pressure Tap timer
https://www.torodealer.com/en-us/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=53453(Toro)
It’s battery operated and cheap. You can set it to water every 48 hours for I think 1,3,5 or 10 minute. From there I adapt to a multi outlet drip manifold
https://www.dripdepot.com/product/salco-multi-outlet-half-inch-fpt-drip-manifold
From there you can run 1/4” tubing or I adapt down to 1/8” tubing. The multi comes with shutoff covers. Depending on your fertilizer it may gum up the prefilter screen on the timer. You may want to remove that and put a regular hose washer in instead.
 

Apalchen

Well-Known Member
Well I think for starters if you can put them in some really big saucers like over sized and then put the pots elevetaed on some bricks or something like that since you don't have anyway to get rid of run off it will evaporate this way and the pots won't sit in it. Not ideal for late flower with the extra humiidty but should work for a week or so while on vacation then checkout something like drainawaytrays.com ok well that's not the website but search for em shouldnt be hard to find
 

Dabs4babs

Member
Look into something automated which can measure soil moisture. If it can detect how moist the soil is, or lack of moisture and feed accordingly, it should accomplish what you're wanting.
Do you have any reccomendations for what you are talking about?
 

jondamon

Well-Known Member
Look into gravity fed drip systems.
For a quick cheap alternative depending on how long you’re on vacation for.

How long are you going away for?
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Auto watering in soil can be precarious. If you don't allow the soil to dry between waterings you risk root rot.

Auto watering is better suited for short term out of town issues IMO. If you wanna go with auto watering then consider coco.

Look into something automated which can measure soil moisture. If it can detect how moist the soil is, or lack of moisture and feed accordingly, it should accomplish what you're wanting.
I hear that some people have good luck with the blumat setups but it depends what you are feeding as clogged carrots seems to be common. Just plain water and they are great.
 

Nrk.cdn

Well-Known Member
Alaska grow buckets are not drips..but sub irrigated..good diy design..google it.. No pumps..just fill big rez..
 
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