The best Automatic Drip Irrigation Kits: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

I second this. If you ask someone without a garden to water your plants, they'll spend 10 seconds doing it where I would normally spend 10 minutes doing it.

I definitely recommend the timer system route. Run some soaker hose through the garden, put it on a timer that runs it for an hour a day (or whatever).

This way you can just ask the relative to make sure the soaker hose is running and that the ground is moist and not have to worry about them under-watering stuff.

At my old house I had a ton of plants in pots that really did need to be watered twice a day or they'd die in the 95F heat. I set up a timer system for them too, there are smaller gauge lines you can run and put fixtures on them to water the plants. It was something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Raindrip-R560DP-Automatic-Container-Hanging/dp/B00J2NRUBI

I paid $50 Canadian

Automatic Watering System, DIY Automatic Drip Irrigation Kit Self Watering System with Timer, USB Power Operation & 30-Day Programming Vacation Plant Watering Devices for Indoor Potted Plants https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086BHHPR3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CPmcGbXDKMAJE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

No worries, am a bit high and took a bit to locate the link 😅

https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Watering-Irrigation-Operation-Programming/dp/B086BHHPR3/ref=zg_bs_13400231_5/140-6567819-8962520?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=H4PYT8K6PA657ZAV6MTM&th=1

It is a cheap device and has its limitation but I find it very functional and works great especially with smaller pot that doesnt need much flow to evenly saturate coco.

Malo Brudda! Saw this while poking around : [Upgraded] Automatic Watering System, Houseplants Self Watering System with 30-Day Watering Cycle Timer,Supportable 5V USB Charging, Drip Irrigation Kit for 10 Potted Plants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WZYFS36/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HNofFbDWRKT56

Maybe something along these lines.

Bluemats are highly recommended. I've never set mine up, but I really like my $40 Amazon system that I run from a huge storage tub. It's great when you go on vacation or if you just plain get sick of waterings like do. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_2Z7M12EGHC66EHF201M9

Set up a drip system, or have someone take care of them; these guys are super thirsty.

I work weird hours and a similar system saved me a lot of stress once I set it up (it’s taken care of my herb garden while on vacation too).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WZYFS36/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_M5Q5P7G6WCD4RV76ZN6C?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

This has worked well for me. Use a black bucket as your reservoir so you don’t get polluted water

DIY Micro Automatic Drip Irrigation Kit,Houseplants Self Watering System with 30-Day Digital Programmable Water Timer 5V USB Power Operation for Indoor Potted Plants Vacation Plant Watering [Gen 4] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_3WFC5TBJCJXN4YWYCSY0

Sure thing. I am running 2 of these and just keep in mind they are cheap device and will need to constant check in its functionality but for price, I got no complaints.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086BHHPR3/ref=twister_B086BGZS6B?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Irrigation-Houseplants-Programmable-Operation/dp/B086BHHPR3/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=automatic%2Bwatering%2Bsystem&qid=1603813559&sprefix=automatic%2Bwatering%2B&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1

I still havent perfected using it but I have two of these running and so far, i love it.

I am installing an individual drip/misting system next weekend. I found something on amazon that was cheap and bought an analog timer as well. I can update you when I install if you'd like. I am going away in a couple weeks and don't trust even my friends to water them properly and have piece of mind that it will be done and done efficiently as well.

In case any one else needs some ideas for away plant care I did a 10 day trip during the massive PNW heatwave and came back to thriving plants.

Before I left I deep watered every plant. I have sheer-ish shades and kept them closed and put any grow lights on timers. For watering I used several methods depending on plant and location... this drip irrigation system (set for 10 seconds every 5 days), water globes (not my favorite) and this watering tray (def recommend for pots with drainage holes). I left my large monstera and corn plants alone and they were fine with the deep watering. I tested all of these methods the week leading up to the trip and all went well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093LFH7NM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_CK82864819MBN4MZJ4XR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

That's the one I've been using. There's another on Amazon with dual pumps that can be controlled separately that I'll try soon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093LFH7NM/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_glt_fabc_C0DJ2SG9YD90BY8ZARYN

This is what I went with. I have RO water in my brewshed and I'll be filling a 5 gallon water jug for the device to pull from. We'll see how well it works.

Just one small recommendation on solo grow, if you are using coco for your medium as I do, you will notice that root volume is taking significant portion of the cup around 1~2 week of flowering. Around this time, plant really appreciate frequent feeding. I hand feed my solo plants 2~3 times per day during veg till 1~2 week of flower then use my cheap auto feeder to feed them every 1~2 hours till slight runoff. I can usually tell much more growth as soon as I start using the feeder. I try not to use early one as I want the plant to have root structure established first to really appreciate the feeding.

Analogue, its actually amazed me how well Blumats work. https://www.amazon.com.au/Blumat-Medium-Box-Kit-Irrigation/dp/B008PXHY3A

Most digital systems I see fail over time to corrosion or kill the plant with over watering.

Does anyone have experience with this brand? Also, is the fact that I inherited a “hanging basket kit,” render this system useless for a setup like yours?

I amend my soil so I just water, no Nutes in my water. I was a little skeptical of this little guy until I got it. Now I own 2.

Automatic Watering System, DIY Automatic Drip Irrigation Kit Self Watering System with Timer, USB Power Operation & 30-Day Programming Vacation Plant Watering Devices for Indoor Potted Plants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086BHHPR3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NPVX6QDBZX8NMKFTD3YG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Go online and look up “(your zip code) gardening zone”. Then seek plants (or planting schedules) for your zone. For example in zone 9 (this is fully incorrect and using as an example) garlic may need to be planted in oct but in your zone it may be December or something like that.

You can get a cheap hose timer and irrigation for the raised bed. I used this kit from amazon for my raised bed.

Peppers and tomatoes are super easy and rather forgiving.

Bonus points if you get nutrients and a feeding schedule!

Hello,

I am planning to buy the "DIY Micro Automatic Drip Irrigation Kit,Houseplants Self Watering System with 30-Day Digital Programmable Water Timer 5V USB Power Operation for Indoor Potted Plants Vacation Plant Watering [Gen 4]" but have quick question before doing so.

I have a 32"x32"x64" grow tent with 6 bonsai seedlings already several feet tall in it. Each seedling is in its 1 gallon pot on the floor of the grow tent.

Planning to buy a 5 gallons bucket to fill with water and place in the grow tent as the source of the watering. If the pump is clipped to the top of that bucket, how high would my 6 bonsai pots have to be in order to avoid the siphon effect?

I'm wondering - since the water inlet tubing end would be at the bottom of the supply bucket - could the 1 gallon bonsai pots simply be an inch or two above the ground (aka an inch or two above the water inlet tubing end that would be at the bottom of the supply bucket)?

https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Watering-Irrigation-Operation-Programming/dp/B086BHHPR3/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-drs1_0?cv_ct_cx=irrigation&dchild=1&keywords=irrigation&pd_rd_i=B086BHHPR3&pd_rd_r=b164add7-cb0f-4763-88d4-7be7c56fb519&pd_rd_w=r1osL&pd_rd_wg=wlChn&pf_rd_p=ecbfa24d-f48c-4d5c-83aa-9549f4e7c925&pf_rd_r=631RJXRZSASVD6M7TEWA&psc=1&qid=1602902619&sr=1-1-f6b8d51f-2c55-4dc3-89ad-0c3639671b2d

I run 2 of these for plants in different schedule. I run it every 2-4 hours depending on runoff. It isn't expensive piece of tech so I try to frequently check its functionality but it hasn't really failed much for last 6 months, once at worst that i can think of and fixing it was easy, just clean it up with chlorinated water.

I've lived here for 7 years now and had plants most of that time and only bought a moisture meter a few months ago. So, trial and error is how I determined how much water my tree needed - poking the soil with my fingers, looking for droopy leaves, that sort of thing. When it's outside, it needs even more water than when it's inside.

I mentioned above that I repotted it a week or two back for the first time and I've gone from having to water it daily to watering, probably, every 3 days. I don't know if that's related to the new pot, the new soil, or what though.

I've also had a variety of self watering devices hooked up to it over the years. Outside I had a thing hooked up to my hose that watered it daily but it broke last summer. Inside I have a 5 gallon paint bucket filled with water that's hooked up to a little pump (something like this) that waters it when I go out of town/when I'm feeling particularly lazy about taking care of it.

I have most of my plants with wick/reservoir setup but I'm always looking for something with more capacity.

I need something in terms of four to five weeks supply. To help with decreased uptake, I move my plants further away from the east-facing windows and congregate them.

Thanks for the info!

•

Just one of many Blumat packages. There are less expensive kits: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B008PXHY3A/

I just had this come up for me and after testing all the spikes and water bottles I saw I wasn’t Confident in them. I then decided to test a watering kit and used two 5 gallon buckets as the reservoir.

I tested this unit the week before I left to see how much water the plant could take before run off and how much water I needed in the buckets. I then set it to run for 12 minutes every 2 days and boom I came back home to a forest. I also connected my dehumidifier to a hose and let it flow outside. The unit can be battery operated but I decided to plug it in to be safe.

I can now travel again.

DIY Micro Automatic Drip Irrigation Kit,Houseplants Self Watering System with 30-Day Digital Programmable Water Timer 5V USB Power Operation for Indoor Potted Plants Vacation Plant Watering [Gen 4] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_AK96FbE7FVK9T?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Yup, just copying/pasting another reply I posted.

"

Sure thing. I am running 2 of these and just keep in mind they are cheap device and will need to constant check in its functionality but for price, I got no complaints.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086BHHPR3/ref=twister_B086BGZS6B?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

"

Ive heard good things about these but idk how long you can extend the automated watering for.. good luck, I know how you feel : https://www.amazon.com/Blumat-Medium-Box-Kit-Irrigation/dp/B008PXHY3A

Here's an amazon link.

You can hook it up to a faucet with a pressure reducer without any hassle; just buy the right couplers and enough garden hose or irrigation tubing to run the line and you should be good to go.

I went away for about 7 days feeding 5 plants from a cheap drip system (like 40 bucks on Amazon.) If you go that route, buy a hole punch for the hose so you can wrap it around a few times in the pot. Those stakes were pretty worthless in 5 gallon pots.

Edit: this thing... (you can do better, but it worked for my 1 week) DIY Micro Automatic Drip Irrigation Kit,Houseplants Self Watering System with 30-Day Digital Programmable Water Timer 5V USB Power Operation for Indoor Potted Plants Vacation Plant Watering [Gen 4] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_r-EaCbPS8V4P1

Thanks ! This is just something temporary until I get back later this week. It's a cheap watering system off Amazon I'll put the link below. I'm running 100% Coco and I'll be setting up a full DTW (drip to waste) system when I get back.

DIY Micro Automatic Drip Irrigation Kit,Houseplants Self Watering System with 30-Day Digital Programmable Water Timer 5V USB Power Operation for Indoor Potted Plants Vacation Plant Watering [Gen 4] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gwzdCbWRFSG67

well... it started out as this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0743F4532/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The controller for that died within a month and I ended up wiring the internal pump on it directly to the usb port and using a smart outlet to turn the usb on and off on a set schedule. The tubing is all clear and grows algae, the drippers included are fine but I will be replacing the tubing and using halo drippers on my next grow. It does however clip nicely to a 5 gallon bucket.

This is the exact system I’m using.

Blumat Automatic Watering Sensors - 5 Plant Starter Drip System - Made in Austria - Great for all Plants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IQXFBWA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ThyQBb5QBB12W

It didn’t seem to interfere. Although I did have 1 over water incident 2/3rds or the way through maybe the roots prevented it from sensing saturation. After I reset the dial it was fine hmmmm.