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
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
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)?
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 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
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.
Hey man I wanted to ask if a drip system is enough for Coco? I know everyone says you're supposed to get to about 20% runoff when you feed and I can't tell if a drip system will be enough. Here's the system I'm looking at:
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_apan_i_SNVQMB2T80MM7YF5JNC7
-Blue planet nutes. -Happy frog soil - There is a cheap irrigation system that gives them distilled water for 1 minute every 4hrs. I add 5ml of calmag to that. -each plant gets 2 red solo cups of their nutes every 2 days(self fed and store bought distilled water from Miejers because the ph is much better there) My Ph level after nutes is added is 6.3 - 6.5. - DIY Micro Automatic Drip... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Please ask if you have anymore questions.
To counter the watering issue when we go out of town, I got a automatic drip system. Game changer for being able to leave my plants for awhile and in my experience worth the money! I don’t trust anyone to take care of my plant babies, even my husband. Honestly, even myself. I set it up for flowering bc I don’t always remember to check their water as frequently as I should. 🤣 Here’s the one I got: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_PWVNPNCD98KXWME0J36J?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
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_apan_glt_fabc_XV60QC3S1KW85H5JDFHQ
Found it.
I use this automatic watering pump on my houseplants. Only downside is that the flow of the emitters isn't adjustable, so you have to double up emitters in bigger pots.
Buy a 5 gallon pale and fill it up with water once-twice a week. Cut a hole in the lid and and attach one of these pumps to it. If you are using chemicals/feed to your water, buy a cheap water pump to attach to the inside of the pale to mix the water & stop the chemicals from separating.
The worst looking was a freebie seedsman white widow. My buddy forgot to pull the rubber band off her feed tube and she was bone dry but barely hanging on after a week with no water. This one has been so far behind from the beginning, and is barely showing see while all my other plants are well past that point.
My fast buds Blue dreammatic was very saturated and most leaves more than 1cm were brown and dry. I trimmed the dead stuff off and we will move on with a more customized schedual for this one.
Fast buds gorilla cookies also was a slow drinker and was saturated as well. Her leaves were a little worse than a week ago but she has a lot of nug starting to get thick.
My mephisto canna-cheese, pinot nior, and two skywalker are doing fan freaking tastic. The double grape had a few dead leaves but she's packing on frost heavier than any of the others.
If my plants had been all close to the same in water consumption it would have been even more successful, but for less than $50 I was able to comfortably leave my grow alone for 7 days. The one I used was here moistenland drip irrigation kit
And for information purposes: FFOF, 2x 220wQB, tiger bloom, big bloom, worm castings, and a little cal-mag. Temp runs 86, humidity~50٪. Drip was set for 10 minuites every 12 hours.
This will work in a pinch, just use a bigger reservoir and program it to dispense 1/2 gallon 2-3x while you’re gone
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_7YZQEFHYPPYC8CEVNQ7V
Sure thing! I use below auto feeder to feed my plant. I hand feed them until 5th or 6th week as they do not need much feed. I have a perpetual grow going on where i grow my seedling until this stage in a space tote and I move them to main tent after reaching this point.
Once plants are placed in main tent, I start using my auto feeder which is scheduled to feed every 1~2 hour depending on runoff. At this point, all i need to do is clean and fill the 5 gal feed bucket every week and girls are mostly on cruise control :)
Hmm, ive only used this auto feeder, been using for 1+ year and still running strong! If you have the same feeder, i can provide you the quick guide.
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_u_apa_glt_fabc_G30CV9YQQNV9QZVSM2SC
Thinking of buying this to water my bonsai seedlings while I'm out of town.
Anybody here using this, and if so, how much higher than the water source do pots have to be to avoid Siphon issue?
Gotcha, thanks for the explanation. Thinking of trying something like this instead 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_N1D3HATDQVKPCTST8TTH
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_BRXBC0BN8KNCPWV4Q1XC
Not sure if this link will work, but I had a buddy use this and he said worked fine w straight water, he burned his up trying to use w nutes. Im also traveling for Xmas, so will be getting two for my needs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_mT7VFbZ9D8Z3Q
I've been using this little auto-watering pump I got off amazon. It draws from a 5 gal bucket and puts out 1 C of water per 60 second run. Plenty for my seed trays. Not bad for $40. The Space heater is on a timer and keeps it about 10*F warmer than the ambient temp at night... not sure if this will be enough when it drops down to 16* next week but I assume it will be OK as I am only keeping cold hardy stuff in there for now and my tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant are inside under a fluorescent shop light til April. Zone 6a TN.
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I’ve used this. Works well but you need to dial it in to know for how long you want it to run. Automatic Irrigation Pump
Idk about full auto systems (meaning click once and just maintain the system) but semi-auto watering systems like moistlands drip irrigation pump helped me apply most the water without breaking my back every other day lol
Keep in mind the system I linked is semi-auto imo because it requires you to judge when it’s time to turn them on (and refill the reservoir)
Edit: I have 2 of the systems for 7 plants in 25 gallons so I think you’ll be okay with just one
No worries!
This is actually my first grow with it. It’s just a cheap one from amazon
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0743F4532?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_asin_title
It works great for what it is, but it won’t be my long term solution.
Thank you!
How long do you think an inverter/car battery setup would run a small water pump to water plants? What would be a good way to recharge the car battery? Are you saying there are more options to run a water pump/timer remotely? Cause my crop is far away from traditional means of power and water and I'm trying like crazy to find a reasonable way to do this so I can setup automatic watering.
This is way originally have me the idea for a battery operated pump with a timer. It gets so many mixed reviews about quality that I'm hesitant to try it.
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_.NyBDb95WRT4W
Go get some Sledgehammer flush. and run it through the plant after you have let the soil dry for 4- 5 days. Do yourself a favor and buy an automated watering system, which will run you about 35$ on amazon. This way you will be able to have precise watering on a schedule and prevent this type of noob mistake. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0743F4532/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
here the one i use. I just went to the store and bought a 5 gallon jug and use it for the reservoir. Best move ever. Also, if it is your first grow, take a tip from an old head and DONT fuck with them too much. Less is more with growing.
Try this
*Installed an additional moistland drip system
150 gallon DIY raised bed with 100 gallons of KIS Organics Biochar
Two 25 gallon fabric pots with 50 gallons more of KIS Biochar
Under three 600W Growcraft X6’s
7.0 PH water from a Kangen K8 Electrolysis system
6 shitty 6inch diameter fans
About 100feet of 1 1/2 inch PVC (for frame support)
One Cloudline T6 exhaust fan/carbon filter
Secret ingredient: I just stare at them for hours, I like to think they appreciate it
Need to do:
Add white tarps on the walls to increase light intensity/coverage
Get bigger ventilation fans
LST + SCROG once the lower growth stretches out a bit
Don't go on vacation! 😄
With over 400 plants and absolutely no one I would trust to care for them, "vacation" is just another word in the dictionary!
Water globed are useless and just another plant gimmick.
There are drip-irrigation systems you can by that are run on timers: https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Irrigation-Houseplants-Programmable-Operation/dp/B0743F4532?th=1 and I like this one for its simplicity and no need to attach to a faucet, like some of the larger systems.
> I’ve grown (cestrum nocturnis) jasmine very well in my aerogarden bounty.
Ya my plan was to grow roses and jasmine as well. The problem with aerogardens for me is that you cant see the drainage coming off the plant, and this is a huge problem because it is otherwise difficult to know if the plants are receiving too little or too much water.
I eventually settled on using a grow light without a reservoir, using regular pots with drainage and a drip irrigation system. Works pretty good and you can see when the plants are getting too much water. I was able to grow jasmine for a little while and some lavender. I have 5 rose bushes going now with petunias in those aerogardens I bought 4 years ago. They all still work except the bubbler on the sprout broke.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0743F4532/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
> a cheap little cut and fit Mylar film
Heads up on the mylar. In the summer it makes my plants too hot and they wont sprout. I started taking it down for new sprouts, and ended up just leaving it down because of heat issues. It works when it doesnt overheat the plant though.
I had roses growing in the grow bowl, but they got so big they started growing around the light. Plus taking the grow bowl out everytime I had to spray was a pain much easier with a regular flower pot, light, and drip irrigation.
>but you have to transition the nutrients from the nitrogen Growbig to Phosphorus Tigerbloom
I just stuck with aerogarden nutrients. Inside and outside actually. Just miles better than the other stuff I tried. I got some other stuff that my plants didnt seem to like. I actually lost almost an entire garden which has never happened with aerogarden nutrients.
They actually dont sell grow bowls anymore and they changed the size of the aerogardens so the grow bowls dont fit on anymore. I thought about growing a bonsai tree which I never got around to since I already had bonsais in pots, but usually just end up planting petunias. I never seem to get the color petunias I want, but they look good anyway. :)
Might want to consider ordering one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_94G9VTP5E4J3V74QSXY7
Hello,
Need to invest in some auto-watering system soon for 6 almost year old seedlings currently growing in grow tent.
Has anyone used either:
- this system (and successfully avoided the siphon effect by piercing a tiny hole at highest point of the source tube, as demonstrated in this video), or
- this system (seemingly not at risk of causing siphon effect at all)?
Because my pots are in a grow tent, I do not have room to place them higher than the source bucket.
I set it up for pretty cheap money. About $140.00 total
I got two (redundancy in case of failure) of these little drip pumps for about $50.00 each.
Black 4cm tubing. Clear tubing allows algae it grow and clog tubes) - $10.00
Plus a plastic 5 gallon plastic (food safe) water jug- $17.00
Some better drip tips ( have a flow adjustment) than the pumps came with. - $10.00
Has anyone succeeded in avoiding siphon effect when using this kind of system by piercing a a pinhole in the highest point of the pipe, so that air comes in and breaks the water flow once the pump shuts off?
DIY Micro Automatic Drip... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I recommend black tubing to replace the stock tubing, just havent gotten around to it yet in mine
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You can get pretty much everything from Home Depot. They have a section for drip irrigation at the big one near me.
Hey r/microgrowery,
Here’s our set-up for the 10x5x7.5,
*Added 1/4 pound of mini lovers as cover crops for a no-till
150 gallon DIY raised bed with 100 gallons of KIS Organics Biochar
Two 25 gallon fabric pots with 50 gallons more of KIS Biochar
Under three 600W Growcraft X6’s
7.0 PH water from a Kangen K8 Electrolysis system
6 shitty 6inch diameter fans
About 100feet of 1 1/2 inch PVC (for frame support)
One Cloudline T6 exhaust fan/carbon filter
Secret ingredient: I think they like it a little rough
Need to do:
Add Mylar on the walls to increase light intensity/coverage
Get bigger ventilation fans
LST + SCROG once the lower growth stretches out a bit
Hey r/microgrowery,
Here’s our set-up for the 10x5x7.5,
*Added 1/4 pound of mini lovers as cover crops for a no-till
150 gallon DIY raised bed with 100 gallons of KIS Organics Biochar
Two 25 gallon fabric pots with 50 gallons more of KIS Biochar
Under three 600W Growcraft X6’s
7.0 PH water from a Kangen K8 Electrolysis system
6 shitty 6inch diameter fans
About 100feet of 1 1/2 inch PVC (for frame support)
One Cloudline T6 exhaust fan/carbon filter
Secret ingredient: I just stare at them for hours, I like to think they appreciate it
Need to do:
Add white tarps on the walls to increase light intensity/coverage
Get bigger ventilation fans
LST + SCROG once the lower growth stretches out a bit
Hey r/microgrowery,
Here’s my raised bed with 4 tiny gelato seedlings! Testing out to see how a communal root system compares to an isolated one. An amateur follow up on the KIS organics study
Set Up:
150 gallon DIY raised bed with 100 gallons of KIS Organics Biochar
Two 25 gallon fabric pots with 50 gallons more of KIS Biochar
Under three 600W Growcraft X6’s
7.0 PH water from a Kangen K8 Electrolysis system
6 shitty 6inch diameter fans
About 100feet of 1 1/2 inch PVC (for frame support)
One Cloudline T6 exhaust fan/carbon filter
Secret ingredient: Same thing in the crabby patty secret formula
Need to do:
Add Mylar on the walls to increase light intensity/coverage
Get bigger ventilation fans
LST + SCROG once the lower growth stretches out a bit
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0743F4532?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details
That’s the one I bought. I’m sure I could get away with using it on 4 plants but I wouldn’t want to go any more than that.
This is the system I’ll buy once This one breaks. Looks better for the long term. I wanted something cheap to try it out for the first time.
Using this one. Had a buddy use it for a similarly timed 10 days and told me it worked well. But not well enough for daily usage. DIY Micro Automatic Drip... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743F4532?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
If you're going to be gone for a few weeks, you could also look at automatic watering systems: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0743F4532/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This one is more expensive, but can work for over a month: https://www.amazon.com/Claber-8053-4-Programs-Automatic-Watering/dp/B000U5YFR4