Build automatic irrigation yourself

Watering is an essential part of gardening, but it is often associated with a lot of effort and time. However, this does not have to be the case, because hobby gardeners can use automatic watering. It is practical here that an irrigation system does not necessarily have to be expensive. Because with a little skill you can build an irrigation system yourself.

DIY watering system with bottles

One of the easiest and most inexpensive DIY watering systems works with conventional PET or glass bottles. These act as water reservoirs and are placed in the soil in such a way that they gradually provide the plants with water. Depending on the water consumption of the plants, different sized bottles are recommended. To the delight of many hobby gardeners, the bottles can be used on the balcony, in the greenhouse or even outdoors. The only notable downside to this method is that the bottles aren't necessarily decorative. But if you have a green thumb, you can of course decorate the bottles and put them in the limelight.

• suitable for: Balcony, greenhouse, open ground
• Advantage: inexpensive
• Disadvantage: not so decorative

Instructions

The DIY watering system with bottles is extremely simple and requires no manual skills. If you want, you can first remove the label from the bottle and remove any adhesive residue with nail polish remover. However, this step is not mandatory! The bottle is then converted into a water reservoir by drilling holes in the lid with a pointed object. Here, too, it is important to consider the water requirements of the respective plants: the more holes there are in the lid, the more water can escape. The amount of water can also be varied and adjusted accordingly. After the vessel has been filled with water, it is best to proceed as follows:

• Put the lid on and close the bottle tightly
• Make a deepening in the planter
• Put the bottle in the indentation
• press down with earth

DIY watering with strings

Another, very simple and inexpensive self-made irrigation system is an irrigation system with cords. The plant is connected to the water tank with a thick woolen cord. The advantage of this variant is that it is suitable for several pots. Basically, only a water reservoir (larger vessel) and cords are required for this.

• suitable for: balcony, several plants
• Advantage: inexpensive, very simple

Instructions

If you want to build this irrigation system yourself, you first need a water tank. The size must be adapted to the water requirements of the respective plants, so that PET bottles can also be used for this. The link between plants and water reservoirs are thick cords of wool. The individual components are then connected to one another as follows:

• Fill container with water
• put one end of the string in the water reservoir
• bury a string end near the roots
• about half the depth of the pot

"Bathtub Principle"

The holiday season poses a challenge for many hobby gardeners, because the plants want to be watered even when they are not there. But there is a simple solution for this too, namely the so-called "bathtub principle". Hobby gardeners take advantage of the size of a bathtub, prepare it accordingly and serve as a water reservoir for the plants. If you don't have a bathtub, you can alternatively use a paddling pool or a similarly sized container.

• suitable for: many small pots
• Advantage: practical on vacation, suitable for many small plants
• Disadvantage: A little more time consuming to prepare

Instructions

If you want to convert your bathtub into an irrigation system for potted plants for a few days, you first need absorbent material. Thick towels are suitable for this, but also perlite that has been moistened beforehand. If the necessary materials are available, you can start building your own:

• Line the bathtub with thick towels
• Put pots in bathtub
• Let in water, about 5 cm deep

Permanent, automatic water supply

If you want to switch to an automatic water supply on the balcony not just on a daily basis, but over a longer period of time, you can also build it yourself. So that the plants are permanently supplied with water, the water reservoir must be correspondingly larger. Garden hoses and an irrigation cone are also required for this.

• suitable for: balcony
• Advantage: durable, can work with rainwater
• Disadvantage: higher space requirement, construction somewhat more complex

Instructions

Building automatic irrigation for the balcony yourself is a bit more complex, but it is definitely feasible for hobby gardeners. First of all, the future location of the water reservoir must be determined. This should be installed as higher as possible than the plants, with a height difference of at least 50 to 100 centimeters being recommended. The high tank is best mounted on the wall and filled with water. Alternatively, a rain barrel with a water connection can also be used for this purpose. The further procedure is now as follows:

• Connect garden hose
• Connect hoses together
• each plant should have a hose
• Prepare the irrigation cone according to the instructions for use
• into substrate and connect hoses

Additional tips

In principle, building your own ensures that the plants are supplied with water, but there are still a few points that should be observed. In general, it is advisable to test the systems at the beginning and to observe them closely. This is the only way you can determine whether everything is working properly and whether the amount of water corresponds to the needs of the respective plants. The location of the plants is also crucial: in direct sunlight, the plants use more water. If the plants can handle a little less sunlight for a few days, it's advisable to move them accordingly. Because this not only reduces the water requirement of the plants, but also the evaporation in the water reservoir, which means that the irrigation system lasts longer. In summary it can be said:

• Test and observe the system extensively
• adjust the amount of water
• Do not place plants and self-construction in the blazing sun

Learn more about irrigation