/ Register

Welcome to OrchidsForum.com. We are a friendly online community for Orchid Growers all over the world. If you haven't joined yet we invite you to register and join our community. Hope to see you on our forums!

Help me design a micro-irrigation system

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Chris, Feb 24, 2009.

  1. Feb 24, 2009 #1
    Chris

    Chris New Member

    Messages:
    1,479
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    I folks, so I have say 12 small (<6") and two large (>6")unglazed pots where I grow Cattleya species in sphagnum. It is so dry here that I still have to water minimum 3-4 times a week, and I've been doing it by hand with one of these:

    http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...Id=10053&productId=100637818&N=10000003+90401

    I want to come up with an automated system. It has to be self contained (e.g., 5 gallon bucket reservoir, no tapping off the line) and self powered (pump of some sort). I need nozzles that will water the sphag in the pots thoroughly but not have collateral spray, as I'm not interested in watering the walls or carpet. That means Mist-King style nozzles are out, obviously. So I humbly turn to the expertise of board members here.
     
  2. Feb 24, 2009 #2
    Dale

    Dale New Member

    Messages:
    3,738
    Likes Received:
    330
    Location:
    Bandon, OR
  3. Feb 24, 2009 #3
    Eddie729

    Eddie729 New Member

    Messages:
    565
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Fort Washington, PA
    Gee - and here I was thinking bigger sprayer. Silly me.
     
  4. Feb 24, 2009 #4
    Forrest

    Forrest Really Neat

    Messages:
    2,300
    Likes Received:
    27
    Location:
    Northern California
    What about one of those glass globe things from the infomercials? The ones that are supposed to slowly deep water into the pot?
     
  5. Feb 24, 2009 #5
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,770
    Likes Received:
    3,567
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    I am assuming by "unglazed" pots you mean terra cotta or other porous clay pots. If that's correct, if you switched to non-porous pots (ie glazed or plastic) you wouldn't have to water as often.
     
  6. Feb 24, 2009 #6
    mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,362
    Likes Received:
    35
    Location:
    Oklahoma
    If you can't do Aquaglobes ©....you could get some buckets (gallon milk jugs?) and elevate them above your plants and use a string, theoretically, as a wick to transport water down to the pots by using gravity and physics n' crap. I'm sure capilary-type flexible microtubing would be even better and something you could easily steal from work.

    Or...how bout some lengths of soaker hose, formed in a circle and sitting upon the pots after branching off of a fabricated (hand carved?) manifold. I'm not sure what kind of pump would be best for that. Maybe just a cheap fountain pump. It will be glorious i'm sure.
     
  7. Feb 25, 2009 #7
    Forrest

    Forrest Really Neat

    Messages:
    2,300
    Likes Received:
    27
    Location:
    Northern California
    or, and this is a novel idea, since you are talking about what, 4 plants? you could just continue to water them by hand. Just a thought.
     
  8. Feb 25, 2009 #8
    Eddie729

    Eddie729 New Member

    Messages:
    565
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Fort Washington, PA
    That was my other thought. 14 pots shouldn't take too long to water.

    And Marni's suggestion of glazed or plastic pots will certainly help cut down on the frequency needed..