Watering is a constant need for the life and growth of plants. Whether blooming at the edge of a cottage garden or cultivating a small patch of land, they need plenty of water all year round.
Knowing when and how to water plants can be difficult, and it can be especially difficult to keep plants hydrated when you're away from home for days or weeks.
There are many DIY watering systems you can use to properly water your plants. This inexpensive solution can turn everyday household waste into a useful water supply. These DIY ideas tend to be short-term solutions, but they can go a long way in keeping your plants hydrated, both indoors and out.
1. Bottled drip irrigation
A simple and inexpensive DIY garden water system solution that you can make is a DIY drip irrigation system made from a simple plastic bottle. Instead of throwing away everyday items, they can be repurposed and used to water plants.
Amy Fedel, landscaper and founder of Pretty Purple Door, explains how she likes to turn 2-liter bottles into "eco-friendly drip irrigation." He said: "Cut the bottom of the bottle, poke a hole in the side and place the bottle upside down on the ground near your plant with the cap still on." This way you can pour the water directly into the in-ground bottle and over a few days it will slowly start watering your plants.
They can be very useful for watering potted plants and of course plants during holidays. If you don't want to bury the bottle, another option is to poke a small hole in the lid and fill the bottle with water, then place it upside down on the ground near the plant so that the water slowly flows out of the hole. . You can also buy self-watering cones like this one on Amazon, which you can attach to old bottles to water your plants.
2. Drip tube
While arranging water bottles is simple enough to keep one plant hydrated, you can even install your own drip tube to water multiple plants. You can make a drip pipe at home by repairing an old pipe or using an old PVC pipe hole.
"Make several holes 1 to 2 inches apart on one side of the tube," says Dan Bailey, president of Wicklon. Attach the hose cap to one end of the hose and make sure it is long enough to reach the hose to your yard. Turn on just enough water so that the water does not drip. At the other end of the tube cap, water passes through the tube and slowly exits from each end.
A drip tube, also called a submersible hose, has the advantage of directing water where it is needed, under the plant. Overwatering is a common mistake people make when watering the garden and can lead to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. This drip irrigation method allows more water to slowly reach the root zone and is a good way to keep the soil moist even in hot weather.
3. Bucket drip system
If you don't want to move your hose or carry heavy jugs of water around the yard, you can use a large bucket to build a low-tech watering system. This type of watering method works on medium to large plants that have just been planted or plants that require long, slow watering.
Take a 5 gallon bucket that you can find on Amazon and poke a small hole in the side. Fill a bucket with water and place it next to the intended plant. Water slowly comes out of the well, providing the plant with a deep and abundant drink. If you want to touch two plants, you can gradually make holes on both sides to water more than one plant.
4. Pour the water into the milk jug
If the bucket is too big for your needs, a smaller version can be made using a milk frother. Trevor Lively, president of Blue Jay Irrigation, describes milk jug irrigation as an “economical and reliable choice” for the home gardener, “providing a simple and effective indoor drip irrigation solution for your garden.”
Drill a small hole in the bottom of the milk jug and turn it into a simple drip irrigation device. Nails heated with a match or stove work best to penetrate plastic and create small precision holes. And drill four holes at the bottom of the milk tank.
The containers are buried in the ground and filled, allowing water to drain slowly over time, providing moisture to surrounding plants like a traditional wet garden pot.
5. Rod system
Self-watering pots work by capillary action to maintain soil moisture by drawing water from a built-in reservoir. This process, where water is drawn in by gravity, is also known as "wicking" and can be used as part of a DIY system. It can be a unique way to water houseplants or any plant that is part of a container garden, and it is a very effective way to provide consistent humidity.
The simplest is a wick-like rope, shoelace, or other material with one end placed in a reservoir of water and the other end buried in topsoil. This way you can water many houseplants from one water source for a certain period of time.
To go further, you have to create a DIY self-sufficient plant. In this case, the cane is pushed into the root ball of the plant and enters the bottom of the pot into the reservoir below the pot.
Besides using unusual methods or equipment to water your garden, there are many unusual ways to keep your plants hydrated. Although watering plants with bath water is one way to contribute to green living, not many people know about aquatic plants. However, the latter method carries some risk and can sometimes be appropriate as a nutrient enhancer rather than plain water.
