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How to Irrigate Pot Plants

An irrigation system for pot plants is easily achieved and can be concealed nicely, keeping the plant lush and alive. The biggest issue with pot plant irrigation is getting the lateral line close to the pots as well as keeping it tidy and concealed. Below we will discuss the effective ways to water the pot plants as well as ways to hide your pipes to have a beautiful flourishing display.

Have a look at the categories below at the recommended products for the Potted Plant systems.

Shrubblers

Shrubblers are a small finger stream type sprinkler that waters a small area inside the pot. Very common for use in pots or veggie gardens. Pressure compensated shrubblers are the recommended option as the non-PC sprinkler have no way of gauging how much water is being delivered per sprinkler. A shrubbler has the advantage of having a spike with a 4mm poly tube inlet built-in, allowing for flexibility in positioning around the pots. An in-line shrubbler is available that has 4mm poly tube inlet and outlet to allow your shurbblers to be installed in a series.

Pros:

Flexibility in positioning with 4mm poly tube inlet.
360 and 180-degree options available
in-line option available
Small watering area allows for direct watering
Little water wastage due to no overspray (Not spraying leaves or affected by wind)
Pressure compensated option available (recommended)

Cons:

Non-pressure compensated option has no gauge of how much water is being used.
Hard to adjust multiple shrubblers to the same flow rates
If the cap is opened for max flow, the cap is easily blown off.

Dripper

Drippers are a direct and easy way to keep your plants irrigated. Delivering the water directly to the root zone, at a lower rate. The lower application rate allows the soil to soak up the water more efficiently. Most drippers are pressure compensated to give you an accurate water output per dripper. Take apart drippers are available to allow for easy disassembly for cleaning, should it become blocked.

Pros:

Flexibility in positioning with 4mm poly tube inlet.
Take apart drippers allow for cleaning
Small watering area allows for direct watering
Little water wastage due to no overspray (Not spraying leaves or affected by wind)
Pressure compensated option available (recommended)
Lower application rate allows for better distribution of the water in the soil profile.
Can be buried under the soil.
Either installed directly into the lateral line or off a flexible tube.

Cons:

Non-pressure compensated options have no gauge of how much water is being used per dripper.
If buried too far under the soil you may not see if the dripper is working.
If used with Flexible tube, it must be secured within the pot, using a pot stake.

Installation

If possible, drilling a hole in the bottom of your pot can give you a discrete way to hide the pipes. Allowing you to bury the pipe underground (if possible) and coming up from underneath. Otherwise, you can either extend the lateral line up the side of the pot or have the 4mm tube running from the lateral to the pot.

With the drippers, you can also have the dripper inserted into the lateral line or use 4mm tube as a means to deliver water adjacent to the lateral line. This method may require a pot stake-holder or optionally a spray stake. (seen below in products used)

The 4mm poly tube maximum length that can be run before friction loss is estimated at 10m.
For an accurate calculation call our experts on 0800 130 905