Drip Systems for Containers - Tips for Beginners

For years I watered everything by hand. This year I took the plunge and installed a battery operated timer with 1/4 inch drip system to water my window boxes and the pots on my front porch.

Let me share my experience so you can see what I've learned. It does take some planning and basic understanding of the various parts that are needed.

Let's start with the parts. The system I am describing is all 1/4 inch parts. There are larger soaker hoses which are used in the garden beds, but for this project all parts are 1/4 inch.

Timer with 4 Port Irrigation Manifold

My timer is battery operated so there is no need to run an electric cord to the garden. The top of the timer attaches to the faucet, just unscrew your hose and screw on the timer. The faucet is left turned on so that there is water pressure ready for the timer to release the water. 

This timer has 2 places where water comes out the bottom. On the left is my garden hose. On the right is the timed station that will water my pots and window boxes. I needed 4 lines to run off that one station so I attached a 4 port manifold where I can attach the 4 distribution hoses.

4 port manifold with 3 hoses attached, one port is capped.

They come with little caps which are removed before the hose is attached.

As you can see, I needed an adapter (white piece) to attach the manifold to the timer. Luckily I discovered that before I left the store. 

Soaker Hose

Soaker hose is porous.

Soaker hoses are made of porous material that allows water to drip out through very small holes all along the hose.

Water seeping out of soaker hose.

In my experience these 1/4 inch soaker hoses deliver water slowly requiring a long watering cycle. They also tend to clog (we have hard water) so the little pores don't allow water to come out evenly. Another issue I've had with them is that they tend to put out less water toward the end of the hose than they do near the faucet. These porous hoses sometimes will have a slightly larger hole which creates a tiny spray of water that can reach a couple of feet making a mess of the windows. For these reasons, I did not use them in this project.

Pierced Soaker Tubing

Pierced soaker tubing has small holes, usually spaced 6 inches apart.

This tubing has small holes spaced evenly along the hose, usually 6 inches apart. This is the tubing I use in my window boxes and pots because it delivers water faster than the porous type. The other advantage is that the holes are poked on one side of the tubing, so if it is place with the holes pointing downward, the water will not spray the windows.

This pierced soaker tubing has an arrow printed on it which denotes the direction of the water flow. Take care to attach it correctly so the arrow points the direction the water moves.

Pierced tubing has arrows showing the direction of the water flow.

Distribution Hose

Distribution hose has no holes, it carries water like a garden hose. 

Distribution hoses have no holes and are not porous so they carry water without letting any water out, like a garden hose. You use this between pots, and between the faucet and pots, where you do not want water.

At the store, the hoses come in rolls like this.

Barbed Connector 

Barbed connector attach two pieces of hose in a straight line.

This barbed connector attaches two pieces of hose, for example it can connect distribution hose to pierced hose like in this pot.

Barbed connector

Elbow Connector

Elbow connector attaches two hoses at a 90 degree angle.

Elbow connectors allow you to make a sharp 90 degree turn, rather than bending the hose which can kink the hose.

Elbow connector

Tee Connector

Tee connector splits one line into two at a 90 degree angle.

Tee connectors split the line into two lines at a 90 degree angle like this.

Tee connector

Wall Clamp

Wall clamps allow you to attach the hose to a wall.

To make the project look neat, wall clamps hold the hose against the wall using a nail.

Wall clamp

You can use wall clamps at the steps.

End Plug

End plugs seal the hose end.

End plugs are placed at the end of the hose to create the pressure inside the hose which is necessary to force the water out of the pierced hose.

End plug

Stakes

Stakes

Stakes come in handy to hold the hose in place.

In-Line Dripper

In-line drippers are placed anywhere along distribution hose.

In-line drippers are placed along the distribution hose by cutting the hose and putting this between the cut ends. It drips water into a pot. 

I chose not to use in-line drippers in my pots. I used the pierced tubing instead because the pierced tubing is what I used in the window boxes, and I wanted to be consistent so the water flow rates would be the same in the pots and window boxes.

There are other types of nozzles that I have not mentioned or used. Ask your store clerk for recommendations for your particular needs.

If you are finding it is difficult to push the connectors into the hose end, you can warm the hose end to soften it by placing it in a cup of hot water or using a lighter to gently warm it.

Now that you have an idea of the types of parts that are available, you need a plan.

Figure out where the timer will be placed. I attached mine to the faucet, but you could run a garden hose from the faucet to the timer if you need the timer someplace where there was no faucet.

Now imagine the path the distribution hose will take from the timer to the first pot. Determine what type of connectors you will need. Then continue on to the next pot again noting what connectors are needed until you reach the end of that line.

My goal was to hide the hoses as much as possible, so that determined the path of the distribution hose. Some of my pots are close together so I didn't use distribution hose between them. For larger pots I made a loop of pierced hose but for smaller pots I just ran the hose in a straight line across several pots in a row. For the window boxes I ran the hose straight across the box.

I have been told that it is best to keep the hoses 25 feet or shorter to provide adequate water pressure within the system.

For me, making a diagram was really helpful. It allowed me to figure out how many lines I needed and what connectors to buy. I took my drawing with me to the store and used it when asking advise from the store clerk. A picture is worth a thousand words and he understood what I needed so much easier than if I tried to explain the set up I had planned without a diagram.

Once you have installed the hoses, turn the timer on and watch how long it takes for water to start dripping out the bottom of the pot. That will determine how many minutes you need to have the timer run to adequately water you plants with your new automated system.

My Hat is Not as Ugly as SKIN CANCER

Ever have one of those moments when you just want to smack someone? And I mean with a backhand, not with a kiss. Thankfully I have a good dose of self-control in my character. But the expression on my face probably said it all.

The other day I was at the nursery, one of my favorite places. There I feel inspired and happy surrounded by all those colorful flowers. As usually is the case when I go to the nursery, I was wearing gardening clothes, definitely not looking fashionable. Who needs fashionable when you are spreading compost, right? Now my gardening attire is all about function. And the hat is about sun protection. Not cute, but neither is skin cancer.

So there I am, waiting in line to buy my marigolds, and an elderly man approaches me and says, "Mind if I make an observation?" In my mind I am thinking, "Only if it's something uplifting because my mood is light and I want it to stay that way." But seriously, could I say no? Not really, that would be impolite which I am not.

Then this man, who by the way is wearing a 1970's pimp hat made of two tone denim, makes the following statement. "I find that when women go shopping in the mall they dress up. They wear makeup and try to look nice. But at the nursery you all wear these weird hats. Why do you wear such ugly hats?"

That's when the self-control kicked in to prevent that backhand to the face. Really? Are we women here for your visual pleasure? You can't figure that one out on your own, buddy? Are you aware we live in southern California and have you noticed that sun? Have you heard of skin cancer? And do you really think that denim pimp hat is cute??

My response was quick. "We wear hats for sun protection. And we're not here to impress anyone." The expression on my face must have been one of shock, confusion, disgust, dismissal.

My eyes met another woman, similarly adorned with wide brimmed hat. Overhearing our little chat, she looked at me and him, and shook her head. He saw her reaction and seemed confused we weren't amused.

It was one of those times I should have let down my polite veneer and said what was on my mind. I left there and thought of the twenty things I should have said.

My hat is staying firmly on my head, regardless of how I look in it. My goal is to prevent skin cancer. I know a thing or two about it, and it's not pretty.

My childhood was spent soaking up the sun. Think desert living, beach camping in Mexico, sports fishing on the ocean, water skiing, and enough sunbathing to bake my skin to that deep golden tan that was so popular in the 80's.

My mother lost part of her nose to skin cancer.

My dad now has metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. Also known as skin cancer. His started on his temple. Now he has a 3 inch square of skin transferred from his thigh onto his head where the cancer was removed. That process took 2 surgeries and 3 months of open wounds, dressing changes, doctor visits, worry.

Then the cancer spread to lymph nodes in his neck. Another surgery resulting in nerve damage and pain.

Then came 7 weeks of intense high dose radiation. 35 visits with his head strapped to a table while beams tried to undo the sun damage and prevent this beast from spreading. Now he can't taste his food. Eating is hard when everything tastes like cardboard.

People, skin cancer is no joke. Being tan may look nice, but cancer is not pretty. Wrinkles aren't pretty either and we all know sun damage leads to wrinkles. But wrinkles aren't life threatening. Cancer is.

So now, ask me why I wear a funny garden hat to the nursery.

Red Russian Kale

My family loves kale. It goes into my morning fruit shake, and my son eats a bowl-full raw with garlic, avocados and tomatoes as a bedtime snack. Luckily the plants are robust so they just keep producing leaves even though they are picked daily. Other than the occasional aphid attack, mine are healthy and vigorous.

Blue curled leaf kale and red Russian kale

Red Russian kale

Last summer I was given some Red Russian kale seeds. It was new to me, I had never heard of it. I simply must find that acquaintance and thank her because it has become a favorite.

The flavor is more subtle and slightly sweeter than the other variety in my garden which is blue curled leaf kale. The texture is very different because the leaves are flatter although they are still substantial. I love how water just beads off of the leaves when you wash them.

The combination of green and purple is beautiful.

Any plant that brings purple to the party is always welcome. Look at the stems.

It's attractive enough to look nice in a pot on a patio, especially considering its health benefits. High in vitamin C, vitamin K and beta carotene, it also contains cancer-fighting chemicals. 

My favorite way to eat it is to saute it with garlic, nuts (any kind, I love them all) and a little soy sauce served over red quinoa. Delicious!

Make a Compost Bin - Under $35 - Andie's Way

There is no need to buy a fancy (expensive) compost bin. This simple 3 sided bin is an easy project which is inexpensive, and I think it's more attractive too. It looks nice with the tomato/bean trellis.

This one I made in a couple of hours for less than $35.

It is placed so that when I am ready to turn the contents I can pull the compost onto the path to turn it well. Someday I may make another one so I can have 2 piles.

My bin is roughly a 36 inch cube with the posts extending into the soil for stability. You can easily change the dimensions to fit your needs.

What you will need:
(15) 1 x 4 inch boards, 36 inches long. These are the horizontal boards.
(4)   2 x 2 inch boards, 42 inches long. These are the vertical posts.
(60) 1 1/2 inch galvanized nails.
Drill with small bit to drill pilot holes.
Carpenter's square
Hammer
Level

Did you know that most large hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot will cut wood for free? I go during the slower weekday hours and it is so convenient. I bought 8 ft untreated pine furring strips (that's the cheap wood), and had them cut at the store. So easy.

Here's a tip to make sure you are getting wood that is not warped. Hold it in your hand with the board tipped on its side with the other end resting on the floor in front of you. Look toward the end that's on the floor. You can tell if the wood is straight or not. Pick the straightest boards.

Start by making 2 of these side parts.

To prevent the boards from splitting it is helpful to drill pilot holes in the boards where the nails will be hammered. Drill 2 holes in each end of the 1 x 4's. Pilot holes also help to make the nails go in easier and straighter for those of us who have some trouble with a hammer. Can't it be frustrating?

I designed this bin so that in the future if I decide to make a cover there will be a one inch gap between the cover and the top board. This will help with ventilation. That's why you see the posts extending higher than the top boards.

Mark one inch from the top of the 2 x 2's. 

On a flat surface arrange 2 vertical posts then align the 1 x 4 board with the mark on the 2 x 2. Use a carpenter's square to be sure it is square. 

Nail the board to the 2 posts. This is the top board.

Mark one inch down on the vertical post. This will leave a one inch gap between the boards for ventilation.

Nail another board using the carpenter's square to be sure it is aligned correctly. Continue until you have nailed 5 boards. This completes one side. You will make 2 of them. There will be 5 boards remaining.

The next part required an assistant to hold the 2 side parts on their sides. Lay a board across the top, aligning it with the other boards. Again use the square before you nail the boards to the posts. You end up with this. 

Level off the ground and place the bin where you chose. The posts will make a mark on the ground where holes need to be dug for the posts. Use a level to be sure the bin is level.

Use the carpenter's square to make it square.

Fill the holes, then fill your compost bin!

Ichiban Eggplant's Velvet Splendor

Captivating are the textures of velvet leaves and silk crepe petals. The Ichiban is blooming and I had to have a closer look, if not a gentle touch.

Before blossoms show their hue, purple veins and leaves suggest the color of eggplant.

Stems hold aloft buds like eyes with long lashes looking outward.

Muppet googly eyes.

Here's an Ichiban blossom against May sky.

Can you find the aphid?

This is my first experience growing eggplant. It looks as though it may need some support soon.

Ichiban is the longer and more narrow variety.

Next to the Ichiban is another eggplant called Black Beauty which produces a rounder eggplant. Its leaves are more subtle, lacking the purple tones. 

Lady bug on Black Beauty leaf.

It has yet to bloom. Together they are nestled near the beans and carrots. 

I am looking forward to seeing the shiny eggplant next to the velvet leaves. And I'm even more excited to taste it.