How to Water Plants How to Choose the Perfect Option

Watering is one of the most important factors affecting the growth and health of plants. After all, it is in the process of watering that they receive the nutrients necessary for life. Water is involved in photosynthesis and other metabolic processes in plants. Lack of water as well as too much water can lead to the death of the organism. Therefore, it is very important to approach the issue of watering correctly and to choose the appropriate method. In this article, we will discuss such furniture, in which we will examine with RunSun how to water plants so that you have the opportunity to make the right choice.

Plant Watering Methods

In the agricultural industry, there are four methods of irrigation.

1. sprinklers.
2. drip;
3. combination (which is a combination of the first two methods).
4. aerosol irrigation and fogging.

Meanwhile, soil wetting systems are divided into.

1. automatic irrigation systems. Today, they are an integral part of most flower beds, parks, greenhouses, etc.
2. manual irrigation systems. In their working process, human involvement is required. It is important to note that during the development of automatic irrigation systems, they are used less and less in the agricultural industry. Even for domestic plants, automatic indoor watering is becoming more and more popular.
3. Combination systems. When using them, part of the process is controlled by a controller and the other part by a person.

What is Sprinkler Irrigation

Sprinkling is a method of irrigating crops in which water is sprayed on the soil cover in the form of rain. The advantage of this method is that it allows you to wash the dust off the plants, thus enhancing their respiration, carbon assimilation, development, and accumulation of organic matter.

Usually, the soil structure is stronger after sprinkling than after drip irrigation. Therefore, post-irrigation treatments can be started earlier. Please also note that rainfed methods allow you to apply fertilizer along with irrigation water.

What Does Drip Irrigation Mean?

The drip irrigation system is the impregnation of the soil with small parts (drops). With its help, the flower draws up liquid with its roots. At the same time, it consumes as much water as needed.

The main advantage of this method is the significant saving of water as well as other resources (labor costs, energy, fertilizers, and pipes).

Initially, drip irrigation systems were used only for greenhouse production. However, now it is used everywhere: for open fields, greenhouses, and simple indoor plants.

Aerosol Irrigation and Fogging: What is It?

Sprinkler irrigation is somewhat similar to sprinkler irrigation. The only difference between them is the nature of the liquid – it is finely dispersed. This allows you to reduce the amount of water used to almost a minimum. It turns out that while removing dust, the plants are not watered, they are wet. The water does not reach the roots. As a result, the photosynthesis process increases by increasing the light flux into the cells with chlorophyll.

Indoor plants: what watering is better
There are several ways to moisten the soil of houseplants.

1. top – this is the standard way of irrigation, directed from top to bottom.
2. in-soil – this is done using a dropper, flask, funnel, etc.
3. the root is a way of transferring fluids from the bottom up.

We are all used to the standard (top) watering method: irrigating the soil by itself with a spray can. However, this method requires a certain amount of time and care from the grower. In addition, it is difficult to ensure regular watering during long absences: vacations or business trips. To simplify the process of caring for plants, various methods of automatic watering have been invented. One of the most effective methods is drip irrigation.

These stores offer a variety of indoor automatic watering tools at various prices. However, without outside interference, you can ensure proper nutrition of the root system. Therefore, consider two options for automatic watering plants.

How to Make Drip Irrigation with Your Own Hands

There are three ways to set up a drip irrigation system: using a drip tube, a temporary wick, or a plastic bottle.

The first method (drip tube) will allow you to adjust the frequency of supplying liquid to the soil. To install it, you will need to.

1. hang a container with water above the height of the pot. A plastic bottle can be used as a container.
2. The tip of the system is attached to the container, lowering the water-laden tube into the ground.
3. The drip tip control wheel is switched to the water supply. Within a few days, you will have to monitor the water level and speed of the water supply, but you do not have to worry about the flowers at all.

To make the second method (improvised wick), you will need.

1. a material that can be made into a wick (nylon fabric, shoelace, thick wool thread, or twisted bandages)
2. a bucket or bottle of water.
3. a nail to hold the wick in the soil.

During installation, twist the wick and place one end in the water and the other end in the pot. Secure the wick to the ground with a nail or other suitable object.

The third method (plastic bottles) is considered to be the most common and budget option. For fabrication, all you need is a bottle and a little florist power: Use an awl to punch a few holes in the cap and cut the bottom off.

Next, bury the bottle in the ground, neck down, with water pouring out of the sky. Thus, the roots gradually absorb the water. The most important thing is not to forget to add water to the bottle.

Drip Irrigation Equipment That Can Be Found in Stores

For automatic drip irrigation of indoor plants, use a drip irrigation device – a conical drip head that draws water from a nearby tank through a hose.

You can set the desired level of water supply directly through the cone. To do this, it must be submerged in the ground for about 10 cm. During the day, the device can use up to 80-100 ml. of water.

But remember that for plants that consume a lot of water, you must install several of these drippers at once.

One of the disadvantages of this device is that the cones and tubes are often clogged, so they do not last long. However, the cost of drip irrigation is also very low. If needed, you can find an analog of this device.

For growers with dozens of houseplants, a watering kit called the Weekend Watering Kit is perfect. It is made by Gardiner.

The automatic indoor plant watering system is designed for 36 flowers at a time. Despite its name, it is also perfect for everyday use.

How the unit works: A submersible pump pumps liquid from a nearby tank into a plant pot with a hose. The pump turns on automatically. The timer is set to supply water once a day for one minute.

The system has three different dispensers (they are colored differently from each other) to supply the fluid. They each have their own bandwidth. The working process starts with a sealed, moisture-proof transformer. It is connected to the grid and then used indoors or outdoors.

One of the drawbacks of the proposed system is that the fluid supply hoses are not long enough. Because of them, flowers can only stand side by side, which may not be very convenient in small spaces. The manufacturer recommends grouping plants together, with the main selection criterion being the need for watering.

The presence of large water tanks, wires, and transformers make the system, not the most aesthetically pleasing inside. But here you have to choose: beauty or convenience.

What Other Ways of Automatic Watering

The popularity of automatic watering equipment is growing every year. well-known companies such as Brigadier Werkzeuge (Switzerland), Weninger (Austria), and Gardena (Germany) are engaged in the development and release of the technology.

The products put on the market have different properties and are characterized by the following.
The way in which the electricity is obtained (from solar panels, batteries, or the grid)
The number of flowers to be fed (once or at a time)
The method of intake of the liquid (tank, pipe)
The method of its dissemination (using a pump or self-infusion).
Timer settings.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the most famous tools for plant care automation.

Ceramic Cone. It consists of several components: a ceramic cone, a container, and a plastic tube. The narrowed part is lowered into the ground and water is poured into the hole from above. Due to the pressure, the liquid slowly enters the ground. Thus, the water is supplied by the in-soil method and no special control is needed.

Capillary mat. This is a coating of moisture-absorbing material that is laid like a carpet on a flat surface where the flowers will stand later (for example, on a table). A film is placed under the mat. This is done to protect the surface from moisture deformation. One edge of the mat is lowered into a water container. The plants thus receive root watering.

Glass flask with ceramic cone. The tool is located directly in the soil. There, due to the capillary structure, it moistens the substrate evenly.

Individually watered potted plants. Its design consists of two parts: a reservoir (pot) and a pot that fits inside. The tank is filled with water by hand. The volume depends on the size of the tank. Usually, all reservoirs are sufficient to ensure that the flowers do not feel uncomfortable for a few weeks. However, the system only starts working after the roots have grown into the pot.

Conclusion

Therefore, the convenience of automatic plant watering systems should not be overlooked. In particular, they are suitable for growing a large number of plants at home, as well as for frequent and prolonged absences of the grower. Flower lovers can try to make their own drip irrigation systems. However, this option will take more time than purchasing off-the-shelf equipment. Therefore, it is much easier to order versus wholesale watering cans and all necessary accessories on RunSun online.