Cheap and Easy Automatic House Plant Watering System

Step 5 Finishing up

Fill the bucket with water, it is important to fill it up as much as possible - the efficiency goes down with the water level. Turn on the pump and adjust the valve.

The valve works on suction, as the air rushes by in the tee fitting it will suck water from the valve and that water will be pushed along through the outgoing line to your plant. When it is on it sounds like a coffee pot brewing.

Adjusting the valve can be tricky - if the valve is open too much air will just escape and make bubbles in the bucket, but you want to get enough water to your plant. Mine are adjusted down pretty far - after all 30 minutes of a drop of water a second is actually quite a bit of water. I "calibrated" mine with a measuring cup.

Maintaining the system is minimal, just keep the water above the 1/2 line and you'll be okay. Also, keep things from floating around in the bucket. Check the lines to your plants every once in a while, the water can come out with a surprising amount of force - I found when my bucket will totally full the line would spit water over the edge of the pot.

Note: The photographs in this instructable were setup - the one in my office actually follows all the steps :)

Comments

[flashj]

I'm trying this method but I'm finding that after about 5 minutes bubbles stop climbing to the end of the tube and all I get is air and some water drops clinging to the inside of the tube.
Not sure if I need more water or more air power.

[HomeDepotGrower]

I am gonna say more air is the issue. I have a whisper 10 and all I get is exactly what you described. I am thinking great air pressure will cause a faster stream thus sucking in more water.

[2 stroke]

you should add a anti siphon valve