New Simplified Way to Water

Nectarivorous · Sep 3, 2021

frostyfarms213 said:
also early on you said sprayer, what type of sprayer are you talking about

The ideal sprayer for this application I believe is the Spectrum or more commonly Vortex sprayer you can get from Philmac irrigation. Like those little 8-spray Octas people use but they block and only shoot those 8 Jets out ..

A Vortex can be turned down or up using the screw fitting on top, right down to a dribble next to a small seedling, but with 200 psi you'll get a full 360 circle of rain like spray up to 4 feet across Cost about $2 each at your irrigation retailler.

Attaches to 4mm line, and because it spikes into the ground you can move it around the pots in seconds.

ComfortablyNumb · Sep 3, 2021

Nectarivorous said:
Hopefully this terrible drawing helps? 3-gal pot, stakes go in, tray sits on those. Water feeds straight into the tray where it pools and 'rains' through the perforations in the bottom.

Got it. No sprayer needed. Let it rain.

lvstealth · Sep 3, 2021

smartthings is a free app that lets you control smart plugs and smart lights and smart anything. i just prefer it to google home or alexa. and it is free and easy and not on any amazon or google system.

the smart sensor i happen to be using (just because i have it) is a 4 in one (temp/humidity/motion/lux) it was about $30.

the smart valve is just a wifi controlled valve that cuts off or on any tube up to a garden hose. the one i have was about $40, but there are cheaper ones, this one is metered but i dont use that part. i just use it to drain the dehumidifier. makes it so i dont have to bend over and fight it. where it sits, gravity will push out all but about an inch and a half of water from the tank.

i just put a longer tubing on the dehumidifier and laid it in the closest plant. a 5 gallon bag with an auto mamba in it.

right now it reads 43% and i figure it needs another day to need watering. whatever it reads when i think it needs watering is what i will set it on. 54% was what it was when i stuck it to a plant i just watered about 8 hours ago... so not exact, but i set it at 55% to turn it off.

Nectarivorous · Sep 3, 2021

ComfortablyNumb said:
Got it. No sprayer needed. Let it rain.

Will be sure to post once it's ready. I think it's the most obvious solution to a common issue, especially in Coco where flow rates clearly can have a big effect on watering efficiency and preserving the integrity of the root zone.

frostyfarms213 · Sep 3, 2021

Nectarivorous said:
The ideal sprayer for this application I believe is the Spectrum or more commonly Vortex sprayer you can get from Philmac irrigation. Like those little 8-spray Octas people use but they block and only shoot those 8 Jets out ..

A Vortex can be turned down or up using the screw fitting on top, right down to a dribble next to a small seedling, but with 200 psi you'll get a full 360 circle of rain like spray up to 4 feet across Cost about $2 each at your irrigation retailler.

Attaches to 4mm line, and because it spikes into the ground you can move it around the pots in seconds.

yea i used those in my food garden, i opted not to use them on my indoor plants because they would likely splash and make a mess when trying to get them max coverage

Nectarivorous · Sep 3, 2021

frostyfarms213 said:
yea i used those in my food garden, i opted not to use them on my indoor plants because they would likely splash and make a mess when trying to get them max coverage

Oh cool. Yeah I used to put them in every garden system I built, such a great solution. Can see what you mean about splash factor. I'm gonna keep pursuing my 'rain dish' solution

ComfortablyNumb · Sep 3, 2021

Nectarivorous said:
Oh cool. Yeah I used to put them in every garden system I built, such a great solution. Can see what you mean about splash factor. I'm gonna keep pursuing my 'rain dish' solution

I used to do sprinklers for a lawn company way back when. I used these up inside all the arbor vita' and evergreens. They loved it. I called them adjustable mist heads. Way too much spray for a tent.

Let it rain.

frostyfarms213 · Sep 3, 2021

ComfortablyNumb said:
Try this one;

Amazon.com

so the problem with these is the board breaks down after a while becuase it gets into the circuit board not to mentioned the copper affected by the minerals in the soil and or nitrients

frostyfarms213 · Sep 3, 2021

Nectarivorous said:
Oh cool. Yeah I used to put them in every garden system I built, such a great solution. Can see what you mean about splash factor. I'm gonna keep pursuing my 'rain dish' solution

definitely, cant wait to see it

ComfortablyNumb · Sep 3, 2021

frostyfarms213 said:
so the problem with these is the board breaks down after a while becuase it gets into the circuit board not to mentioned the copper affected by the minerals in the soil and or nitrients

Right, but I don't have specs on the other one. And at $2 each, it's a consumable item after 10 grows maybe. Is that cost efficient enough?

lvstealth · Sep 3, 2021

my internet is reliable and its backup is bluetooth. so i have no issues with using smart anything. my life is made much easier using some smart things. like not bending over to empty a tank!

im just emptying the tank into a plant when a set point is met and stopping it at a second set point.

i see lots of folks with all kinds of set ups and they all fail at some inconvenient point, knock on cellulose - nothing i have on a smart anything has failed me.

Aqua Man · Sep 3, 2021

Nectarivorous said:
You'd still have to have the timer linked to the pump no? Otherwise the pump is on 24/7 pumping into a closed system for most of that. Not ideal for most pumps. Unless I've misunderstood what you're saying

Nah not on a timer... from sensor to both pump and solenoid so the pump turns on whenever a plant calls for water... but tbh I think this stuff has been done.

If you push the soil testers all the way to the bottom they also work we but but doing it the way this thread has said will ensure they are in the proper zone.

As for auto watering on a sensor system I kinda feel it's all or nothing. Cost prob not gonna be feasible for most

Nectarivorous · Sep 3, 2021

Aqua Man said:
Nah not on a timer... from sensor to both pump and solenoid so the pump turns on whenever a plant calls for water... but tbh I think this stuff has been done.

If you push the soil testers all the way to the bottom they also work we but but doing it the way this thread has said will ensure they are in the proper zone.

As for auto watering on a sensor system I kinda feel it's all or nothing. Cost prob not gonna be feasible for most

The 'rain dish' will charge everything. I got you

lvstealth · Sep 3, 2021

i dug around in my box of smarts and found a basement water detector that goes with a sump pump. it turns it on and off at set points, i wonder if i could use that somehow... i no longer have a basement need.

i will have to see what a sump pump is/does. it was in moms house and was working. it looks like i have to sit it in water and it pumps. lol.

ComfortablyNumb · Sep 3, 2021

frostyfarms213 said:
so the problem with these is the board breaks down after a while becuase it gets into the circuit board not to mentioned the copper affected by the minerals in the soil and or nitrients

I do want a more perm solution, and I'll get one. I just have to find out where to source it.

ComfortablyNumb · Sep 3, 2021

However, in the meantime, all we have to do is probe the pot and then water it. Simple, easy and most likely what we will be doing with our tiny grow.

ComfortablyNumb · Sep 3, 2021

lvstealth said:
my internet is reliable and its backup is bluetooth. so i have no issues with using smart anything. my life is made much easier using some smart things. like not bending over to empty a tank!

im just emptying the tank into a plant when a set point is met and stopping it at a second set point.

i see lots of folks with all kinds of set ups and they all fail at some inconvenient point, knock on cellulose - nothing i have on a smart anything has failed me.

Hey man, if it's working for you, then go for it.

Aqua Man · Sep 3, 2021

ComfortablyNumb said:
Right, but I don't have specs on the other one. And at $2 each, it's a consumable item after 10 grows maybe. Is that cost efficient enough?

Idk works for me.

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lvstealth said:
smartthings is a free app that lets you control smart plugs and smart lights and smart anything

Hmmm so much for controlling government with it.

ComfortablyNumb · Sep 3, 2021

Aqua Man said:
Hmmm so much for controlling government with it.

Give us time. You can't just spring a project like that on us and expect instant answers.

lvstealth · Sep 3, 2021

the word smart should never be used with the word government without the word ass in the middle

New Simplified Way to Water

New Simplified Way to Water

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