To determine which system is best for your plants, you’ll have to look at what your garden needs specifically.
If there are only a few potted plants and succulents to take care of, something simple like drip watering or a self-watering pot is ideal. For those with large scale gardens ranging from fully grown plants to seedlings, an irrigation pump or mini greenhouse might be more suitable.
You’ll also have to consider how much autonomy you want the system to have. Some people would like their irrigation set up to do everything for them, which means installing pumps, hoses, and timers. Others might be happy to turn on the faucet and let the system take over, so it all depends on your preferences.
How long you want the system installed will also dictate which method you choose. Most people opt for the simpler options like wick watering for shorter periods, but if you’re after something you can leave on all season to do the work for you, soaker hoses and complete irrigation systems are ideal.
Easy DIY Wick System
Making your own wick water system is one of the easiest short term irrigation solutions around.
If you have succulents that need taking care of while you’re away, try out this simple DIY project to keep them hydrated and healthy.
Materials
- Plastic bucket
- Nuts or bolts for weights
- Cotton shoelaces (one for each small succulent pot)
- Tie a bolt to the end of every shoelace you plan on using.
- Soak the shoelace in water so it’s completely drenched.
- Put the bolt end of the shoelace in the plastic bucket.
- Place the bucket higher than your plant containers and fill it to the top with water.
- Give your succulents a light watering and then bury the non-bolt end of the shoelaces a few inches into the soil.
- The water will drip into the soil over time slowly, meaning you don’t have to water them.
- Easy DIY Drip System
- A drip irrigation system delivers a slow flow of water to the root system under the soil, and at a rate that makes it easily absorbable by the plant.
- There are loads of DIY kits for making this type of watering system, but if you want to test it out in your succulent garden outside, you can do it with a few pieces of equipment first.
- Another cheap method of drip water is using ice cubes. This alternative method of drip irrigation is usually used with plants like orchids.
- Materials
- Soaker hose
- Wire garden pins
- Mulch
- Step by Step Guide
- Dig a few inches into the soil underneath where your plants are going to find the best spot for your soaker hose. You want it to run parallel to the roots of the plants without interfering with any of them.
- Lay the soaker hose in the position you want and connect the other end to the garden faucet.
- With the hose in position, fasten it into place with the wire garden pins.
- Cover the newly installed hose with the garden mulch, but do not put any soil on top of it.
- Turn on the faucet of the garden to allow it to water your plants slowly.
- Related Questions
- Installing an irrigation system to keep your succulents hydrated and happy is just one of the ways you can care for them with minimal fuss.
- If you have questions about watering your plants or other aspects of plant parenting, we’ve answered some common FAQs to help you out.