Cheap irrigation setup to sustain 1-2 plants for a week

[ActivatedAlmonds52]

I grow 1-2 medium sized plants at a time (4ga/15L fabric pots, soil). I use about 1L of water per 24h for each one. Is something like this reliable?

https://www.growin.de/irrigation-ki...?___store=gi_sv_c_en&___from_store=gi_sv_c_de

I'm aware that I also need a water tank and a timer. I just want to be able to leave town for a few days whenever I want.

 

[CrashMagnet]

I've been using these, and haven't had issues with them at all. No moving parts... In my last experience with using a pump and timer the timer failed on (or I programmed it wrong), emptied the reservoir the first night and burned up the pump.

 

[ActivatedAlmonds52]

I've been using these, and haven't had issues with them at all. No moving parts... In my last experience with using a pump and timer the timer failed on (or I programmed it wrong), emptied the reservoir the first night and burned up the pump.

Looks interesting, never heard of those. Although it doesn't look like they can hold a whole lot of water. How often do you have to refill them?

 

[CrashMagnet]

Looks interesting, never heard of those. Although it doesn't look like they can hold a whole lot of water. How often do you have to refill them?

The smaller ones go about a week with a plant in veg, a few days in flower. The larger pots last a lot longer depending on the size of the plant. This one went 10 days in flower while I was in Costa Rica. I think I could have gotten two full weeks had I topped it off right before I left.

 

[archtype111]

I purchased a set to use in my greenhouse this summer for when we go on vacation. Glad to hear that they worked well for you. I will post in my grow once the summer is up and running as well.

 

[ActivatedAlmonds52]

The smaller ones go about a week with a plant in veg, a few days in flower. The larger pots last a lot longer depending on the size of the plant. This one went 10 days in flower while I was in Costa Rica. I think I could have gotten two full weeks had I topped it off right before I left.

Cool. I think I'll get one when I need it. I rarely leave town, unfortunately.

What kind of weird strain is that in your picture?

 

[zem]

I left my ebb and flow several times for more than 2 weeks longest was 18 days and the system never failed. In my decades of growing i rarely had to replace submersible pumps or timers. I could have set a second pump and timer as a second source for backup but being so rare i took the risk.

 

[CrashMagnet]

Cool. I think I'll get one when I need it. I rarely leave town, unfortunately.

What kind of weird strain is that in your picture?

That was a Supafreak, a more stable version of Freakshow. They've been around a long time.

 

[CrashMagnet]

I left my ebb and flow several times for more than 2 weeks longest was 18 days and the system never failed. In my decades of growing i rarely had to replace submersible pumps or timers. I could have set a second pump and timer as a second source for backup but being so rare i took the risk.

When I was running a 6 plant DWC I was able to leave it for a couple of weeks with no major issues. I did have to put a float valve in so I could keep the water level constant.

 

[ActivatedAlmonds52]

When I was running a 6 plant DWC I was able to leave it for a couple of weeks with no major issues. I did have to put a float valve in so I could keep the water level constant.

One more question about the AC Infinity base: can I put it under the pot at any time? Or does it require setting up before I transplant from cup to pot?

 

[CrashMagnet]

One more question about the AC Infinity base: can I put it under the pot at any time? Or does it require setting up before I transplant from cup to pot?

It has to have some established roots, deep enough to reach the moisture coming from the bottom. I lost a seedling early on, because I stopped watering it a little too soon. But you can put it on the pot immediately and water from the top until its roots get deep enough.