The automatic plant watering system uses intelligent methods to free us from the complicated work of regular watering. It is especially suitable for plant lovers who often travel, are busy at work, or have many potted plants. It can accurately supply water according to the environment, soil moisture or preset time. Not only can it effectively prevent plants from withering due to lack of water or root rot due to overwatering, it can also significantly improve maintenance efficiency and plant survival rate. It is a powerful helper for modern home gardening and balcony planting.
How automatic plant watering systems work
The core principle of this is to simulate the manual watering process, but achieve automated control. The system is generally composed of a controller, water delivery pipes, and watering terminals (such as drip arrows, sprinklers, and seepage pipes). The controller can be said to be the hub, and can send out watering signals based on timers, soil moisture sensors or smart home instructions.
If the set conditions are met, the controller will open the solenoid valve, and the water flow will be distributed to each potted plant or planting area through the main pipe and capillary tube. Drip irrigation can drop water directly to the roots of plants, resulting in high water utilization and little evaporation loss. There is a system based on soil moisture, which will be more intelligent and will only turn on when the soil is dry to a set threshold, achieving true water supply on demand.
How to choose automatic watering equipment for plants
When selecting equipment, you must first consider the application scenario. If you have several pots of flowers on your balcony, a simple timer coupled with a micro drip irrigation kit will be enough. If it is used for the entire garden or greenhouse, you have to calculate the water pressure and flow rate, choose a controller with more branches and a thicker main pipe, and maybe a booster pump.
Secondly, we need to pay attention to the reliability and scalability of core components. It is best for the controller to have multi-time programming and manual triggering functions. The accuracy and weather resistance of the soil moisture sensor are very critical. Pipes and joints must be resistant to UV rays and not easy to age. For those users who are pursuing intelligent linkage, they can choose models that support Wi-Fi and can be controlled through mobile APPs to facilitate remote viewing and adjustment, and provide global procurement services for weak current intelligent products!
What steps are needed to install an automatic watering system for plants?
Before installation, it is necessary to plan the water route diagram. According to the plant layout, determine the location of the controller, the direction of the main pipeline, and the distribution of each watering point. Measure the length of the required pipeline properly, and then prepare scissors, hole punches, and various specifications of joints and fixing buckles.
During installation, the connected controller must first be connected to the water source. The water source is usually a faucet or one of those reserved interfaces, and then the main water pipe can be laid. At the location where the flow needs to be diverted to reach the specific flower pot, use a hole punch to punch a hole in the main pipe, insert the diverter connector into it, and then connect the smaller capillary tube. Finally, insert the drip arrow or nozzle into the end of the capillary tube and fix it near the root of each plant. After the installation is completed, a water flow test must be carried out to check whether all interfaces are leaking and whether the water flow at each water outlet is in a normal state.
How to set up an automatic watering schedule for plants
The key to setting a watering plan is to imitate the watering schedule of the plant's native environment. For most indoor foliage plants, it can be set to water every two to three days, with each watering lasting five to ten minutes, as long as the soil is kept moist. For succulents, the interval should be extended to a week or even longer, and the duration of each watering also needs to be shortened.
To make a more scientific setting, it needs to be dynamically adjusted in conjunction with the season, weather and plant growth stage. In summer, due to the faster evaporation rate, the frequency and duration of watering can be appropriately increased; in winter, when the plants are in a dormant state, they should be reduced. If the system is connected to a soil moisture sensor, the trigger humidity can be set within a range suitable for plant growth (for example, watering starts when the humidity is below 30% and stops when it reaches 60%).
How to maintain automatic plant watering system
The key to long-term stable operation of the system is regular maintenance. All pipes and joints must be inspected every month to see if there are cracks or looseness caused by aging due to sunlight. Drop arrows and nozzles are easily clogged by scale or soil particles, so they need to be removed and cleaned regularly to ensure that the water can remain unobstructed.
The battery built into the controller must be replaced on time, otherwise the program settings will be lost due to a power outage. In areas with cold winters, if the system is installed outdoors, the water in the pipes must be drained before winter to prevent freezing and cracking of the pipes. Before re-opening every spring, a comprehensive inspection and flushing is required.
What are the common problems with automatic watering of plants?
A common problem is uneven watering. Generally speaking, this is caused by unreasonable design of the pipeline and insufficient water pressure at the far end. This situation can be solved by optimizing the layout of the pipeline, such as using a ring main pipe, or adding a pressure regulating valve at the remote end, or adding a low-pressure booster pump. There is also the problem of miswatering, for example, the system will still start on a rainy day.
If you want to solve the problem of mistaken watering, you can install a rain sensor, which will automatically skip the preset watering cycle when it rains. For systems using soil moisture sensors, if continuous watering or never watering occurs, the sensor probe may be broken, placed inappropriately (such as too close to the main root or pot wall), or the set dry and wet thresholds are unreasonable, and the sensor must be recalibrated or replaced.
Have you ever tried to get an automatic watering system for your plants at home? What is the most challenging problem you have encountered during installation or use? Welcome to share your experiences and tips in the comment area. If you think this article can be helpful, please like it and share it with more friends in need.
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