Watering Systems

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As I work out of town some weekends during the summer I am considering installing a watering system in one of my bonsai areas. My wife is kind enough to water for me, but she has her own gardening projects and watering everything every day, upwards of twice per day, it's a big job for anyone. I would hand water when not on the road, but am considering a timed system to help ease the stress.

This subject has likely been discussed, but I'd like your take on watering systems. Costs, pros and cons, brands to avoid, ease of use and installation, etc. Your thoughts are appreciated!
 

sorce

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Its better to cuss out technology than the wife!

Kudos!

Kudelos!

This is a cool cross training video I watched last night....

Gadgets and stuff. Excessive? I reckon!

Sorce
 

justBonsai

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I use spot spitters and seem to be pretty popular for water systems.

You can build a reliable water system under $100. I use one of those green Rain Bird timers from Home Depot, costs $40. It's a timer and valve in one unit. Attach it directly to your water source and run 1/2 inch tubing along where your trees are. Buy some 1/8 inch tubing and run a line + spot spitter from the 1/2 inch line for every tree you have. This is a pretty basic water system and easy to set up. Some other nutters are more fancy. Actually I will be getting fancy too.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rain-Bird-Electronic-Hose-Timer-1ZEHTMR/203209335
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rain-Bird-1-2-in-x-100-ft-Drip-Irrigation-Tubing-Coil-T70-100S/204751445
https://www.dripworks.com/spot-spit...Ew0Gfn-V_qobS0I1KV4O1riU3Xl2ej4Zt4aAiVw8P8HAQ
https://www.dripworks.com/1-8-polyethylene-micro-tubing

Drip emitters and the like use 1/4 inch tubing not 1/8.


I will be buying a rachio programmable timer that I can control via wifi. I will be leaving my trees under the care of my parents this summer and plan to use the water system to reduce the burden on them. For my new system I can considering an overhead watering emitter or sprinkler to drench the foliage and trunks. Might be a good idea considering my hot summers.
 

justBonsai

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New system installed.

I used a rain bird in line valve. This way you can wire an existing sprinkler timer or one of your choice to it.

Used 1/2 inch tubing and these elbow joints to make the frame work. You will need 3/4 inch male thread to compression fitting adaptor to go from valve to tubing From the 1/2 inch tubing I ran 1/8th inch tubing to spot spitters. Everything secured under the bench for a clean look and installed a water filter too.
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Jason Crump

Yamadori
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New system installed.

I used a rain bird in line valve. This way you can wire an existing sprinkler timer or one of your choice to it.

Used 1/2 inch tubing and these elbow joints to make the frame work. You will need 3/4 inch male thread to compression fitting adaptor to go from valve to tubing From the 1/2 inch tubing I ran 1/8th inch tubing to spot spitters. Everything secured under the bench for a clean look and installed a water filter too.
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What is the spray pattern like?
 

Paradox

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I go way simpler than posted above.

I have a timer/valve like the rainbird, hose and lawn spinkler set to water just the area my trees are in.

Works great and the trees were tgrilled with their daily AM watering.

A drip system will not work with the soil I use (lava, pumice mix) due to the large (1/4 -3/8 inch) particle size. A drip emitter will deliver water to one small area of the pot and run through. So unless you want to put several emitters in a pot, the tree won't get proper watering. With all the tubing required, it was just simpler and less headaches to go with the lawn sprinkler.
 

justBonsai

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What is the spray pattern like?
Something between 90 and 150 degrees. Paradox makes a good point on drip systems. With coarse bonsai substrates you will likely have uneven watering with a single emmitter. You just need to experiment and find what works. Conversely a single sprinkler or overhead system may have better coverage and will be easier to set up but a system like that also wastes a lot of water. Given I live in Southern California, although recently out of drought something like that isn't ideal.
 
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