Automatic watering system

[peterc10]

Looking for an automatic watering system so I can put SWMBO's pot plants in one place and get them sprinkled when we are away. Bewildering choice when looking at Amazon, so looking for recommendations from those who have one.

Are there ones that can connect to web with app so that I can check on weather and control it from wherever I am? Or maybe keep it simple (and cheap) and just allow 10 minute burst every night no matter what? .

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Buy an Autotrail and take the plants with you. Sorted

 

[Brains]

 

[Langtoftlad]

I used to have a Gardenia system in my previous house - no doubt the tech has moved on since then.
But it was fairly straightforward.
The kit was a timer on the tap, connected to a pressure reducer connected to a 'ring main' pipe which ran around the garden. Micro pipe branches split off from that to individual plants/shrubs. You choose the various tips. How many litres an hour, or sprays

It was very good an certainly accelerated growth.
One suggestion that once fitted, contact your water supplier and negotiate a discount on the sewerage rate [number of tips = so many litres of water not entering their sewerage system = discount]

 

[PJGWiltshire]

I had a hoselock timer control attached to a length of hose pipe which then connected to a cheap irrigation system bought of bay. Controller £30 system £10 set it twice a day every day for one hour each.

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[TCG]

I had a hoselock timer control attached to a length of hose pipe which then connected to a cheap irrigation system bought of bay. Controller £30 system £10 set it twice a day every day for one hour each.

+1 =KISS

 

[John Barrett]

I bought a Gardena timer over ten years ago with all the associated sprays and microdrips. It works off a 9V battery and has never let us down.

 

[Larrynwin]

In our last house I used Hozelock water computers on patios and in a 42ft poly tunnel fed through 13mm mainline then 4/5mm tubes with adjustable spray nozzles.
It enabled multi watering times of varied lengths with nozzles restricting output depending on plant etc.
A good system that served us well for years.

 

[deleted79651]

I leave the garden to take its chances [fairly safe in Scotland, given the level of rainfall ...]; it's not scruffy, it's a nature garden with ample daisies, dandelions and clover, plus heather, clematis, red hot pokers, roses and heebies to feed the birds, butterflies and bees. So, I am doing my bit for nature by doing sweet FA ... Nature IS wonderful ...

Steve

 

[mitzimad]

ive found the hozeloc ones dont last at present we dont have one atal as the one i got out doesnt work

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[Spanner]

ive found the hozeloc ones dont last at present we dont have one atal as the one i got out doesnt work

I’ve had no trouble with my Hozelock automatic timer and it hasn’t missed a beat in over 15 years, works great for our hanging baskets when we’re away.
A friend had two fail but they were located in a very hot greenhouse.
Mines fitted to a tap inside an outbuilding and therefore not subject to sunlight or freezing conditions.

 

[Offagain]

We have hozelock systems at home - three timers for three different areas of garden, one for the greenhouse, one for the back borders and one for the front - and in two holiday lets.
One thing to watch is that if you’re going away, the batteries are changed whether they need it or not, as when they go flat they fail permanently on, so you’re in danger of having a flood (speaking from recent experience!)
Also, my under gardener informs me that the genuine hozelock spraying fittings aren’t as good as some others you can get from t’interweb.

 

[Raul]

+1 for hozelock, we had one before we moved, operated by AA batteries and branched up with micro irrigating tubing and various jets.

 

[CutThroatJake]

I also use a Gardena system to water my lawn and know they also do a system for potted plants...not cheap but very good products

(https://www.gardena.com/uk/products/guidance/intro-micro-drip-system/)

 

[Diabalo]

I did this one year with an automatic timer kit from Aldi, hose pipe into the timer then onto a manifold with lines out for watering. It worked a treat, came back from 2 weeks away to find all I had watered was the garden path as a fox had chewed through the first part. You live and learn.

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[peterc10]

Thanks everybody.

My requirements are much simpler than most of you. We have about 8 plants in pots and we will put them together in one place to water for 10 minutes every night. The rest of the garden will have to fend for itself, as it always does when we are in Europe. I have ended up buying s Chinese cheapie from Amazon that is supposed to include a rain sensor so it can adjust amount depending upon wet weather, which may save us a few pence on the water bill. It only cost £26 so not expecting much. Expecting it delivered today and I will report back when I have tested it. The advantage with Amazon is that if it is no good it will go back.