What do you guys use for an automatic watering system?

SubJeezy

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I spend a lot of days away from home for a good chunk of the day. With this borderline oppressive heat coming through, many of my trees require watering a few times a day. Just curious what you guys use as far as automatic watering systems. Looking for a stand alone system. Don't need anything complicated. Just a timer a water pump and some tubing. Thanks!
 
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Hi,
From timers attached to hoses with batteries to control the valves to brands like Hunter or others that use a power supply and solenoid valves for multiple stations.
Also the search function on this site will reveal there are a huge number of options from sprinklers to drippers as there are many threads on here to read. I am sure your question will be answered a 100 times over.
Charles
 
I live in San Diego where it is warm - and occasionally hot - all summer long without any rain at all - and I am often gone several weeks at a time due to work. I got a B-Hyve faucet mount timer and some Antelco micro-sprinklers (https://www.dripdepot.com/product/antelco-cfd-downspray) and haven't had any problems with keeping my plants alive and healthy... The B-Hyve sprinkler is a "smart" timer and it allows me to change the watering schedules remotely as necessary depending on the weather and temperature.
 
I live in San Diego where it is warm - and occasionally hot - all summer long without any rain at all - and I am often gone several weeks at a time due to work. I got a B-Hyve faucet mount timer and some Antelco micro-sprinklers (https://www.dripdepot.com/product/antelco-cfd-downspray) and haven't had any problems with keeping my plants alive and healthy... The B-Hyve sprinkler is a "smart" timer and it allows me to change the watering schedules remotely as necessary depending on the weather and temperature.

So you just attach the b-hyve to your faucet, and then you run the irrigation tubing from the faucet to your bonsai garden? Looks like a good setup!
 
I live in San Diego where it is warm - and occasionally hot - all summer long without any rain at all - and I am often gone several weeks at a time due to work. I got a B-Hyve faucet mount timer and some Antelco micro-sprinklers (https://www.dripdepot.com/product/antelco-cfd-downspray) and haven't had any problems with keeping my plants alive and healthy... The B-Hyve sprinkler is a "smart" timer and it allows me to change the watering schedules remotely as necessary depending on the weather and temperature.


Cool, I'll look into that. Seems like an easy enough set up, and will work well for what I need! Thanks, I appreciate the input!
 
Orbit battery operated timer
Hose
Lawn sprinkler
Unfortunately I need something that can spray directly into the pots. We're on watering schedules here in Colorado, so I have to get as much water as I can in the pots in a relatively short amount of time so I don't get a letter from big brother. The Orbit seems like a good choice, and the micro sprinklers mentioned above are pretty much exactly what I was looking for.
 
Unfortunately I need something that can spray directly into the pots. We're on watering schedules here in Colorado, so I have to get as much water as I can in the pots in a relatively short amount of time so I don't get a letter from big brother. The Orbit seems like a good choice, and the micro sprinklers mentioned above are pretty much exactly what I was looking for.
You can do a drip system just reduce to the drip line and put emitters in each pot. There are emitters that spray in a circle rather than a single drip which won't work if you use an open inorganic soil because it will just run through.

The same website linked above has other types of emitters. The one up there might not work well in small pots
 
So you just attach the b-hyve to your faucet, and then you run the irrigation tubing from the faucet to your bonsai garden? Looks like a good setup!
Correct - the irrigation tubing will connect to the faucet timer. Keep in mind that the b-hyve products need to access your WiFi in order for them to work - and the faucet mount timers need to be connected via a "smart hub" transmitter that b-hyve sells... Read up on it and make sure it'll work for you.
 
You can do a drip system just reduce to the drip line and put emitters in each pot. There are emitters that spray in a circle rather than a single drip which won't work if you use an open inorganic soil because it will just run through.

The same website linked above has other types of emitters. The one up there might not work well in small pots
Definitely going to do my research on it, good starting point tho.
 
Unfortunately I need something that can spray directly into the pots. We're on watering schedules here in Colorado, so I have to get as much water as I can in the pots in a relatively short amount of time so I don't get a letter from big brother. The Orbit seems like a good choice, and the micro sprinklers mentioned above are pretty much exactly what I was looking for.

What do you mean by watering schedule? Is that an HOA thing?
 
Drip Irrigation Kits, 100ft/30M Garden Plant Watering Sprinkler System with Distribution Tubing Hose Adjustable Nozzles, Automatic Mist Cooling Irrigation Set for Garden Lawn, Patio https://a.co/d/32Kqyis

Orbit 62061Z Single-Outlet Hose Watering Timer, 1 Outlet, Green https://a.co/d/fzVdTvX

That got me started last year. ~$80. This year I replaced the tubing and some sprinkler heads with slightly better ones from Lowe’s.
 
What do you mean by watering schedule? Is that an HOA thing?
No, city ordinance. You can only water your lawn on specific days. Typically 2 or 3 days per week. So if i had a lawn sprinkler running multiple times every day wasting water, I'd get a fine.
 
No, city ordinance. You can only water your lawn on specific days. Typically 2 or 3 days per week. So if i had a lawn sprinkler running multiple times every day wasting water, I'd get a fine.

Ah. Gotcha. I take it you're in a desert environment where water is in short supply?
 
I'm also on the orbit and micro sprinkler train. Ive come to like the pot misters as my preferred spay nozel on my trees. I do 2x 3 minutes in the morning and at noon on hot days.

Bigger pots get more than one spray head.
 
I'm also on the orbit and micro sprinkler train. Ive come to like the pot misters as my preferred spay nozel on my trees. I do 2x 3 minutes in the morning and at noon on hot days.

Bigger pots get more than one spray head.
Yea, this is what I was coming to as well. Thanks for the input!
 
I'm also on the orbit and micro sprinkler train. Ive come to like the pot misters as my preferred spay nozel on my trees. I do 2x 3 minutes in the morning and at noon on hot days.

Bigger pots get more than one spray head.
Just wondering if you have any information on the pot mister spray nozzles you use?
 
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