How to make a plastic bottle sprinkler. Drip irrigation from a bottle

What is drip irrigation. This is a metered watering method that is carried out directly under the root of the plant. Thanks to this irrigation, the root system receives the required amount of moisture. To create such structures requires a minimum of effort, low water consumption, as well as low material costs. If you wish, you can do drip irrigation from plastic bottles with your own hands. This is a great alternative to more expensive systems. Everything is made very quickly and easily. It is enough to have in stock the required amount of consumables and only a few hours of free time.

Advantages of drip irrigation from plastic bottles

• Saving water 2-3 times compared to other irrigation methods.
• Targeted irrigation supplies moisture only to bushes of vegetable, fruit or ornamental crops - the weeds are left without feeding.
• Autonomy. You can leave tender freshly planted pepper or tomato seedlings unattended for a week, and they will not dry out.
• The soil does not harden or crust over, as with abundant watering.
• The drops do not fall on the leaves. The problem of plant burns in hot weather and fungal diseases or rot with regular evening watering is eliminated.
• The water does not run into puddles and does not fall on the paths between the beds.

What plants can be irrigated using drip irrigation from plastic bottles

Today summer residents use a drip irrigation system in orchards and vegetable gardens, in greenhouses and in open beds. + This method ensures the supply of water directly to the plant roots during the entire growing season. It can be used to irrigate all vegetable and berry crops:

• Cucumbers;
• Potatoes;
• Tomatoes;
• Raspberries;
• Strawberries;
• Grapes, etc.

What is required for drip irrigation from plastic bottles

To make drip irrigation from bottles with your own hands, you will need:

• A knife for cutting containers. You can use scissors.
• Sewing needle for punctures. But it is better to use nails or an awl.
• Plastic bottles. For the manufacture of drip irrigation, containers are suitable, the volume of which is from 1 to 2 liters. If the system will be installed under shrubs or young trees, then 5 liter bottles can be used.
• Nylon tights. They can be replaced with cotton material if necessary.
• An empty ballpoint pen refill.

Hanging method of drip irrigation from plastic bottles

This watering option is more suitable for low-growing plants such as cucumbers, for example, or herbs (parsley, basil, lettuce). In order to perform such a system, a base or frame made of wood or metal is required. The frame for bottles is made in the form of the letter "P" or "G" and is placed above ground level at a height of no more than 50 cm, otherwise the drops will simply hit the ground, creating depressions and splashing heavily on the sides.

Bottles are selected in accordance with this parameter (their length should not exceed 40 cm). The number of containers depends on the number of plants that need drip irrigation - one bottle is placed above each bush. It is best to hang the container with water so that the drops do not fall on the plant itself, but fall between the neighboring bushes. This will avoid sunburn and various infections due to the green mass getting wet.

Holes are made in each lid, the size and number of which depend on the required watering intensity - the more holes, the faster the water will flow out of the bottle. Now you can cut off the bottoms of the bottles, and make holes near the cut edges. Through these holes, the bottle will be attached to the frame with a wire or rope. Drip irrigation is ready, water is added through the bottoms.

Drip Irrigation Method From Plastic Bottles And Rod

This irrigation system can be made in two ways: by fixing the rod at the bottom of the bottle or at its neck. In the first case, the bottle can be installed on the ground without additional devices, in the second, the process of adding water to the bottle is greatly simplified.

In any case, the first step is to prepare the rod. To do this, wash out the remaining ink from it (in the case of using refills from a ballpoint pen) and close one of its ends with a plug. To do this, you can use a piece of a match or a wooden toothpick. 3-4 millimeters from the closed end, using an awl, make a small hole.

Now, 1-2 centimeters from the bottom of our container, we make a hole into which we insert a rod. It is no coincidence that the word “capacity” is used instead of the word “bottle”, since the bottom of the container can be both at the bottom of the bottle and at its neck, depending on the method of manufacture you have chosen. If you have placed the rod at the neck of the bottle, then it (the neck) must be screwed with a cork. The upper part of the resulting container, and in fact the bottom of the bottle, is cut off with a knife or scissors.

It makes sense to “capture” 2-3 centimeters of its wall together with the cut-off bottom of the bottle. Having made a vertical cut on it, this part of the bottle can be used as a lid protecting the container from debris. Now we fill the bottle with water and see how quickly the liquid flows out through the hole made at the closed edge of the rod. The optimal rate is 10 drops in 5 minutes. The finished system is installed near the plant, and the end of the rod is placed in the immediate vicinity of the root system. For this, a container with a rod is attached to a peg of sufficient length using wire or tape. The free end of the peg is stuck into the ground next to the plant.

Underground method of drip irrigation from plastic bottles

To organize watering in this way, you will need a plastic container with a volume of 1.5–2 liters. It is necessary to make several holes in it with an awl or a gypsy needle at a distance of 3-4 cm from the bottom. The number of holes depends on the type of soil, for example, two will be enough for sandy soil, and at least four holes will have to be made for loamy soil. For watering moisture-loving plants, small holes are pierced along the entire surface of the bottle. Dig in the container between the plants upside down to a depth of about 10–12 cm, keeping the neck above the ground. Pour water through it with a watering can and screw on the lid, in which you make a hole in advance for air to escape.

Another option is to dig the bottle into the ground with the neck down, after making several holes in it and tightening the cap well. The bottom of the container is cut in such a way that a kind of lid is obtained, which will prevent the evaporation of water. This method of irrigation is more convenient, since the reservoir is filled with water through a fairly wide opening.

Drip irrigation from plastic bottles is an excellent way of irrigation for those summer residents who do not want to spend money on installing a complete system. It is cheap and combines all the qualities and advantages that ordinary do-it-yourself drip irrigation from plastic pipes has. As a temporary measure, such irrigation can be considered ideal. You can also see how to build it in the video.

In the country for watering, all means are good. Without timely moisture, not only plants will suffer, but also their owners, because they will be left without a crop. However, to make life easier for themselves, farmers come up with a lot of different devices for moistening the soil from materials that are found in everyday life. You can even do drip irrigation from plastic bottles with your own hands.

Let's start with the fact that not all summer cottages have a central water supply or a well. Collecting rainwater in barrels or other reservoirs is not always effective, especially during a dry season. And even when they are filled, moisture is collected in buckets or watering cans and carried by hand to the beds, which is physically difficult and takes a long time.

Drip irrigation from plastic bottles

A worthy replacement for these difficult watering options is the drip look. It is considered the most effective and most gentle for irrigation of fastidious plants. To do this, you only need to collect a sufficient number of empty plastic bottles.

It is better to use containers with a capacity of 1.5 or 2 liters, these are the most popular containers for various kinds of drinks. Therefore, each owner accumulates a lot of them. They are easily buried and carried around the site even when filled with water.

Pros of drip irrigation:

• there is a direct moistening of plant roots. Moisture is not sprayed, the soil is not eroded, the stems are not injured;
• such a system will not require serious costs. You just need to have a plastic container and water, and you do not need to buy an expensive branded drip system;
• with such watering, the soil is not waterlogged, ideal conditions for plant growth are created, and rotting of their roots is excluded;
• installation of such a system is extremely simple and does not entail the use of great efforts;
• economical water consumption is ensured, because it enters only certain places in the required amount;
• homemade drip irrigation helps out in the long absence of the owners. Provides plants with moisture without their participation.

Possible variations of watering containers

There are many different options for watering dishes, everyone chooses the right one for themselves, focusing on the required watering conditions and the type of soil.

The simplest methods using one bottle

It is necessary to take a plastic 2 - liter container and pierce the holes in a checkerboard pattern along its entire height. They can be done with a thick needle, awl, or thin nail. You will have to determine the number of holes experimentally; after the first use, you can add them. The bottle must be buried between the plants, bottom down, about 15 cm deep... The neck need not be screwed on with a lid, for the convenience of pouring water when needed. But if you nevertheless decide to close it, then you should make a hole in the cork. It is necessary to protect the bottle from squeezing in the absence of liquid in it.

You will find all the information about the irrigation system in the country from plastic pipes.

This method is suitable for plants planted opposite each other, then one source of moisture can be placed between them, puncturing holes on two adjacent sides.

So that the holes made are not clogged with earth, some craftsmen, before burying, put on nylon stockings on the container or wrap a thin cloth around it.

The next option is very similar to the previous one. A bottle is taken, and holes are punctured in it near the neck. Its bottom should be trimmed slightly, but not completely cut off. Leave about 2 cm so that it resembles a lid and protects the water from any debris and rapid evaporation. Then the container is buried with the neck down, having previously tightened it with a lid. This method is better than the previous one by the convenience of pouring water, since it is easier to pour it into a wide bottom. You can also make holes in the lid only and use the bottle as a filling reservoir. With this method, the water will seep out for a long time and only enter the root system.

If you need to leave the site for a long time, you can use a plastic 5 - liter container... It is necessary to pierce holes on one side, and on the other, cut out a window for filling the liquid and lay it or bury it horizontally in the ground. The side where the holes are located.

Method of hanging the container on the supports

This method requires that there is a fence or supports installed next to the plants that require watering. Plastic containers filled with water or liquid fertilizers can be securely hung and fastened onto. At the bottom of the bottle, two holes are made exactly opposite each other. You can do this with one nail or a thick wire, having previously sharpened their ends. Several holes are made in the bottle cap, as well as along the neck next to it. The intensity of irrigation and its duration depend on their diameter. For convenience, you should first punch one hole with an awl and check how quickly the water flows through it, and then, as necessary, make its diameter larger. You can set the speed of the liquid in another way: turn the full bottle vertically to the ground and gradually unscrew the lid until the water flows in the desired stream. A wire is threaded through two holes into a bottle filled with water and hung on a support.

Read also about the types of pumps for an automatic irrigation system.

With a rod from the handle

The first option is pretty simple. To make it, you will need a plastic bottle, an awl, a ballpoint pen and a stationery knife. Remove the nib from the used paste and then rinse it thoroughly with gasoline to completely get rid of the ink residues. Wash the plastic container and make a hole in it next to the neck with a diameter smaller than that of the rod. Insert it there and stick it with plasticine for sealing. Fill the bottle with water and position it so that moisture is transferred to the plant through the stem. The liquid will flow into the soil drop by drop, and the shoot will receive the required amount of watering. This structure should be deepened into the ground for stability so that the wind does not destroy it.

In the second version, the hole for the rod is made near the bottom, about 20 cm above it. The bottle is freed from the cap and dropped 10 cm near the plant. Then, a rod is inserted into the hole previously made with an awl and fixed with plasticine or glue, which is at hand. Then water is poured into the container. This system is designed for one plant only. Before leaving for a long time, it is better to check this system so that moisture does not evaporate from the bottle on the very first day or go away ahead of time.

Which irrigation hose is best for you.

Alternative systems

You don't have to invent new ways of piercing holes, but simply fill the bottle with water and remove the cap, pinch the neck with your finger and quickly drive it into the ground near the plant, having time to remove your finger. Agricultural crops will be watered directly from the bottle, but they will not take more moisture than is required for their active growth. As the container becomes empty, the water must be topped up.

On sale there are special nozzles in the form of a ceramic cone on one side and a thread under the neck of a plastic bottle on the other. Moreover, with a diameter for both small containers and a 5 liter tank. Instead of a lid, they must be screwed onto a container already filled with water and calmly turned over, select the desired irrigation area and rotate the structure into the ground. This method is simpler than the previous one, although it requires some expenses for the purchase of handpieces, but this is compensated by the convenience of their use and durability.

In the absence of a plastic bottle, a plastic bag is sometimes used. It is necessary to fill it with water and carefully make holes of small diameters. Then place the pierced side down on the ground. Such a device is capable of moistening the soil only near one plant.

From plastic bottles, you can arrange watering in the form of rain by making holes around the perimeter of the bottle in various places and connecting its neck to a hose. And if the farm has an old baby carriage with at least two wheels, then you can build a mobile cart for a container with water and move it around the entire perimeter of the garden.

Video: how to do it yourself

The video tells how to make do-it-yourself drip irrigation from plastic bottles.

Conclusion

A bottle drip irrigation system is an inexpensive and reliable option for irrigating plants without human intervention. This is one of the most economical and convenient ways of moistening the soil in the country and root feeding of any crops. Leaving for a few days, you can be sure that they are protected from drying out around the clock. Drip irrigation from plastic tanks does not require large financial costs and high water consumption, it is easy to perform it yourself without special skills from improvised means. Having correctly calculated the required volume of a bottle for watering a certain plant, you can safely leave the cottage until next weekend. It is simply irreplaceable when growing seedlings and whimsical plants. Its design will remain an excellent assistant for watering your garden for a long time.

Of course, many gardeners believe that an automatic drip irrigation system takes a lot of money, time and effort, and in general such a procedure is risky. That is why the creation of a semi-automatic watering system from plastic containers is optimal for gardeners who have decided to save money. Such an adaptation practically does not take much time, but costs mere pennies.

For watering in the greenhouse from plastic bottles you will need:

• A needle or awl, as well as scissors;
• Nylon or cotton fabric, gauze;
• Empty plastic bottles with lids;
• Shovel.

In many cases, containers with a volume of 1 to 2 liters will be required.

This volume is quite enough for 1.5 - 3 days of watering. It all depends on weather conditions and characteristics of plant varieties. Sometimes you can use larger bottles, but you should understand that they will take up much more space next to the beds. Gardeners themselves choose what is more important: the area of \u200b\u200bthe beds or the autonomy of watering the plants.

Stage 1. Wash plastic containers, wipe labels from them, if any.

Stage 2. Use scissors to trim the bottom of the bottle by about 5 cm.

Stage 3. Use a red-hot awl or needle to make holes in the plastic lids. The amount of liquid that will enter the soil will depend on the diameter and number of holes.

Stage 4. Put a piece of gauze on the inside of the lid. The fabric will act as a kind of filter and prevent the holes from clogging up often. If there is no gauze, then you can use nylon or cotton fabric.

A mesh cloth should be placed inside the container to prevent clogging.

Stage 5. Dig holes next to the plant with the same diameter as the container, about 10 or 15 cm.

Step 6 - insert a container closed with a lid into the well made. It can be considered that such an automatic drip irrigation system ready to use. Next, you should do the same with other bottles in the greenhouse.

Important! Placing bottles in the soil in this way can create a problem. From above, debris and soil particles can fall into them. Gradually clogging of the hole occurs and it becomes necessary to remove the container and clean the structure.

There are two ways to solve this problem:

1. The first way is to place plastic containers on the contrary, i.e. upside down. Using this method, you need to make holes in the bottom, and from above protect the container with a lid from debris.
2. The second way is to make voluminous nozzleson the bottles.

There are two ways to improve the irrigation system:

• The first method is to replace all the holes on the lids with special droppers that are sold in stores. Droppers much better conducts moisture to the seedlings, and also less clogging of plastic bottles.
• The second way is to lead a hose from the water supply system with branches into the greenhouse and insert containers into each of them. Thanks to this action, you do not need to refill the bottles yourself. You just need to open the valve and wait a certain amount of time.

DIY drip irrigation from plastic bottleseasy to do. It is enough to get acquainted with the main technological stages. In order to competently make an irrigation system for cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables grown in the greenhouse, you should look video instructions from experienced summer residents.

The drip irrigation system allows dosed irrigation of plants right at the root. With a little time, you can assemble such a system at home, without the need to purchase expensive components. With a careful attitude, do-it-yourself drip irrigation from plastic bottles will serve for several years.

The advantages of using drip irrigation in the country

The main advantages of drip irrigation are obtaining the required amount of moisture by the root system, as well as minimal physical effort and material costs. This type of irrigation is of interest to many summer residents and gardeners, since the drip irrigation system can be left unattended.

Watering the beds with plastic bottles has a great advantage - it is almost complete autonomy. So, a person does not need to stand with a hose or carry one heavy bucket after another for watering plants.

Unfortunately, a ready-made drip irrigation system connected to a centralized water supply is quite expensive. Therefore, summer residents and gardeners have come up with a good alternative - to use old used plastic bottles. Of course, this option is not completely autonomous, since from time to time it will be necessary to add water to the container.

But, nevertheless, such watering minimizes human resources, thanks to which you can pay more attention to other matters or spend time on vacation. Drip irrigation using plastic bottles has the following advantages:

• No need to purchase material. Plastic bottles are something that one way or another can be found in almost every home;
• Simplicity of execution. Following a simple instruction, you can do everything yourself, even if you have no experience in creating such systems;
• Saving. Such watering can significantly save time and effort that are spent on traditional types of watering;
• Ease of operation. All that needs to be done is to go around the garden and fill the containers with water;
• Rationality of watering. Water immediately flows under the topsoil, nourishing the plant root system. Also, water will not spill over a large area and evaporate due to the high temperature in the summer. Thus, homemade watering contributes to the full development and subsequent strengthening of the plant's root system;
• No waterlogging. When watering with a hose, a so-called "swamp" often forms in the holes. Drip irrigation helps avoid this;
• Reducing weed growth. Also, this system allows you not to wet the excess surface. Thus, favorable conditions are not created for the growth of all kinds of weeds, and this, in turn, facilitates the care of the land.




This method of irrigation will be especially useful for those summer residents who, due to circumstances, can come to the dacha only once a week. In this case, they just need to fill the container before leaving. This amount of water will be enough so that the plants do not need moisture while the owner is away.

Did you know? Drip irrigation from plastic bottles can work on the principle of solar distillation, which is good for hot summer. To do this, a half of a 1.5-liter container with water is installed on the previously mulched soil near the plant, and on top it is covered with a five-liter eggplant without a bottom. When heated, moisture will turn into steam, which will settle on the walls in the form of drops, and then roll down onto the soil. Thus, the stronger the heat, the better the soil moisture will be.

Drip humidification system manufacturing options

There are many options for making such a system yourself. First you need to consider all the options, and then choose the most optimal one, based on your capabilities and conditions.

Also, do not forget that it is necessary to carefully select the location of the bottles and the intensity of the water supply. Different systems are suitable for different planting patterns and this must always be borne in mind.




The easiest way to do self-watering with your own hands is to pierce a small hole in the bottom of the container and place it near the plant. This does not require any special preparation from you, but it is necessary take into account the following nuances:

• the hole should be microscopic. To do this, pierce the container with a needle. A large hole will lead to rapid water consumption, which puts an end to the principles of economy and autonomy;
• increasing the number of holes allows you to create a more humidified environment;
• the container should be located as close to the stem as possible so that water flows directly to the root system;
• the container can be dug a little next to the plant. This will avoid wasting water;
• the container can be hung directly above the bush if this option is suitable for the given culture;
• a container with a volume of 5-10 liters allows you to leave the garden unattended for a whole week, which is especially important for summer residents living far from the dacha.




The use of plastic bottles for irrigation follows a fairly simple scheme - due to the direct contact of water with the ground. Water begins to seep gradually, and the earth, after getting wet, clogs the holes. After the ground dries up again, the holes will open and water will begin to flow to the roots of the plants again.

Thus, the natural regulation of moisture in the soil occurs. If the soil is saturated enough, then it simply will not take in excess moisture. After the container is empty, you just need to add water to it.

Important! Drip irrigation from plastic bottles is not suitable for whimsical plants with thin roots.

How to make drip irrigation (a dug container next to the plant)

In order to make watering using plastic bottles, dropping them next to the plant, you need to follow simple instructions. Each bottle must be installed with the neck down, digging in a little earth for greater stability.

It is also necessary to make one small hole in the bottom of the bottle in order to facilitate the exit of water (the air will press on the water and gradually displace it). The cover must be screwed on loosely to ensure gradual water seepage.




In order for the container not to be blown away by the wind, it must be buried in the soil to a depth of about 10-15 cm. Installation directly near the root will contribute to good irrigation. It should be noted that it is possible to accurately place the bottle only when planting, when the container is dropped into the same hole as the seedlings.

If the plants have already grown well enough, then the hole must be placed at a distance of at least 15 cm from the plant trunk. You need to act very carefully so as not to damage the root system of the plant. If, watering tomatoes through plastic bottles is carried out in clay soil, then when moistened it can easily clog into the holes.

In order to prevent this, the cork from the outside must be tightened with a simple nylon stocking, or the bottom of the hole must be covered with hay or a piece of burlap. The lid is tightly screwed on, and the bottle is installed at an angle with the neck down, and the pit is then covered with earth. The optimum tilt angle is 30-45 °.

There is another way to organize drip irrigation of cucumbers in the open field. With the help of an awl, many holes need to be made in the container. They are made in 5-6 rows, and the distance between the rows should be 2 cm.




The plastic bottle is buried in an upright position with the neck up in the same hole as the seedlings. The main disadvantage is that the container needs to be filled through a narrow neck. But at the same time, water practically does not evaporate from the container. Due to the fact that the container is almost completely underground, even a strong wind cannot overturn it. And the land plot itself will look more attractive because of this.

Important! Water should not immediately go into the soil. The essence of drip humidification is the gradual consumption of water over several days.

Suspended watering from bottles

For creating suspended do it yourself drip irrigation of tomatoes in the greenhouse you will need:

• any plastic bottle;
• awl or thin nail;
• rope or wire.
This option is suitable for those plants next to which there is some kind of support. Even if it is absent, then installing pegs between the plants will not be a big problem. To make overhead drip irrigation, you need:
• cut off the bottom by making a lid out of it;
• at a distance of 1-2 cm from the cut bottom, make two holes on opposite sides of the bottle. A rope or wire must be passed through these holes, which will be tied to the support. Make a small hole in the bottle cap. In case the water flow rate is too slow, the hole can be slightly widened;
• Hang the bottle over the plant.



When watering tomatoes in a greenhouse through plastic bottles, the suspension system has two advantages: ease of manufacture and the ability to finely adjust the irrigation intensity.

Rod design

In order to do irrigation of plants in a greenhouse using bottles and a rod, you need:

• Take a small diameter plastic tube. A regular refill from a ballpoint pen is perfect, which must first be rinsed with gasoline or solvent, removing all residues of the paste and the writing element itself;
• Seal one end of the tube tightly. If this is a rod from a pen, then a match or a toothpick will work well;
• Fasten the other end in the neck. You can also cut a hole of the required diameter in the clogged lid and install a tube in it;
• Seal the tube attached to the neck. This can be done using ordinary plasticine, electrical tape and other improvised means;
• Make holes with a needle at the end of the tube. They should be as close to the plug as possible. The number of holes and their diameter are selected individually, based on the required moisture intensity. It will be quite sufficient if one drop of water flows out in a couple of minutes;
• Cut off the bottom of the bottle and set it in the soil with the neck down;
• Pour water into the bottle.



You can also cut the tube into the side of the bottle near the bottom. This will save the bottle from being cut and make it much easier to move it around the land. Watering in a greenhouse in plastic bottles has a great advantage - due to the length of the tube, the bottle can be placed not very close to the plant.

If you put the bottle between several bushes, then you can move the tube and water the seedlings one by one.

Important! If you have chosen to humidify with a tube inserted into the wall, remember to close the bottle tightly with the cap. This will prevent rapid evaporation of the water.

DIY drip irrigation (buried plastic bottle)

Experienced gardeners recommend trying the drip irrigation option, in which the whole bottle is buried in the ground. In this case, you need to make several holes as close to the bottom as possible. After that, the bottle is buried in the ground, and only the neck remains on the surface, through which the water will be filled.




It should be noted that this method of drip irrigation gives less moisture, and this is not suitable for plants with a long rhizome.

Drip irrigation from bottles: all the pros and cons

Like any other type of irrigation, drip irrigation has certain advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages are the following:

• make drip irrigation using plastic bottles for anyone. The manufacturing procedure does not require the possession of any special knowledge and skills;
• the creation of a drip irrigation system from plastic bottles does not require large investments. This is explained by the fact that plastic bottles are the most common and cheapest material for recycling;
• the principle of operation of drip irrigation almost completely eliminates the factor of wasted water consumption. This is especially true when the site does not have access to the central water supply system;
• water from plastic bottles is distributed as evenly as possible and progressively moisturizes the root system of the plant;
• in plastic bottles, water quickly warms up to a temperature comfortable for most plants;
• the drip irrigation system from plastic bottles can be easily installed, removed or replaced.

But, along with this, there are certain disadvantages of using such an irrigation system:

• such a system will not be able to provide high-quality irrigation of a large area;
• drip irrigation from plastic five-liter bottles cannot completely replace full-fledged irrigation, since drip irrigation allows only temporarily maintaining the required moisture level;
• when used in loamy or heavy soils, the drip system from the bottles quickly clogs up and stops functioning.




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When spring comes and the earth warms up, the time for the garden and garden begins. Summer residents and villagers take up the planting of various fruit crops. But for a good harvest, it is not enough just to plant and weed the plants; they need constant watering, especially when the weather is sunny and dry. One of the best watering options when there is not a lot of water or time each day is drip irrigation. This method has many advantages over traditional methods, but only a few disadvantages. So what is the essence of drip irrigation from a plastic bottle?

Drip irrigation is when water flows in even small portions directly to the roots of the plant if the irrigation device is in the ground, or next to the plant in a hole when it is on the surface. Water is received only by the cultivated plant itself, and not by the growing weeds. There is no need to buy a drip irrigation device, you can make it yourself without special costs. It is best to use a plastic bottle for this, such a device will last for several years with a careful attitude.

Pros and cons of drip irrigation

1. With this type of watering the plant, significant water savings occur when compared with conventional watering from a hose or watering can. In addition, you do not have to loosen the ground, as after abundant watering, since a drip does not create a dried crust that interferes with the growth of the plant. There is no spreading of water in different directions.
2. Possibility of autonomous irrigation of plants with water. This is very convenient for summer residents who are not on the site every day. The construction will work independently, without endangering the site and the country house.
3. The ability to apply fertilizer with ease in the required proportions, and only the plant itself will receive it.
4. Also, a significant plus will be the fact that you can use drip irrigation both in greenhouse conditions and in the open field. If it is a place open to the sun, then the water in the bottle will heat up during the day and irrigation with sufficiently warm water continues at night.

Although this method is very convenient, it cannot be called perfect. Its disadvantages are that:

1. Irrigation of large areas is almost impossible. This will require many devices for drip irrigation, and this will be inconvenient and no longer rational.
2. If the soil is heavy and contains a lot of clay, then when the irrigation attachment is in the soil, it can become clogged and must be cleaned.
3. Such watering cannot completely replace the full-fledged traditional moistening of the earth, especially in hot summers. With the help of irrigation, you can only maintain humidity, but you still have to water the beds abundantly from time to time.

What is needed to make a drip irrigation device?

The set of tools and materials is small and can be found at any home owner. The design will differ from the expensive purchased one in materials, but not in efficiency. So, we need:

1. Plastic bottle. Its size depends on which plant and how long it should irrigate it, small ones are not recommended, with a volume of 0.5 liters, it is better to take a container, ranging from 1 to 5 liters. Such containers usually remain from purchases made in the grocery store, and you will not have to purchase them separately.

The approximate ratio of the size of the bottle and the time of consumption with low watering:

The accuracy of the data depends on the number of holes in the bottle and the variation in the irrigation method.

1. Hole punching tool. For this, a thin carnation or a thick needle is suitable, depending on the size of the future holes in the bottle.
2. The cloth. It should be either a piece of thin cotton or nylon tights, and in the second version, longer use is possible, since nylon is stronger.

Option number 1. A bottle dug in the bottom of the ground

We take a prepared bottle, in size it should be such that it fits well in a garden bed between several plants. If you need to water only one bush, then the bottle can be small, and the holes in it are only on one side, close to the plant.

Next, we take a carnation, step back from the bottom a few centimeters and make small holes. If the holes are too large, the water will flow out quickly. It is necessary to make about 10 holes, they should be located in the middle of the bottle, do not touch the neck part.

Then we dig a hole in the diameter of the bottle and dig it in there, leaving the upper part outside. It is better to put a capronk on the neck to prevent debris from entering. Pour water into a bottle with a watering can and leave. Water will gradually evenly flow to the roots of the bushes and irrigate them.

Option number 2. Bottle, hanging with the neck down

For this method of irrigation, you first need to make a structure above the crops, which will hold a bottle of water. It can be two rooted sticks and a crossbar between them, on which you can hang a bottle on the hook, if there is a metal mount that looks like a small horizontal bar, you can also hang it on it. The maximum height is 45 - 50 cm, and the minimum is 35 cm (we take into account the size of the bottle).

We make holes in the lid; for this, a carnation is again suitable. The more holes in the lid, the more water droplets will fall on the plant. Cut off the bottom of the bottle with a knife or scissors, water will be poured into it. We hang up, fill in water and stretch the fabric from debris.

Option number 3. A bottle buried with a neck in the ground

We take a bottle, we select the sizes in the same way as in the previous case. This method is inferior to the first only in that water will flow more to the very bottom of the roots of the bushes, and in the first option, it will spread along their entire length. We remove the lid and make several holes in it, it is not recommended to make more than 4 holes, the water will quickly leave and will have to be poured often. If it is a 5-liter bottle, then the lid in it is large and the holes need to be made larger, if it is a liter or 1.5-liter bottle, then less. We cut off the bottom completely, we will pour water into it.

We make a not very deep hole next to the bush, such a depth is needed so that the bottle cap is not much lower than the roots, it is advisable to place it a little higher - then all the moisture will be used up as intended.

Option number 4. A simple way with a purchased attachment

Such a device can no longer be called completely handmade. In specialized shops for gardeners, you can find a special oblong nozzle with holes, which is screwed onto a bottle instead of a cap. Next, you just need to stick it into the ground along with the bottle you put on. The bottom can be cut off, or you don't have to work, because when the water runs out, you can twist it, easily draw water and wind it back up, and then return it to the ground. This method practically does not differ from a buried bottle with the neck down, just a little easier.

The disadvantage is that such nozzles are most often standard and the maximum volume of the bottle can be 2.5 liters, for 5 liters it is already more difficult to find such a nozzle in width. The advantage of such a nozzle is that it can irrigate not only plants in a greenhouse or open ground in a garden, but also flowers in pots at home, a small 0.5 liter bottle is also suitable here.

Video - Do-it-yourself drip irrigation for giving at no cost

How to apply top dressing using a plastic bottle irrigation attachment?

Those fertilizers that are to be dissolved in water or diluted with the finished liquid must be poured in already diluted form into a bottle.

How to make the right solution in the ratio of water and feeding - read the instructions and strictly follow it. They will spread evenly around the root, allowing the plant to consume them. This does not apply to those after which abundant watering is necessary.