Okay, folks, let’s dive into my little adventure with a watering system for my hanging plants. I’ve got these lovely ferns and petunias dangling from my porch, but honestly, I’m terrible at remembering to water them consistently. They’re either drowning or dried up like an old sponge. So, I figured it was time to rig up something automatic.
My DIY Hanging Plant Watering System
First, I gathered my supplies. I didn’t want anything fancy, just practical. Here’s what I ended up using:
- A big plastic storage tub – the kind you’d use for storing old clothes.
- Some thin, flexible tubing – I think it’s called irrigation tubing or something. Got it at the hardware store.
- Little dripper things – these are also from the hardware store, in the garden section. They’re designed to slowly release water.
- A small, submersible water pump.
- A timer – the kind you use for Christmas lights.
Next, I set up the reservoir. I put the plastic tub on a table on my porch, close enough to the hanging plants. I wanted it elevated so gravity could help with the water flow.
Then, I got to work on the tubing. I cut a long piece of tubing, long enough to reach from the tub to all my plants. I poked holes in the tubing where I wanted the water to drip out, right above each plant. Then, I stuck those little dripper things into the holes. This was a bit fiddly, but I got the hang of it.
After that, I connected one end of the tubing to the water pump. I just pushed it onto the pump’s outlet nozzle. I placed the pump inside the plastic tub, making sure it was fully submerged.
The next part was connecting all of it.I ran the tubing up to my hanging baskets. I used some twisty ties to secure the tubing to the hooks and along the porch railing, making sure the drippers were positioned right over the soil.
Finally, I filled the tub with water and plugged the pump into the timer. I set the timer to run for a few minutes every morning. I figured that would be a good starting point, and I could adjust it later.
The first time I tested it, I was holding my breath. I flipped the switch on the timer, and… it worked! Water started flowing through the tubing and dripping onto my plants. I did a little happy dance right there on the porch.
I’ve tweaked the system a bit since then. I adjusted the timer a couple of times to get the watering schedule just right. Some plants needed more water than others, so I played around with the drippers, making sure they were releasing the right amount of * let me tell ya it saves time for me.
It’s not a perfect system, but it’s working pretty well. My plants are looking much happier, and I’m not constantly worrying about whether I’ve watered them or not. It’s been a fun little project, and it’s definitely made my life a bit easier. Plus, I get to feel all smug and self-sufficient every time I see my thriving hanging plants!
