Plants need a lot of care and attention to thrive. They require regular watering, sunlight, and their soil has to be properly maintained too. If you are someone who is always on the go, it can be difficult to maintain your plants in good condition.
But what if there was a way for everything to work automatically? In this post we will show you how to make an automatic water dispenser for plants that doesn’t require any human intervention.
How to Make an Automatic Water Dispenser for Plants: A Comprehensive Guide, is what you need to know.
Related article: How to Make a Water Dispenser for Chickens.
Learn about the science of hydration
A hydroponic system is one where plants are grown in a water-saturated nutrient solution rather than soil. Plants grown in this way require frequent watering to maintain a sufficient level of moisture.
But traditional methods, like squirting water on the leaves, can be difficult for some people. What if there was a way to ensure that your plants always had enough water when they needed it?
This project requires just a few materials:
– A small plastic container
– Some drainage material (coarse gravel, lava rock, or broken flower pots)
– A plant pot saucer or another small tray made from waterproof material
– A PVC pipe with connectors and end caps
– A 1 liter clear plastic bottle or other similar container for the reservoir
Gather the materials you need
This project requires very few materials, so you will not have to go out and buy them. All you will need is a milk jug, a sheet of plastic wrap, some ice cubes, water, and a small plant pot.
The first step is to cut the milk jug in half with a knife and get it ready for the next steps. The next step is to pour some water in the bottom of your plant pot. Place the milk jug on top of the pot’s opening so that it fits snugly into it.
Now cover both pieces with the plastic wrap before adding an ice cube or two on top. This will keep your plants hydrated without having to manually do anything!
The final step is to place your small plant inside the pot and then cover it with plastic wrap as well. Make sure you leave enough space for the water in the jug to rise up – about five centimeters (2 inches) should suffice. This way your plants will always be watered without any human intervention required
Step 1: Find the container
The first thing you need to do is find a container for your automatic water dispenser. You should be looking for something that is clean and does not have any cracks in it.
You can use a pitcher, a bucket, or even a jar from the kitchen as long as it holds water. The bigger the container, the more time it will take to refill.
Step 2: Add water resistant wire and a float switch
The next step is to add the wire and the float switch. You will need a drill to make two holes on either side of the bucket. The holes should be close enough to the top of the bucket so that it can be suspended in water.
You will also need a steel wire with an adjustable clip at one end and some fishing line at the other. The wire needs to be long enough so that it can stretch from one hole to another. Once you have these two items, take them out and set them aside for now.
Take your bucket and place it inside another container for stability. Measure where you want your two holes, about 2 inches apart from each other, and use your drill to make the holes in both sides of the bucket.
Next, attach your steel wire into one hole on either side of the bucket using an adjustable clip at one end and some fishing line at the other end. Make sure that there is enough slack in both wires so that they are able to stretch across from one hole to another without being pulled tight with tension.
Now take out your float switch, which should come with instructions on how to set it up, and follow those instructions carefully before placing it into one of the holes you drilled inside your bucket.
Step 3: Connect wires to a power source (and turn on)
To make your automatic water dispenser for plants, you need to connect wires to a power source. In this project, we are using an old smartphone charger that is no longer being used. But the same principle can be applied if you have any other AC adapter or power source.
Connect the wire from the positive side of the power source to one of the terminals on the breadboard (green wire from our example).
We are connecting the wire from the negative side of the power source to a ground screw terminal (black wire in our example).
To turn on your automatic water dispenser for plants, simply plug in your power cord to an outlet and switch it on. The last thing you want to do is cross-wire anything and accidentally electrocute yourself!
Step 4: Place soil in the pot
After you have placed the water dispenser in the pot, it’s time to place some soil. Pack the soil in around the water dispenser to form a pedestal. You don’t want any of the pipes to be visible, so make sure that you tamp down firmly.
Step 5(optional): Add an air stone if needed
If you want to add an air stone, then this is the time do it. An air stone will allow for a more oxygenated tank and make your plants healthier because they need oxygen too. With this done, you will have an automatic water dispenser for plants complete.
FAQS
Is this good for the plant?
Yes, plants need a lot of water to thrive. The water in the reservoir can last up to about 1 week.
How do I know when the reservoir is full?
The solution to this problem is pretty simple. There is a little float that will rise with the water level; you can use an indicator like a straw or even some duct tape to mark where it should reach. This way you’ll know when it needs refilling by checking how high the float has risen and then top it up accordingly.
How long does the system take to fill up?
The reservoir can be filled within 5 minutes if it is done manually without any interruptions, or 3 hours if it is done automatically with a timer device.
Conclusion
So you’ve finally taken the plunge and you want to create a water dispenser for your plants. That’s great! But how do you know what type of dispenser is best for you?
There are two major types of automatic water dispensers: Those that use a reservoir, and those that don’t. A reservoir-based system will typically have a larger reservoir, which means it will need to be refilled less often. However, these systems are also more expensive, as they require a power source and pump to operate.
A non-reservoir system is cheaper to set up but requires more maintenance. These systems are typically gravity-fed and require regular refills.
No matter which side you choose, the most important thing is to research the type of system you want before you start building. You don’t want to spend time and money on something that doesn’t work for you!
