Watering Systems
Adhering to a regular watering schedule for your cannabis plants within a grow tent or structure is imperative for each stage of your plants. Proper levels of water perform two main functions:
- The water that runs through their circulatory system turns sunlight, or artificial sunlight via grow lights, (photosynthesis) into carbon dioxide (transpiration), in other words your plants food.
- Water helps deliver important nutrients to the plant. With the correct pH levels, it will help the root system absorb those nutrients as well, resulting in a stronger and healthier plant.
Rather than having to physically be in your structure to water your plants regularly (often more than once a day), setting up a self-watering system will save you time and worry about whether or not your plants have enough water.
You may have even looked into purchasing such a system and likely found it to be a very costly expenditure. There is an alternative to this by building your own automatic watering system and is not nearly as complicated as one might think. The theory behind a DIY system, along with the materials needed is actually quite simple. The basic method is to have water pumped from outside the grow tent to small lines connected to ‘drippers’ that distribute the water to your plants.
In order to solve the problem of run-off water collecting inside the grow tent, simply elevate your pots and have them sitting in ‘self-draining saucers’. The excess water can then be drained directly into an automatic drain bucket which sits outside of the structure and next to your reservoir.
The only tools you will need are scissors (or some kind of snipping tool) to cut your water lines and a 7/8” bit for making holes in the reservoir tank for your water lines. The components that make up a DIY automatic watering system are:
RESERVOIR TANK
Eagle 1610MB Blue High Density Polyethylene Lab Pack Drum
- Made of blue HDPE, is resistant to dents, punctures
- Metal lever-lock ring can be used to secure the lid to the drum
- Has 14-gallon storage capacity; weighs 8 lb.; measures approximately 26-1/2″ high and 15″ in diameter
PUMP
Homasy 400GPH Submersible Water Pump
- Will run 18 to 36 drippers
- Ideal for 3 to 6 plants
- For more than 6 plants, simply upgrade slightly
Timer
Kuman 24 Digital Timer
- 24-Hour/7-Day programming
- Can switch between Standard time and Daylight Savings
- Built-in Battery – unit will stay on after a power outage
Air Pump
Pawfly MA-60 Quiet Aquarium Air Pump
- Comes with Check Valve and 5 ft. Air Tube
- 2 Watt, 1.8 L/min, Pressure: 0.012 MPa
- WHISPER QUIET < 40 dB
- Measures 3.3 x 1.8 x 1.6 inches; Diaphragms are made of special synthetic rubber
THERMOMETER
Zacro LCD Digital Aquarium Thermometer
- Easy to apply suction cup and easy to read LCD screen
- Temperature readings to within 1 degree
- Temperature range -50 degree ~ + 70 degree
- Operating temperature -10degree ~ +50 degree
Before purchasing a basic pump, you may want to consider an optional upgrade to the Hydrofarm AAPA3.2L 2-Watt 3.2-LPM Active Aqua Air Pump with 1-Outlet. Some of the pros to upgrading include:
- If your reservoir is greater than 8 gallons
- If you are experiencing difficulties maintaining an appropriate ‘cool’ temperature of the tank
- You require greater flexibility in cleaning out your tank on a regular basis (i.e. weekly)
There are a few other small items that you will need to complete your automatic watering system such as an end cap in order to direct water the feed lines to each plant.
Connectors will also be required to attach your feed lines to the main water line. There are several options here, but clamp & pierce connectors are both easy and reliable.
You will want to make sure you have small feed lines that actually bring the water to each plant.
In-line drippers are useful in distributing water around your pots.
There are of course other options for installing automatic watering systems, some of which can be quite costly. Hydroponic watering systems can certainly simplify the watering as well as feeding your cannabis plants. Once installed, you simply mix your nutrient solution and set a timer according to what your plants need for the particular stage they are in. Some of the more popular kits include:
CLABER OASIS AUTOMATIC DRIP WATERING SYSTEM
- 4 program settings: 10, 20, 30 & 40 days to water up to 20 plants
- Opens twice daily to deliver 4-ounce, 2-ounce, 1.5-ounce or 1-ounce of water per dripper
- Operates on a gravity feed; one 9V alkaline battery required
- Includes: a 6.6 gallon polypropylene plastic reservoir, 33-feet of PVC hose, 20 drippers and 20 spikes
GROWPRO HYDROPONIC BUCKET SYSTEM
While this bucket system is a complete watering system and grow pot all in one, it holds only one plant. You would need to buy a separate pot for each plant. If you plan to increase the number of plants in your grow tent, the cost can be prohibitive.
GENERAL HYDROPONICS KIT FOR HYDROPONIC DRIP SYSTEMS
- This system is very inexpensive, has great water efficiency, and can be used with other systems.
- Unfortunately, it does not include an air pump or a reservoir and does require using a drill
- It is suited for the novice grower who only has one plant
CANIRR20-KIT – DIY CANNABIS IRRIGATION KIT WITH 20 DRIPPERS
- 20 dripper starter kit
- Comes with 5 x 4 outlet manifold assemblies
- Capable of watering 20 plants
- Delivers consistent performance for DIY cannabis growers
As you can see, there are many options as to how you water your cannabis plants. The critical thing is that they are watered regularly and appropriately according to the stage they are in. If you are just starting out and have only one or two plants, watering them yourself will not be so time consuming. On the other hand, even if you start out with just a couple of plants but plan to expand, it might be wise to look into an automatic watering system. Whether you purchase an all inclusive kit or prefer to do it yourself, it’s a good idea to think ahead if you plan to add more plants in the near future. If you decide to water by hand, consider the time you will need to spend every day making sure your plants are getting the right amount of water and nutrients. Above all, keep a watchful eye on your plants, enjoy the process of seeing them grow and of course in the final harvest!