How to make permanent watering from plastic bottles. Watering beds in the garden and greenhouse using plastic bottles

In the spring, many gardeners are itching to plant as many crops as possible: they want to eat fresh vegetables, eat berries, and decorate their favorite dacha with flowers. Planting all this is not difficult, but regular care is required, one of the essential elements of which is watering. It is especially relevant in spring, during the initial growing season, and in summer, in hot weather. However, not all gardeners can often come to the site, and there are a lot of things to do over the weekend, but they cannot wait for planting. In this case, drip irrigation will be a good way out. It is not necessary to buy ready-made expensive systems - you can use plastic bottles.

What is drip irrigation

This is a system for delivering moisture to the roots, in which water is supplied in small portions, literally drop by drop (hence the name of the method). The advantages of such irrigation over the usual are obvious:

only the plant itself receives moisture, not weeds;
water is saved, because it does not spread throughout the garden;
no crust is formed on the surface of the earth;
the system works even when there are no people on the site;
can be used in the greenhouse and in unprotected soil.

Many methods of drip irrigation from bottles have been invented, each gardener can choose the one that suits him

However, the method also has disadvantages:

difficult to use in large areas;
not suitable for heavy clay soils - holes will clog;
in extreme heat, such watering is not enough, you still have to water it manually from a hose.

How to make a drip irrigation system from plastic bottles: different ways

Gardeners are resourceful people. In order not to waste money, they came up with several options for making drip irrigation from plastic bottles. The containers will not be needed small - from 1 to 5 liters (depending on how much land needs to be moistened). Many gardeners recommend mulching the ground in beds with drip irrigation - this way the moisture flowing from the bottles will remain in the soil longer.

Drip irrigation from two bottles

For this method, you will need one one and a half liter and one five-liter bottle. Make the system like this:

Water will evaporate from a small bottle, forming a condensate on the walls of a five-liter bottle, which, flowing down, will provide the plants with the necessary moisture. Using this method, you can not only water, but also feed the plantings with liquid fertilizers.

Video: two-bottle drip irrigation device

Drip irrigation from a bottle dug into the ground

There are two options for digging: bottom and neck into the ground. For watering, you can use a bottle cap or a special nozzle.

Down to the ground

This option will give the best effect when combined with mulching. Procedure:

They take a plastic bottle with a capacity of 1–5 liters (depending on the size of the roots of the watered plant and what its need for water is).
In the middle of the bottle, 2 holes are pierced with a hot sewing needle (up to 4 holes can be made in a five-liter bottle) on both sides.
They dig in a bottle near the landings (at a distance of 15–20 cm) so that the neck sticks out.
Pour water into the container and twist it tightly to avoid evaporation of water. For ease of pouring, you can use a funnel.

A five-liter bottle dug into the ground with the bottom can provide several tomato bushes with water.

Water through the holes will flow in small portions to the roots.

Video: some tricks to improve the efficiency of watering from a plastic bottle

To prevent water from dripping very quickly, the following technique is used: only two holes are pierced in the bottle. One of them is loosely plugged with a toothpick. Then the outflow of water from the second one will slow down due to the reduction of air inflow into the bottle.

Neck into the ground

This method is more convenient for pouring - the bottom located on top is wider than the neck. However, in this case, water will only flow into the lower layers of the soil, while in the above case - from top to bottom. They act like this:

In the cap of a 1–5 liter bottle, 3–4 holes are made with a heated sewing needle.
The bottom is cut off.
Bury the bottle at a distance of 15–20 cm from the plants to a shallow depth (depending on how deep the roots are).
They pour water.

In a greenhouse, drip irrigation from bottles is especially relevant: the sun beats through the transparent walls and the soil dries out very quickly

It is important to correctly determine the depth of instillation: if it is too deep, the water will only moisten the lower part of the roots, and if it is too shallow, the bottle may fall.

When I tried to make drip watering from a bottle, I failed: small holes clogged with earth all the time. On the Internet, I read advice to pull old nylon tights over the bottle. The measure helped: the earth stopped falling into the holes and the water flowed out well.

With nozzle

If it is possible to purchase an elongated plastic nozzle with holes in the store, drip irrigation will be easier to organize. Such a nozzle is screwed onto a bottle with a volume of 0.5 to 1.5 liters instead of a cap and stuck into the ground. The bottom can be cut off or, when the water runs out, remove the bottle, unscrew the nozzle, pour water and stick it into the ground again.

Plastic nozzles for drip irrigation are suitable for bottles with a volume of no more than 1.5 liters

A variant of the above methods will be laying the bottle on the ground, and not burying it. This method is only suitable for mulched plantings, as the dripping water will hold onto the mulched soil longer. At the same time, holes are made on both sides for better water flow: from the top - 1, from the bottom - up to 4 pieces.

It is better to cover the bottle for drip irrigation with a cloth or put it so that it is in the shade, then the water will evaporate more slowly through the holes.

Drip irrigation from a bottle suspended on a frame

This method is good for low plants, but more time consuming, because you will need a frame for hanging bottles. Procedure:

A frame is made of wooden racks or thick metal rods in the shape of the letter G or P. Its height should be such that the hanging bottle is about 10 cm below the plants.
The frame is installed along the beds.
In prepared bottles with a capacity of 1–1.5 liters (according to the number of bushes), 2–4 holes are made in the caps with a thin needle. You can also hang five-liter bottles, but then the frame and fasteners must be made more solid.
The bottom of the bottles is cut off, and wider holes are pierced along the edges - for wire or strong rope (twine).
The bottles are placed on the frame so that the water does not flow directly onto the bushes, but near them.

Bottles can be hung with a strong wire so that water drips next to the plants

Bottles can be hung upside down, for this you will need to make 2 holes in the bottom.

One of the disadvantages of drip irrigation from plastic bottles on the frame is considered too rapid outflow of water. Inventive gardeners have figured out how to solve this problem - with the help of a conventional medical dropper. It is attached to the neck of the bottle and makes it possible to regulate watering.

Video: watering from a bottle suspended from a fence using a dropper

Drip irrigation using a "wick"

This design is more difficult to make, and is usually made for watering domestic plants or seedlings in cases where the owners leave home for more than two days. Production order:

A 1.5 liter plastic bottle is cut in half.
A hole is made in the lid of such a width that it is possible to thread a woolen thread - a kind of "wick".
A thread 3-4 cm long, folded in half, is threaded into the lid and tied with a knot from the inside of it.
The upper part of a plastic bottle with a twisted cap and a thread sticking out of it is inserted into the lower part with the neck down.
Water is poured into the bottom half of the bottle so that it completely covers the "wick".
Earth is poured into the upper part of the bottle, well spilled and seeds are planted.

The liquid rises along the “wick” and provides the soil with moisture.

When the water runs out, add it only to the bottom half of the bottle.

Photo gallery: drip irrigation with woolen thread

Woolen thread is suitable for the wick, as it absorbs water well.
For greater stability, it is better to make the top of the bottle shorter than the bottom.
Moisture is retained for a long time in a device made of a plastic bottle and woolen thread

Comparison of different types of drip irrigation from plastic bottles

You can do drip irrigation in your garden in different ways, everyone will have their own way. To better navigate which one to choose, consider their advantages and disadvantages.

Table: comparison of drip irrigation methods from plastic bottles

Way	Advantages	disadvantages
From two bottles	Easy to make; do not need any additional devices; the water will evaporate for a long time, no need to add often	Too little water will fall into the ground with condensate
From a bottle dug upside down in the ground	Easy to make; can be used for plants with any root depth	The holes are clogged, it is necessary to periodically clean; water drains quickly
From a bottle dug upside down into the ground	Easy to add water	Not suitable for plants with a shallow root system
With nozzle	Fast manufacturing	Need to buy a nozzle; Not suitable for all bottle sizes
From a bottle suspended on a frame	You can water low plants; bottle holes do not clog	Harder to do than other methods
With the use of "wick"	Convenient for seedlings; acts for a long time	Harder to do compared to other methods; can only be used at home

In the country for irrigation, 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, in order to make their lives easier, farmers come up with a lot of different devices for moistening the soil from materials that are found in everyday use. Even from plastic bottles, you can make drip irrigation 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 when there is a dry period. 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-to-perform irrigation options is the drip view. It is considered the most effective and most gentle for irrigating whimsical 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 quite a lot of them. They are easily buried and carried around the site even when filled with water.

Advantages of drip irrigation:

plant roots are directly moistened. Moisture is not splashed, the soil is not washed away, the stems are not injured;
such a system would not require significant costs. All you need is a plastic container and water, and no need to buy an expensive branded drip system;
with such irrigation, the soil is not waterlogged, ideal conditions are created for plant growth, and rotting of their roots is excluded;
installation of such a system is extremely simple and does not entail the use of great effort;
economical water consumption is ensured, because it comes only to certain places in the required quantity;
homemade drip irrigation helps out in the long absence of the owners. Provides plants with moisture without their participation.

Possible variations of containers for watering

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

The simplest methods using one bottle

It is necessary to take a plastic 2-liter container and pierce holes in a checkerboard pattern over its entire height. They can be done with a thick needle, an awl or a thin nail. The number of holes will have to be determined experimentally; after the first application, they can be added. The bottle must be buried between the plants with the bottom down, about 15 cm deep.. The neck can not be twisted with a lid, for the convenience of pouring water when required. But if you still decide to close it, then you should make a hole in the cork. It is necessary to protect the bottle from squeezing when there is no 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 by puncturing holes from two sides adjacent to them.

In order to prevent the holes made from being clogged with earth, some craftsmen put nylon stockings on the container before burying it or wrap thin matter around it.

The next option is very similar to the previous one. A bottle is taken, and holes are pierced in it near the neck. Its bottom should be trimmed a little, 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 instilled with the neck down, after screwing 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 only on the cap, and use the bottle as a reservoir for filling. With this method, water will seep 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 a window for filling the liquid and lay it or bury it horizontally in the ground. The side where the holes are located.

How to hang containers on supports

This method requires that a fence or supports be installed near the plants that require watering. On which you can securely hang and secure plastic containers filled with water or liquid fertilizers. Two holes are made near the bottom of the bottle exactly opposite each other. You can do this with one nail or thick wire, after sharpening their ends. Several holes are made in the bottle cap, as well as along the neck next to it. The intensity of watering and its duration depend on their diameter. For convenience, you should first punch one hole with an awl and check how quickly 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 cap 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 automatic irrigation systems.

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 tip from the used paste and then rinse it thoroughly with gasoline to finally get rid of ink residue. 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 around with plasticine for sealing. Fill the bottle with water and position it so that the moisture is transferred along the rod to the plant. The liquid will flow drop by drop into the soil, 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 option, the hole for the rod is made near the bottom about 20 cm above it. The bottle is released from the lid and added dropwise 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 only one plant. Before leaving for a long time, it is better to check this system so that the moisture does not evaporate from the bottle on the first day or leaves before the due time.

Which hose for irrigation will tell you better.

Alternative systems

You can not 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, while removing your finger. Crops will be watered straight from the bottle, but they won't take up more moisture than they need to grow vigorously. As the container is empty, water must be added.

On sale there are special nozzles in the form of a ceramic cone on one side and a thread for the neck of a plastic bottle on the other. Moreover, with a diameter both for small containers and for 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 bury the structure into the ground with rotational movements. This method is simpler than the previous one, although it requires some expenses for the purchase of tips, but this is offset 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 on the ground with the pierced side down. Such a device is able to moisten the soil only near one plant.

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

Video: how to do it yourself

The video shows how to make drip irrigation from plastic bottles with your own hands.

Conclusion

A bottled 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 to moisten the soil in the country and root feeding of any crops. Leaving for a few days, you can be sure that they are under round-the-clock protection from drying out. Drip irrigation from plastic tanks does not require large financial costs and high water consumption, it is easy to do it yourself without special skills from improvised means. Having correctly calculated the required volume of the bottle for watering a certain plant, you can safely leave the cottage until the next weekend. It is simply indispensable for growing seedlings and whimsical plants. Its design will remain an excellent assistant when watering the garden for a long time.

The gentle spring sun warms the earth, and thousands of summer residents rush to their plots. Meticulously inspect their gardens, orchards and villagers. There comes a hot time for planting, but it is not enough for plants to get into fertile soil, they need competent watering for growth, especially in dry weather.

Many summer residents resort to drip irrigation, which does not require large volumes of water and a long time for control. It is quite simple to build drip irrigation from plastic bottles with your own hands and even beginners can do it.

Creating a drip irrigation system from plastic bottles is available to everyone

Attractive sides of drip irrigation from plastic bottles

It is easy to appreciate the advantages of an irrigation structure assembled from plastic bottles: just recall the availability of the source material. Let's add to them a number of other advantages:

installation of a bottle system does not require, in practice, any financial costs, the main thing is to stock up on the necessary amount of plastic containers;
you can build a structure without any creative skills;
do-it-yourself automatic watering is suitable for use both in open ground and in greenhouses, greenhouses and greenhouses;
perfect for irrigating green hedges, flower beds, shrub plantings, beds;
saving time and effort: bottles are easily and quickly filled with water;
dosed moisture goes directly to the roots of plants;
the flow of water is carried out evenly, without washing the roots with a stream of water;
when used in a greenhouse, drip irrigation does not overmoisten the soil surface, preventing the appearance of weeds, and soil compaction does not occur;
the soil covered with mulch does not require additional loosening;
the moisture concentration in the greenhouse is minimal, which reduces the risk of dampness and the spread of diseases;
in the absence of a central water supply on the site, this irrigation system provides significant savings in water resources;
water poured into bottles warms up quickly, which is important for some garden crops - for example, cucumbers;
easy to install, all design details are easily replaced with new ones;
when using meters for tap water, the flow rates change slightly.

A few flaws don't change the picture

The obvious advantages of irrigating plants with plastic bottles outweigh its disadvantages, but, unfortunately, they are. You should know that:

the organization of such a system on a large area with open ground is impractical and time-consuming;
drip irrigation is optimal as a temporary measure to maintain soil moisture; it cannot serve as an alternative to full-fledged irrigation;
plastic bottles are not suitable for watering on heavy clay soils (watering holes are quickly clogged in them).

Watering options from plastic bottles

Ways to place plastic bottles

The placement of plastic containers for drip irrigation can be done in various ways, choosing the best option for your situation. Craftsmen who build the structure with their own hands offer to dig containers into the ground, hang them over the garden bed, supply them with dispensers in the form of canisters, tubes or bottles. Consider several ways to perform drip irrigation.

The choice of method should be determined by the convenience of implementing the irrigation system, its purpose (type of crop), as well as the type of soil and climate.

Installing bottles upside down

An option that is equally acceptable for caring for plants in greenhouses and outdoors is often used by many summer residents. To create a homemade irrigation system, you must:

Stepping back from the bottom of the bottle 3 cm, make holes in it with a well-hot nail, needle, awl.
The holes can be staggered or in parallel rows. Calculate the number of holes based on the type of soil: more holes are made for dense soil, fewer holes are required for loose soil.
If you plan to irrigate cucumbers, the bottles should be buried upside down.
The lid may not be screwed on. If you decide to leave the lid, it is better to make a puncture in it so that after the water runs out, the bottle does not shrink.

Placing water bottles upside down

neck down

The option is similar to the first method, but with minor design changes. To simplify the gulf of water in the prepared container, cut off the bottom. Then carry out the following actions:

holes in the selected container are pierced along the perimeter of the neck;
you can do without holes if you insert foam rubber into the neck of the bottle, which will meteredly remove moisture into the soil (option for heavy loamy soil);
if holes are selected, the lid is screwed on, the container is buried in the ground with the neck down;
to slow down the evaporation of moisture from the bottle, the cut bottom is put in place by turning it over (you can not cut off the bottom completely and pour water by bending the bottom to the side).

Drip irrigation from bottles on the side

Big bottles on the side

Five-liter watering containers are a good option for those who do not have the opportunity to visit the cottage often. With their help, long-term watering is provided on the site. The irrigation structure looks like this:

holes in the bottle are pierced on one side so as to fill the entire area of \u200b\u200bone side with them;
a valve for pouring water is cut out on the opposite side;
the container is buried in the soil in a position on its side, laying down the side on which there are small holes for watering.

Hanging over a plant

The suspended model of homemade drip irrigation has proven itself well in greenhouses. A plastic container is hung directly above the plant. Benefits of the hanging method:

the soil near the roots is not eroded;
there is a good warming up of bottled water;
the optimum air humidity in the greenhouse is easily achieved.

The irrigation container is filled with water and hung on a support down with a cork, having previously made several holes near the neck. Holes can not be made, while not screwing the cap of the bottle to the end, regulating the flow of water in small quantities.

The disadvantage of this method is the need to install supports for hanging bottles. In addition, it is necessary to properly direct the watering so that water from the holes does not drip onto the leaves of plants: moisture can cause sunburn of the crop. To prevent water from getting on the leaves, containers should be hung closer to the ground or use droppers as in the photo.

Drip irrigation from above and below the root

right at the root

Root irrigation is a modernized irrigation method in which the efficiency of the process is increased by using a ballpoint pen. The bottle serves as a container for water, and the moisture exits through the rod. We start by cutting off the writing part of the rod, then we wash it well so that there are no paste particles left. In order not to bother with washing the rods, it is better to use plastic straws for a cocktail. We tightly close one of the ends of the tube by inserting a toothpick or a planed match into it. You can simply bend the tube at a distance of 10-15mm from the end and fix it with narrow tape. We retreat from the clogged edge 2 cm, pierce the hole with a needle.

We make a hole for inserting the rod in the container itself: if you plan to insert the bottle upside down, pierce it at the level of the narrowing of the bottle; if the rod is inserted near the bottom, step back from it 10-15cm. We insert the tube into the container so that the closed end is outside. We seal the place where the rod enters the wall of the bottle with a sealant. Fill the tank with water, install.

The advantage of the method is that water flows directly to the root system of plants. The intensity of watering can be adjusted by the diameter of the hole. The practical application of the method led the craftsmen to the optimal calculation of irrigation. If you take a bottle of 2 liters, then you can provide drip irrigation for 5 days, provided that no more than 10 drops of moisture come out of the container in 5 minutes.

The practical experience of those who have already assembled such structures more than once will be useful to beginner DIYers. Various plastic bottles are suitable for organizing micro-irrigation, but there are some secrets in their use. Here are some helpful tips:

If the design is designed to care for cucumber beds, it is better to take 2-liter containers, in some cases 5-liter bottles are also suitable.
The diameter of the punctures should be as small as possible (1-1.5 mm) so that the water does not leave too quickly.
You can protect the bottles from getting earth into them if you wrap them with burlap or old stockings.
The number of containers required is calculated by the number of plants. The ideal ratio is 1 bottle per 1 plant bush.
The volume of watering depends on weather conditions, soil type, frequency of visiting the site. For bushes in open ground during the growing season, 3-4 liters of water is enough for a week. When flowers and ovaries appear, the plant needs 6 liters of water. If the weather is hot, normal irrigation requires 12 liters of water for 3 days. The moisture consumption in the greenhouse must be increased due to its intensive evaporation.

The degree of watering is adjusted as needed.

The ideal period for planting bottles in the soil is when the seeds are planted.
A container with water should be placed at a distance of 15 cm from the plant. Depth of sealing bottles - 10-15cm. The container can be placed both vertically and slightly tilted by 30-40 degrees.

Home-made automatic watering is actively used and helps many summer residents perfectly. Bottles are used for irrigation of tomatoes, eggplants, berry bushes, flower beds. A simple design does not require special financial investments, it is easy to assemble, does not deteriorate for a long time, and tolerates weather conditions well. In addition, drip irrigation protects the plant root from excessive dampness and drought. The following video is carefully selected and will certainly help the perception of the foregoing.

Cucumbers are a moisture-loving crop that needs to be periodically watered and fed during outdoor cultivation. If you water too infrequently, it can affect the growth of bushes and yields. The fruits themselves may also suffer, which will grow tasteless and bitter.

Not all vegetable growers have the opportunity to constantly be in the country to constantly water the cucumbers. In this case, drip irrigation of cucumbers is created in a greenhouse or vegetable garden, which will ensure a constant supply of moisture to the plants. For such purposes, do-it-yourself watering from plastic bottles is created.

Advantages and disadvantages

The device for watering with plastic bottles is quite simple. To ensure the supply of moisture to the cucumbers, it is necessary to dig a bottle with small holes for water seepage near each bush. This bottled watering has a number of advantages, which include:

Small cost. This system is practically free, since to create it you only need plastic containers that you can find on the street yourself or purchase at a low price.
Ease of creation. To equip irrigation with plastic bottles, a person does not need any special skills, so everyone can do this job.
Simplified care for cucumbers growing in the garden or in greenhouse conditions. For watering in a greenhouse through plastic bottles, a person does not have to spend much time in his summer cottage. Using this scheme, a person will be able to do their own thing and not worry about the plants.
Protection of cucumbers from burns. Auto-watering the bushes in a drip way protects the leaves on the bushes from burns, since the water will flow immediately under the root.
Autonomy. Most popular systems need a plumbing system. In this case, you only need bottles filled with water.
Liquid temperature. The water with which cucumbers are watered has the same temperature as the air in the greenhouse. This has a positive effect on plant growth.
Easy disassembly and repair. There are times when some element in the system breaks down and has to be completely replaced. To do this, it will be enough to dig out a broken bottle and install a new one in its place.

Despite all its advantages, this irrigation system has some disadvantages:

The complexity of organizing irrigation in large areas. Therefore, if it is necessary to ensure the supply of moisture to large areas, it is recommended to use any other irrigation methods.
Frequent problems. Often, the holes in the bottles begin to clog with earth, and because of this, the flow of moisture into the soil slows down.
Inadequate watering. Such a system is quite primitive and because of this, it cannot completely replace irrigation in the open field. The gardener will sometimes have to independently irrigate the bushes with a watering can. To ensure full irrigation, it is recommended to use special tapes connected to the water supply.

Materials used

Before you start drip irrigation after top dressing, you need to decide what materials and tools will be needed to equip the system:

roulette;
shovel for digging containers into the ground;
an awl or nails to create holes;
bottles;
a lighter with which a needle or nail will be heated.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of bottles, since they are the main material of the irrigation system. First you need to decide on the volume of containers. In this case, the choice directly depends on the area in which the cucumbers will be grown. If the temperature is very high throughout the day, then large containers will be needed for irrigation that could hold a sufficient amount of water. It must be remembered that in greenhouses the temperature is higher than outside and therefore the plants will need more water.

It is not recommended to use a container of small volume, because of this it will be necessary to add liquid to it too often. Therefore, it is worth abandoning half-liter bottles. The best option would be to use two-liter containers, which will be enough for a week and a half.

However, if the summer is too hot, then you will have to use five-liter eggplants so that the bushes have enough moisture. The possibility of using such a large container should be considered in advance, since it takes up a lot of space.

You should also pay attention to choosing the right fabric. It is needed to protect the openings of the bottles from contamination. To do this, the fabric will have to be wrapped around the outside of the bottle so that the earth cannot get inside. It is recommended to choose a fabric that is not very dense so that water can pass through it freely.

Arrangement methods

There are four main methods by which you can create a bottle irrigation system. Therefore, before starting work, you should familiarize yourself with each of them.

Digging into the ground

The most common way to arrange irrigation in open ground is to bury containers in the ground upside down. To do this, a small hole is made near each bush with a depth of at least 10 cm, into which the container will be placed. Then, with the help of a tape measure at the bottle, 3-5 cm is canceled from the beginning of the bottom and a mark is made. After that, holes in several rows are created in the marked area with the help of a heated needle. You need to make about 10 holes.

The prepared bottle is carefully wrapped with a cloth and placed upside down in the ground. Then it is buried and filled with water. Often debris from the ground gets into the water from above. To solve this problem, you should cover the neck with a nylon or cloth.

Instillation upside down

This method differs from the previous one in that the container will be placed upside down in the ground. Therefore, holes will have to be made in the lid or in the neck. To organize watering in this way, holes for containers are made near each bush. At the same time, they need to be done a little less than last time. Their depth should be equal to the size of the neck of the container.

Having finished with the creation of holes, you can begin to prepare the containers. On the lid or in the neck, using a well-heated nail, you need to make 5-10 holes. If the soil is not very dense, then their number can be reduced.

After that, five centimeters are measured from the bottom of the container and the bottom of the container is cut off with scissors or a knife. Some gardeners do not cut it off completely and leave it to protect it from debris and rapid evaporation of moisture. Then the neck is wrapped with a cloth and it is placed in the ground.

Hanging

Some do not want to expose the root system of cucumbers and therefore they refuse to dig in containers near the bushes. It is in such situations that it is recommended to use this method. To organize watering in this way, you must first make holes in the bottom of the container. Several holes are also made to pass the wire through which the container will be attached.

After that, a structure is mounted above the bush to secure the container. Its height should not be too high. It is necessary that the distance from the bottle to the ground is about 40 cm.

Application of nozzles

This method is the most expensive, since you will have to purchase special nozzles for bottles. Using them, you do not have to waste your time digging containers into the ground. It will be enough just to fix the nozzle on the neck and deepen it into the ground.

Conclusion

Making drip irrigation from plastic bottles with your own hands for cucumbers is not a very difficult job that almost everyone can handle. To do this, it is recommended that you read the recommendations for creating an irrigation system and watch a video that describes the correct system and the process of creating it.

Not each of us can take care of plants in our summer cottage throughout the season. Most city dwellers go to their dachas only for weekends. Throughout the week, the garden stands without watering, which can lead to the loss of the entire crop. Do-it-yourself drip irrigation systems from plastic bottles allow you to be absent from your site for several days. With the help of these devices, you do not have to postpone all your business and go to the country in the middle of the week.

no need to spend money on the purchase of material - containers for soft drinks can be found in almost every summer cottage;
ease of manufacture;
saving time and effort;
you can not pay attention to the garden for several days;
moisture enters the roots, drops of water do not settle on the leaves;
liquid through plastic bottles enters gradually and dosed;
ideal choice for a greenhouse - the earth is not moistened, remains loose, weed seeds almost do not germinate;
saves water, which is good for areas with central water supply and for those to which water needs to be imported;
the liquid heats up quickly, which is good for plants;
repairs and installation are very fast.

These devices, simple in terms of manufacturing principle, allow you to get rid of excess fumes in greenhouses and greenhouses. Excessive moisture can cause mold and fungus to grow on your plants. Being in a greenhouse with drier air will be more comfortable.

Disadvantages of drip devices

Drip watering with bottles is in most cases recognized as a useful invention. Especially for summer residents who have a main place of work. Before installing such an irrigation system on your site, you should familiarize yourself with several of its disadvantages:

such watering is not suitable for large areas;
it is not always advisable to install containers in open ground;
the system cannot replace quality plant care;
if there is a large amount of clay in the soil, the holes will clog up very quickly.

We recommend installing bottles on the beds temporarily. You should not use drip irrigation all the time, as the plants may not have enough moisture, especially on hot days. Watering in this way is suitable for open ground and greenhouses, it can be used for indoor plants and seedlings.

Dropping a bottle upside down

For tomato bushes planted in open ground or a greenhouse, an irrigation system using a buried bottle is excellent. With it, you do not need to remove the container from the soil every time. Using a funnel, you can add water, because the neck will rise above the soil surface.

Everything is ingenious - each container is prepared in a matter of minutes. First you need to find a container that will fit freely between two plants. At the same time, its volume should be sufficient to deliver moisture to the roots for several days. Most often, it is recommended to select containers that can hold more than a liter of liquid.

Step back from the bottom 3 centimeters and make several holes around the entire circumference. Use a thin carnation for this, which you heat over a flame. You will need to make 10 holes on each side, staggered. Along the edges of the greenhouse, you can place bottles that have holes on only one side. They will only moisten the outermost plants.

Use a small shovel to dig holes between plants. Their depth should be such that the container stands up to its full height, and only the neck part protrudes above the surface. Bury the resulting device. Instead of a cork, pull a mesh or flap from nylon tights over the bottles so that debris does not get into the water. The mesh should sag slightly, falling into the throat. The irrigation system is filled with a funnel. Each container is enough for watering 2-4 tomato bushes.

If after an hour you find that the soil is too wet, you will have to replace the bottles with new ones with fewer holes. If moisture is not enough, then it is worth making holes of a larger diameter or increasing their number. We recommend installing irrigation devices a few hours before you leave the site.

Suspended structures

A more complex system is suspended. It can be used for greenhouses and greenhouses. At the same time, drip irrigation from plastic bottles will be easy to maintain. Design advantages: the liquid can be added without a funnel, the soil at the roots will not erode, the water heats up perfectly, and the system will work regardless of the type of soil.

First of all, you will need to make a crossbar on which the bottles will be hung. From each bottle you will need to cut off the bottom. Using wire and two holes, make suspensions. After that, you just have to make holes for watering. To do this, you can make several holes in the lid and near it. The second option - to start watering, just slightly unscrew the plug.

To avoid sunburn on plant foliage, hang containers as close to the ground as possible. Otherwise, water will fall on the leaves and, after evaporation, will damage them.

Watering with harnesses

If you are leaving for the whole week, then you can place the simplest devices made from five-liter canisters on the beds. To do this, a window is cut in the side of each container, and the cork is tightly twisted. You can pour liquid using a watering can with a diffuser removed.

You can cut an old cotton T-shirt into bundles. Wet them and lay them so that one end of the tourniquet is in the liquid, and the other goes down to the plant. This method of watering is used for indoor flowers. In this case, a basin of water is placed on a stool, and pots with plants are placed under it. You can make harnesses from a piece of gauze, bandage or foam rubber seals for windows.

If you don't want to waste time making tows or want to water your beets, onions, or carrots, you can simply poke a few holes in the bottle. Lay the container between the bushes of vegetables or their rows. The disadvantage of this method is that moisturizing can be too intense.

Dropping a bottle upside down

Prepare the containers in the same way as for hanging: cut off the bottom and make a few holes around the neck. The only difference will be that hooks will not have to be made from wire. After the preparatory work, it will be enough for you to just dig the neck of the bottle into the ground so that the water begins to seep to the roots.

For dense soils and loams, you can slightly improve the design. Do not make holes at the neck. Instead, remove the cork and tightly plug the neck with foam rubber, water will evenly seep through it. This type of device will not work if the soil is loose or sandy - the liquid will pour out almost instantly.

To protect against moisture, the bottom can be left uncut - leave a small part of the plastic uncut. Water supplies for irrigation in this case can be replenished by slightly bending the bottom. An alternative option is to pull a nylon footprint or sock onto each bottle.

In gardening stores or one-stop supermarkets, you can find special devices for plastic bottles. They are put on instead of a cork and help turn the container into an irrigation system. From the side, such nozzles look like elongated cones. They are easy to pierce the soil to install a watering container. Using ready-made nozzles is a kind of neck-down installation method for those who are too lazy to make holes themselves.

The disadvantage of ready-made elements is the limitation on the volume of the bottle. Most often they are made for standard containers, up to 2.5 liters. For large options, for example, for 5 liter canisters, it is almost impossible to find nozzles. You can use them everywhere - at home, in a greenhouse or open ground.

Installation of drip irrigation systems is quite simple. Here are some tips to help you use these devices more efficiently:

Drip irrigation can be used for different types of plants: cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants. Some gardeners install such systems between shrubs and flower beds. To prevent water from evaporating on a hot day, it is worth installing translucent bottles or shade them. Everything is ingenious and simple! Thanks to irrigation devices, you can pay less attention to your garden. They are popular with busy people and those who want to relax in the summer, and not just cultivate the beds.