Suggestions for convenient watering methods of a packed tent?

[Capt. Anonymous]

If there was a 4' x 8' tent pretty well-packed, what would be the best method of watering each soil container?

Currently, with the supplies on hand, it seems to require taking each out individually and watering them.

Does anyone have some suggestions other than an auto-watering system?

I was thinking of some kind of system perhaps where a large bucket could be hung from the ceiling on a pulley or rope ratchet, and gravity could simply drain water through a valve in the bottom of the bucket and through a long hose that could easily be fed into and around the tent in order to hit each container. Is that picture clear enough?

If anyone has any tips, suggestions, links, ideas, comments, etc. they would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MIway]

I'm a big fan of gravity fed rez's... on a d2w system.

You'll need to elevate the pots in the tent, so they can also drain somewhere... need room for fittings & the drain lines... or you will have to fig out how to run her w/o runoff... and that will be problematic. The height constraints make this a toughy, but again, you don't want to have to fucking haul the plants in/out every time you water.

Oh... I've never used a pulley on an elevated rez... lol... that does sound kinda cool though! A stand always works pretty well for me... and don't forget water weighs 8lbs per gal.

 

[Capt. Anonymous]

Thanks for the response, MIway.

Soil is being used, and each container is sitting in a saucer.

I was thinking that I could take a few 5 gallon buckets, and fabricate some kind of valve into the side of each, all the way at the bottom. Onto the valve would attach a long length of tubing, big enough to let substantial flow through.

The valve would need to easily open/close, and another valve could be attached to the watering end of the hose in order to stop the flow when moving from container to container, etc.

I was thinking the use of a pulley-like system would be good, because it wouldn't require handling and taking up floorspace with a stand. Those rope ratchet doohickeys are pretty slick, and can hold decent weight too. (of course it would be screwed into a stud in the ceiling)

Shuffling them all in and out every time is a PITA, especially being how crowded it is in there.

So the basic picture I'm thinking is a bucket hanging at about 5' or so, a controllable valve where the bottom and side of the bucket meets, a long length of tubing, another controllable valve, a shorter length of tubing, then out to the soil. A piece of bamboo or something similar could be used to attach and support the end of the hose so that it can be positioned to reach distant containers for watering.

I'm sure this is very doable with some pretty basic supplies... I was just hoping to find someone who has done something like this and could lend some advice. I tried searching, but was unsuccessful.

Or even better yet, maybe there is a pre-made product like this that I am unaware of.. This is very possible.

 

[Diiirty]

i take 1 - 3 plants out and reach in and water and rotate them. This method works fine if you dont mind working on your knees.

 

[Capt. Anonymous]

i take 1 - 3 plants out and reach in and water and rotate them. This method works fine if you dont mind working on your knees.

That is exactly what I'm trying to avoid.
I'm trying to speed up the whole process by avoiding the need to pull them all out one by one.

Currently, they are taken out in groups of 2 or 3, but as pleasurable and relaxing as the whole thing is, it can take a while. In regards to ease and time, imagine just walking up and going from container to container with no time wasted between.

Also, I'm trying to figure out something that will help avoid the hassle and aggravation of trying to cram everything back inside the tent in such a way that seems the least cramped and then position branches so that they aren't contorted or shaded out too badly.

I'm seeking a "set it and forget it" setup, as far as container handling goes... no taking them out until the whole show is over.
This wouldn't be such an issue if things weren't as crowded as they are.
Eventually, I think some Blumats will be looked into, but in the meantime...

 

[sirbudsalot]

I like blumats (http://www.blumat.at/automatic-watering-system.php) , but that would break your no-auto watering systems rule I think.

If you went with the elevated reservoir, these drip ends make it easier to water without getting a lot of runoff:
http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=49667&cat=2,2280,49657

 

[Capt. Anonymous]

I like blumats (http://www.blumat.at/automatic-watering-system.php) , but that would break your no-auto watering systems rule I think.

If you went with the elevated reservoir, these drip ends make it easier to water without getting a lot of runoff:
http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=49667&cat=2,2280,49657

Sorry, went back and edited in my comment about Blumats before you submitted your reply.

I think a set of Blumats is definitely in the future, but not just yet.

 

[Irie_Lion]

i take 1 - 3 plants out and reach in and water and rotate them. This method works fine if you dont mind working on your knees.

Thtas how I do it in the same size tent...take out just the first row closest to the front/doors and reach in and water. I do this daily by hand in coco with not much hassle or time consumed (21 plants) how often r u watering in soil? If u do end up running a gravity fed system post up a pic. Thanks

 

[Capt. Anonymous]

Thtas how I do it in the same size tent...take out just the first row closest to the front/doors and reach in and water. I do this daily by hand in coco with not much hassle or time consumed (21 plants) how often r u watering in soil? If u do end up running a gravity fed system post up a pic. Thanks

Currently putting in approximately half a gallon per container, every 2-3 days.

Removing only the front row would streamline the process a good bit, but either way, I am strongly interested in the gravity bucket hose valve wand whatever system.

I have a pretty good idea in my head of how I'd assemble such a thing, but haven't looked for actual parts yet. Really only a bucket, some hose, a couple valves, some type of sealant... that's it.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Ever thought about an indoor watering-wand? They're low pressure and don't make a mess like higher pressure outdoor types. This would keep you from having to plum and auto-meter the volume.

It would be easy to hook up a gravity feed like you were describing in the op.

Some wands have coil hose which looks handy. The straight hose type looks small enough to adapt to an electrical-cord retractor. That would be cool.

 

[Grass Lands]

it may be a pain in the arse...however by taking each plant out to water, it allows one to examine the plant to make sure all is well

 

[Capt. Anonymous]

Ever thought about an indoor watering-wand? They're low pressure and don't make a mess like higher pressure outdoor types. This would keep you from having to plum and auto-meter the volume.

It would be easy to hook up a gravity feed like you were describing in the op.

Some wands have coil hose which looks handy. The straight hose type looks small enough to adapt to an electrical-cord retractor. That would be cool.

Disco, an indoor wand is essentially what I'm going for. In my limited research, I've only come across outdoor wands that hook up to a hose or a faucet. I guess those could be hooked up to a proper width screw valve on the bucket, eh? I didn't think about that until now...

Do you have any links/pics that could illustrate your ideas? Not sure what you mean by the electrical cord retractor...

it may be a pain in the arse...however by taking each plant out to water, it allows one to examine the plant to make sure all is well

This is true, but once a plant is pretty well-known and familiar, it doesn't need to be inspected quite as closely. IMO, anyway.

Thanks for the input, fellas.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Disco, an indoor wand is essentially what I'm going for. In my limited research, I've only come across outdoor wands that hook up to a hose or a faucet. I'm wanting something that i can hook up to a reservoir of some sort that will hold water + liquid ferts.
Do you have any links/pics that could illustrate your ideas? Not sure what you mean by the electrical cord retractor...

A retractor is just an idea to keep the watering hose contained, like a self-retracting tape measure.

The idea I thought of mimics your gravity distributed res hanging or sitting higher than the distribution point. This keeps you from having to pump the water. Instead of having hard plumbing to the distribution points, you use a hose from the res and a wand to control the flow. The longer the wand, the father you could reach w/o having to move pots around.

Sorry, I don't have any links or pics but the concept is pretty simple. You'd need a res positioned higher than it feeds. The res has to be in a position to fill it manually or you'd have to design an auto filler.

The res would have to have a nipple corresponding to the wand hose. The wand has a thumb valve that releases and halts the flow.

Your res wouldn't have to be inside the tent but your hose would have to pass through like your electrical cords. Might be a good idea to isolate the water hose from the electrical cords.

 

[dansbuds]

Blumats are the shit for a crowded tent or room . just make sure you also order the 30mm roll of drip tubing . the small lines on the blumats that come in the kit don't give you alot of room to play with .

http://www.planetearthhydro.com/products/Tropf-Blumat-Self%252dWatering-System.html
http://www.planetearthhydro.com/products/Tropf-Blumat-Dripline.html

& untill you get your blumats you can use a pesticide sprayer from the local HD or lowes . i use mine without the tips & it works great . i can feed 8 plants with the 2 gallon no prob .
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=202280061&R=202280061

 

[Capt. Anonymous]

dansbuds,

Thanks for that info and the links. I think a Blumat system is right near the top of the list of things to do. Gotta do a bit more research and planning first, though.

 

[yesum]

I just have a 2x2x5' tent, but it is packed and I take out the front row and water the plants in tent with a watering can with long spout to get in among the branches. Then replace the front row and water them.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

That's all I use. A watering can w/ an extended snout.

 

[Dislexus]

If you are monocropping and all the pots are the same size you can run tubing to each pot and gravity feed with a funnel. EZ