If you have a vegetable garden, a few vegetables in the ground or even potted plants on your balcony, you know how tedious watering can be, especially in summer. And yet, regular watering is the key to healthy plants. The solution? Drip irrigation, an efficient, water-saving system that you can make yourself in just a few minutes!
Here's how to set up the simplest and cheapest drip irrigation possible, using everyday items.
🌱 Why choose drip irrigation?
Drip irrigation makes it possible to:
- distribute water directly to the roots, where it is really needed ;
- save water, by avoiding losses through evaporation ;
- Reduce diseases linked to dampness on the leaves;
- water slowly, even when you're not there.
Perfect, then, for gardeners who want to combine efficiency, economy and autonomy!
🧃 Method 1: the pierced bottle - the quickest
Equipment:
- A 1.5 L or 5 L plastic bottle (depending on the size of the plant)
- A needle, drawing pin or small screw
- A knife or pair of scissors
Steps:
Punch 3 to 5 small holes in the cork using the drawing pin or a heated needle.
Make two small side holes at the base of the bottle (at the bottom) to avoid the suction effect and allow the water to drain out.
Fill the bottle with water.
Close it, then plant it upside down in the soil, with the cap facing downwards, close to the plant. Push it in far enough so that the bottle holds securely.
The water will flow slowly, drop by drop.
👉 Tip: you can test the flow rate before using it. If the water flows too quickly, reduce the size of the holes or drill fewer.
🍅 Method 2: the pierced hose - for several plants
Materials:
- A used garden hose or flexible plastic hose.
- A needle or small drill
- A stopper or nozzle to close the hose
- A container of water (can, bucket or drip tray)
Steps:
Drill small holes at regular intervals in the hose, only where your plants are located.
Plug one end of the hose.
Place the hose along your row of vegetables.
Connect the other end to a container placed high up, to allow the water to flow by gravity.
👉 This system is ideal for simple automatic watering in a small vegetable garden. You can even add a manual timer for even more precise control.
🪴 Method 3: Homemade ollas - the ancestral method
The olla is a microporous terracotta pot that is buried close to the roots: it releases water slowly.
Quick homemade version:
- Take two unglazed terracotta pots.
- Plug the drainage hole in one with a cork or putty.
- Glue the two pots together at the base.
- Bury the resulting pot up to the neck, then fill with water.
👉 The water will diffuse slowly into the soil, at exactly the right rate.
🌞 A few tips for effective irrigation
- Water early in the morning or late in the evening to prevent evaporation.
- Cover your soil with mulch to conserve moisture.
- Keep an eye on your plants: if they are wilting, the water flow is too low; if the soil is waterlogged, it is too high.
- In hot weather, adjust the watering frequency or increase the size of containers.
🚿 In Brief
With a little trickery and three times nothing, you can create a home drip system that's efficient, long-lasting and very economical. Your plants will appreciate the gentle watering, and you'll save time and water!