How to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle

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Some plants require frequent watering that not everyone has the time for. If you find yourself with lots of thirsty plants and not enough time to water them in, you may want to set up a drip irrigation system . Buying pre-made ones from the store can get expensive, but luckily it is fairly cheap and easy to make one at home using plastic bottles. Best of all, you will be helping the environment by recycling plastic bottles .

How to Make a Slow Drip Watering System

  1. Remove the label and clean a plastic bottle.
  2. Poke 5-8 holes in the cap with a nail.
  3. Cut the bottom inch (~2 cm) of the bottle off.
  4. Dig a hole 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) away from the plant you want to water.
  5. Put the bottle into the hole, cap side down.
  6. Fill the bottle with water.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making a Slow-Release Irrigator

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    A 2-liter bottle will work the best, but you can use a smaller one for a smaller plant. Clean the bottle thoroughly with water, and remove the label.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    Remove the cap and set it down on a piece of scrap wood. Use a drill or a nail and hammer to poke several holes into it. The more holes you poke, the faster the water will flow out. Place the cap back onto the bottle when you are done. [1]
    • Avoid making the holes too small, or they may get clogged up by the soil. [2]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    You can do this with a serrated knife or a pair of sharp scissors. Plan on cutting the bottom inch (2.54 centimeters) off of the bottle. [3] If your soda bottle has a molded line around the bottom, you can use that as a guide instead.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    It needs to be deep enough so that you can fit your bottle halfway into it. [4] Plan on making the hole about 4 to 6 inches (10.16 to 15.24 centimeters) away from the plant's stem. If you are digging next to an established plant, be careful not to cut through the roots. [5]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    If you have not already, screw the cap back onto the bottle. Flip the bottle upside down, and insert it cap-side-down into the hole. Gently pat the soil down around the bottle.
    • You can insert the bottle deeper into the soil, but you will need at least 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) sticking out of the soil. This will prevent soil from getting into the water. [6]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    Fill the bottle with water, and invert the bottom of the bottle so it rests on the water, ready to catch any debris that would otherwise sink and clog the system. Leave your drip irrigation to do its work. Make as many drip irrigation as you need for all of your plants.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making a Quick-Release Irrigator

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    A 2-liter soda bottle will work the best, but if you are only watering a small plant, you may be able to use a smaller one. Clean the bottle thoroughly inside-out with water and remove the label.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    Focus on making the holes in the bottom two-thirds of the bottle. You can make as many or as few holes as you want; the more you make, the faster the water will flow. If you are only going to be watering one plant, place the holes on the same side of the bottle.
    • Make the holes using a nail or a metal skewer.
    • You may have to heat the nail or skewer up over a flame first.
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    This is very important as it will allow the water from collecting in the bottom and growing stagnant. If your bottle has a segmented bottom (ie: most 2-liter soda bottles), you will need to poke a hole in each segment.
    • The bottom of most bottles is typically made from thicker plastic. You will need to use a drill or a hot nail to do this.
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    The hole needs to be deep enough to insert the bottle about two-thirds of the way, or where the straight walls start to curve into a dome.
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    If you places the holes on one side of the bottle, rotate the bottle until the holes face the plant. Gently pat the soil around the bottle.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    Remove the cap first, then use a hose to fill the bottle with water; you can also insert a funnel into the neck to make filling easier. Leave the cap off, otherwise the water won't flow out.
    • If the water is flowing out too fast, you can put the cap on loosely. The tighter you close it, the slower the water will flow out.
    • You can also cut the top, domed portion of the bottle off, invert it, and use it like a funnel.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making an Adjustable Irrigator

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    The hole needs to be big enough to fit the rubber gasket and the flexible aquarium tubing. You can create the hole using a drill and drill bit or with a nail. [7]
    • The hole needs to be about 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters) up from the bottom of the bottle.
    • If you are using a nail, heat it up over a flame first, then make the hole. Widen the hole with a craft blade.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    The tubing needs to be only 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters) long. You will be using this to attach the aquarium fitting to the bottle. [8]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    The gasket needs to be big enough to fit into the hole, but small enough to fit around the tubing. If the gasket is too big for the tubing, you can cut a segment out of it to make it smaller, then wrap it around the tubing. [9]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    Push the assembled gasket and tubing into the hole. Next, push the tubing into the hole that that about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) of it is inside the bottle. The rest of the tubing should be sticking out of the bottle. [10]
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    Seal the area around the gasket and tubing. Purchase a small tube of sealant meant for fixing aquariums, or other leaks. Pipe a thin band around the joint between the gasket and the bottle. If you need to, use a popsicle stick or a toothpick to smooth the sealant down. Allow the sealant to cure. [11]
    • You may need to seal the area between the gasket and the tubing itself.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    You can purchase aquarium fittings in aquarium supply stores and online. They look a little like a faucet, with an opening on each end, and a knob on top. One of the opens is usually pointed. You want to insert the non-pointed opening into the tubing. [12]
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    You don't really have to do this, but it will make filling the bottle easier. You can also cut it off only partway so that it's still attached to the rest of the bottle by a "hinge." This will allow you to partially close the opening. [13]
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    Use a hole puncher to punch 3 to 4 holes along the top, cut edge of the bottle. Make the holes straight across from each other so that they form a triangle (for three holes) or a square (for four holes). [14]
    • If you want to stand the irrigator on a table above your plant, fill the bottom inch (2.54 centimeters) or so with pebbles. This will help keep it stable. [15]
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    Cut 3 to 4 long pieces of thin wire or strong string. Thread and tie each string to a punched hole. Gather all of the strings together, then tie them into a knot at the other end. [16]
    • Skip this step if you are standing the irrigator up.
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    Hang the irrigator from a hook above your plant. Close the knob on the aquarium fitting first so that no water leaks out. Fill the bottle with water.
    • You can also stand the irrigator on a table or wall above your plant instead.
  11. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Drip Irrigator from a Plastic Bottle
    If the water won't reach the plant because something is in the way, cut another piece of aquarium tubing. Secure one end to the pointed tip of the aquarium fitting, and set the other end on top of the soil, right next to the plant. [17]
    • The more you unscrew the knot, the faster the water will flow.
    • The tighter you screw the knob, the slower the water will flow.
    • Drip irrigation puts your water exactly at the root ball.
    • It helps to minimize water usage.
    • Usually, a professional company puts a jute mat or a soil stabilizer mat on the hill plants to provide drip irrigation to each one of the plants.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What's the benefit of using drip irrigation?
    Scott Johnson
    Landscape & Design Consultant
    Scott Johnson is the Owner and Lead Design Consultant for Concrete Creations, Inc., an award-winning landscape and design company based in the San Diego, California metro area. He has over 30 years of experience in the pool and landscape construction industry and specializes in large estate outdoor environment construction projects. His work has been featured in San Diego Home & Garden Magazine and on Pool Kings TV Show. He earned a BS degree in Construction Management with an emphasis in Architecture and CAD design from Northern Arizona University.
    Scott Johnson
    Landscape & Design Consultant
    Expert Answer
    Drip irrigation is the least expensive way to water because it puts the water exactly at the root ball of the plants. To minimize water usage, try to use drip irrigation as much as you can.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
  • Question
    Can glass bottles be used?
    Community Answer
    Plastic bottles are best.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Do I need to use a plastic bottle for each plant?
    Community Answer
    Not always. If you're watering circular, small or medium-sized pots, a bottle will do. If your pots are large and rectangle or square, basically having a large exposed area, you might want to consider the number of bottles according to distance and the amount of water all the plants need together. If you have garden plants with bases close to each other, you might want to install a bottle for every three square feet, adjusting the amount of water depending on the climate and the plants.
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      Tips

      • If you are watering fruits, herbs, or vegetables, consider using BPA-free plastic bottles, as they do not leach chemicals like regular bottles do. [18]
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      • Stick the bottle into a nylon stocking before putting it into the soil. This will prevent the soil from clogging up the holes while allowing the water to flow. [19]
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      • Refill the bottle as needed. This depends on how thirsty the plans are, how much water they require, and how hot it is. [20]
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • To slow down the water, take a second bottle, cut off the end, and poke two or three holes in the cap. Put that bottle cap down into your drip irrigator, then fill that bottle with water.
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      Warnings

      • Avoid using granule fertilizers. If they don't dissolve properly, they could clog up the holes. [24]
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      Things You’ll Need

      Making a Slow-Release Irrigator

      • Plastic bottle
      • Drill or nail and hammer
      • Serrated knife

      Making a Quick-Release Irrigator

      • Plastic bottle
      • Nail or metal skewer
      • Drill and drill bit (optional but recommended)

      Making an Adjustable Irrigator

      • Plastic bottle
      • Aquarium fitting
      • Flexible tubing
      • Rubber gasket
      • Drill or nail and candle
      • Sealant
      • Scissors
      • Wire or pebbles


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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.gardenandhome.co.za/gardening/how-tos/make-your-own-drip-irrigation-system-using-plastic-bottles/
      2. ↑ http://www.gardenandhome.co.za/gardening/how-tos/make-your-own-drip-irrigation-system-using-plastic-bottles/
      3. ↑ http://www.gardenandhome.co.za/gardening/how-tos/make-your-own-drip-irrigation-system-using-plastic-bottles/
      4. ↑ http://www.gardenandhome.co.za/gardening/how-tos/make-your-own-drip-irrigation-system-using-plastic-bottles/
      5. ↑ https://www.veggiegardener.com/threads/watering-tomatoes-using-a-2-liter-soda-bottle.1886/
      6. ↑ https://www.veggiegardener.com/threads/watering-tomatoes-using-a-2-liter-soda-bottle.1886/
      7. ↑ https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/making-plastic-bottle-irrigator.htm
      8. ↑ https://bottlefirst.com/diy-water-bottle-drip-irrigation/
      9. ↑ https://bottlefirst.com/diy-water-bottle-drip-irrigation/
      1. ↑ https://bottlefirst.com/diy-water-bottle-drip-irrigation/
      2. ↑ https://bottlefirst.com/diy-water-bottle-drip-irrigation/
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSgwivCXL3o
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFu5qb4G3bU
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFu5qb4G3bU
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSgwivCXL3o
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFu5qb4G3bU
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSgwivCXL3o
      9. ↑ http://thegardeningcook.com/soda-bottle-drip-feeder-for-vegetables/
      10. ↑ http://thegardeningcook.com/soda-bottle-drip-feeder-for-vegetables/
      11. ↑ http://yougrowgirl.com/make-your-own-pop-bottle-drip-irrigation-system/
      12. ↑ http://yougrowgirl.com/make-your-own-pop-bottle-drip-irrigation-system/
      13. ↑ http://yougrowgirl.com/make-your-own-pop-bottle-drip-irrigation-system/
      14. ↑ https://www.veggiegardener.com/threads/watering-tomatoes-using-a-2-liter-soda-bottle.1886/
      15. ↑ https://www.veggiegardener.com/threads/watering-tomatoes-using-a-2-liter-soda-bottle.1886/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a slow drip irrigator from a plastic bottle, get a 2 liter plastic bottle, remove the contents and label, and rinse it thoroughly. After it is rinsed, poke 4-5 holes in the lid and cut off the bottom inch or so of the bottle using a serrated knife or sharp scissors. Then, dig a hole in the soil where you'd like to water that is about 4 to 6 inches deep. Once your hole is dug, screw the lid back on the bottle and place it cap-side down in the hole. Fill the bottle with water and it will slowly water your plant. To learn how to make a quick release irrigator from a bottle, read on!

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