Hey everyone, I'm looking for advice on setting up an automatic watering system for my greenhouse. I want something that can handle my plants while I'm away on holiday without needing help from neighbors. Usually, I have a kid next door water them, but they always come back looking pretty sad.
I have power in my greenhouse, so I'm considering using a water barrel with a submersible pump on a timer, distributing water through drip feeders. However, I'm a bit nervous about leaving the electric setup running while I'm gone. Has anyone had success with this approach? Also, has anyone tried battery-powered garden pumps? They might be useful for my allotment where I don't have electricity, but I can still manage a gravity-fed system at home.
2 Answers
When I had my allotment, I set up a solar powered watering system using a water butt and a DIY 12v pump with a battery, solar panel, and charge controller. Ready-made options are available, but I found those pumps to be a bit weak for multiple plants, hence my DIY route. It did its job when I couldn’t be there, though! At home, I use a battery-powered timer for my outdoor tap, connected to the hose and my greenhouse irrigation system. Both setups worked well while I was away, but I usually prefer to check on my plants myself since conditions can change quickly. They can be a lifesaver when in a rush, too!
Check out the Harvst systems! They have options for both solar and mains power that are specifically made for automatic watering. Might be worth a look!
I thought about solar too, but I've heard they don’t pump enough water. What made your DIY setup work better? Did you get a larger solar panel?