How to Make a Drip Irrigation System Using Plastic Bottles

Some plants require regular watering that not everyone can afford. If you have a lot of water-loving plants in your home and you don’t have time to water them, perhaps you should install a drip irrigation system. These devices can cost you a lot of money if you buy them at the store, but luckily you can make your own drip irrigation system at home with plastic bottles quite easily and without spending much, and good Above all, you are helping the environment by recycling plastic bottles.

Table of Contents

Make the watering system slow

Find a plastic bottle. A 2-liter plastic bottle is best, but you can use a smaller bottle to water small plants. Rinse the water bottle thoroughly and remove the label.

Punch 4-5 holes in the bottle cap. Remove the bottle cap and place on a piece of wood. Use a drill or hammer and nail to punch a few holes in the bottle cap. The more holes in the bottle cap, the faster the water flows. Close the bottle cap once the hole is done. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Avoid making holes that are too small to prevent them from getting clogged with soil. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Cut off the bottom of the bottle. You can use a serrated knife or sharp scissors to cut. You need to cut away about 2.5cm of the bottom of the bottle. ^{[3] X Research Source} If the soft drink bottle has grooves around the bottom of the bottle, you can cut along the groove.

Dig a hole in the soil. The hole should be deep enough that you can bury up to half a bottle. ^{[4] X Research Source} Dig a hole in the soil about 10 -15 cm away from the tree trunk. If digging near a rooted tree, be careful not to cut the roots. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Place the bottle in the hole in the ground, the bottle cap facing down. Remember to close the lid of the bottle, then turn the bottle upside down and place it in the hole in the ground. Gently pat the soil around the bottle.

You can bury the bottle deeper, but make sure the bottle is at least 2.5cm above the ground. This will help prevent the soil from falling into the water. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Pour water into the bottle, turn the cut off bottom upside down and cover so that the bottom of the bottle is above the water to catch dirt that could get into the bottle and cause a blockage. Then you can put the automatic irrigation system to work. Make enough watering cans for the number of plants you want to water.

Make a quick watering system

Find a plastic bottle. A 2-liter plastic bottle is best, but you can use a smaller bottle to water small plants. Thoroughly rinse the water bottle inside and out and peel off the label.

Punch a few holes in the wall of the bottle. Focus on punching holes in the bottom 2/3 of the bottle. You can punch as many holes as you want; The more holes in the bottle, the faster the water flows. If you are only watering one plant, punch a hole in the top of the bottle. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Use a nail or metal skewer to punch the hole.
You may need to heat the nail or skewer before you punch the hole.

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Punch a hole in the bottom of the bottle. This step is very important, as it prevents the water from stagnation at the bottom. If the bottom of the water bottle is divided into several compartments (like most 2-liter soft drinks bottles), you will have to punch a hole in each compartment. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Most plastic bottles have thicker bottoms. You will need to use a drill or hot nail to punch the hole.

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Dig a hole in the soil next to the tree. The hole should be deep enough to bury up to 2/3 of the bottle or until the wall of the bottle begins to taper.

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Place the bottle in the hole in the ground. If the bottle is perforated on one side of the bottle, turn the part with the hole towards the tree. Gently pat the soil around the bottle.

Pour water into the bottle. Open the bottle cap and use the faucet to fill the bottle with water; you can also use a funnel to make it easier to pour water. Do not cover the bottle; water will not flow if you close the lid.

If the water comes out too quickly, you can close the cap slightly. The tighter you tighten the cap, the slower the water will flow. ^{[9] X Research Source}
You can cut off the domed top of the bottle, turn it upside down, and use it as a funnel.

Make an irrigation system with an adjustable valve

Punch a hole in the wall of the bottle. This hole should be large enough to fit rubber washers and aquarium hoses. You can use a nail or a drill and drill head to punch the holes. ^{[10] X Research Source}

You need to punch this hole about 5-7.5 cm from the bottom of the bottle.
If you’re using a nail, preheat it on the fire before you punch the hole. Use a carving knife to make the hole wide.

Cut a short piece of hose for aquarium use. The length of the pipe only needs to be about 5-7.5 cm long. You will use this hose to attach the aquarium hose connection valve to the water bottle. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Attach a small rubber washer around the hose. The rubber washer should be wide enough to fit the hole in the bottle but small enough to fit snugly around the tube. If the rubber ring is too wide, you can cut off part of it and wrap it around the tube. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Insert the rubber washer into the hole in the bottle and adjust the tube. Insert the rubber ring attached to the tube into the hole punched in the bottle, then push the tube into the bottle about 2.5 cm deep. The rest of the tube will stick out from the outside of the bottle. ^{[13] X Research Source}

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Seal around rubber rings and water pipes. You need to buy a small tube of sealant for aquariums or other leaks. Apply a thin layer around the joint between the rubber ring and the water bottle. If needed, you can use an ice cream stick or toothpick to apply the glue down. Wait for the glue to dry. ^{[14] X Research Source}

You may need to seal the junction between the rubber ring and the water pipe.

Attach the hose connection valve to the other end of the water pipe. You can purchase hose connections at aquarium supply stores or online. This device looks like a faucet with two open ends and has a screw on top. Plumbing valves usually have a pointed end and a non-pointed end. You will plug the non-pointed end into the water pipe. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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Cut off the top of the bottle if desired. You don’t have to cut off the top of the bottle, but this will make it easier to fill the bottle with water. You can also cut a section so that the top of the bottle remains attached to the bottle by means of a “hinge” so that it can partially close. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Poke a few more holes in the mouth of the bottle for hanging. Use an awl to poke 3 or 4 holes along the mouth of the bottle. These holes need to face each other to form a triangle (if 3 holes) or square (if 4 holes). ^{[17] X Research Source}

If you want to place the water bottle on a table higher than the plant, place a layer of gravel about 2.5cm thick on the bottom of the bottle to keep the bottle stable. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Thread wire or a sturdy piece of wire through the holes in the mouth of the bottle. Cut 3 -4 pieces of thin steel wire or strong wire. Thread the string through the holes you just poked and tie. Grab the ends of the rope and tie a knot at the other end. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Skip this step if you plan to place the water bottle on a flat surface.

Install the watering can and fill the bottle with water. Hang a water bottle above the tree. Close the water valve to prevent water from leaking out. Pour water into the bottle.

You can also place the water bottle standing on the table or hanging on the wall above the tree.

Advice

If you want to water fruit trees, herbs or vegetables, you should consider using BPA-free plastic bottles, as this plastic does not release chemicals like regular bottles. ^{[21] X Research Source}
Insert the water bottle into a nylon sock before burying it in the ground. This will help prevent soil from getting in and clogging the watering holes on the bottle. ^{[22] X Research Source}
Add more water as needed. This depends on the water uptake, the plant’s water needs, and the heat in the environment. ^{[23] X Research Sources}
Some plants, such as tomatoes, often require more water than a 2-liter bottle. You may need to use multiple drip irrigation cans. ^{[24] X Research Source}
Consider adding fertilizer to the water bottle every few weeks. ^{[25] X Research Sources}
You can use the cut out bottoms of water bottles to plant seeds. Drill a few drainage holes in the bottom of the bottle, then pour in soil to plant the seeds. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

Warning

Avoid granular fertilizers. If not completely dissolved, the fertilizer can clog the irrigation holes. ^{[27] X Research Source}

Things you need

Slow draining irrigation system

Water bottles
Drill or hammer and nail
Serrated knife

Quick drainage irrigation system

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

Irrigation system with control valve

Plastic bottle
Fish tank water pipe connection valve
Soft water pipe
Rubber washers
Drill or nail and candle
Glue
Drag
Steel wire or gravel

Steps