Simple Gravity Drip Irrigation System Using Plastic Soda Bottles

How many holes and how big will make a difference in your success. I experimented with different sized holes and one hole vs. too many, and finally came to a system that drips reliably, and at a rate of 2 liters per 10 hours. If you need to set this up to leave for a couple of days, then I suggest a larger resevoir. I am also looking into other systems, but in the meantime my Jalepeno peppers are very happy!
Thanks for Watching!

[@aussiebushhomestead3223]

Great idea! Your use of the second bottle to solve the clogging problem was brilliant.

[@form49]

The reason the water would not drip out in the original design is that, for water to drip out, it must be replaced by air. With a large volume of water in the bottle, the pressure exerted by the water is too great to allow air into the bottle. The solution is to make a hole above the water to allow air to replace the water that is dripping out. When you cut the bottom off the bottle, you solved that problem. To prevent the water from running out too fast in this design, however, the hole through which the water escapes must be very small.

[@alahatzaifat1872]

I guess you didn't see where she cuts the bottom of the bottle off almost completely, so that she can refill them when empty??? hahahaha

[@form49]

@@alahatzaifat1872 My comment is about the original design in which she has only one hole in the bottle cap and no way for air to come into the bottle. You're referring to a later design.

[@rebeccacarroll7913]

Well I have found this video most helpful & I would like to thank you that you have taken the time to experiment to get the right outcome. I too looked into other methods of irrigation. I found on Temu you can purchase a holder for your bottle that lets the water drip out at a required speed. I bought a lot as they were so cheap. Then I got deflated as it seemed that I had to squeeze the bottle every time to get it to drip again. So I decided to do your clever tip for more air to get into the water/bottle. It works now & is an easier way to fill the bottle up as well.Thx a million from England !

[@christopherc6947]

You fail at reading the first comment for context. They are exactly right. HAHAHA ​@@alahatzaifat1872

[@gendoll5006]

Omg THANK YOU! I’ve been trying to figure out if I needed a hole or not. I did this (except took the lid off, flipped it upside down quickly and pushed it about 2 inches into the soil) on some of my containers and I remembered hearing that the water wouldn’t come out unless the soil was dry, like how an oya works kinda I guess? I don’t know, but with the lid off and doing this with a 2 liter about half full when I started, it’s still about the same since yesterday so I don’t know how hers went empty so fast with just holes poked and mine has the lid off completely. Now I’m confused lol. I’ll poke a small hole in the top of the bottle and see what it does I guess lmao.

[@rockyusa2012]

Great tip especially the part to prevent the soil from getting trapped in the bottle opening.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks Rocky USA!

[@crazysquirrel9425]

Take a glass wine bottle with a cap or cork on it. Shove it into the ground then remove it. Remove the cap, fill the bottle, invert the bottle without the cap, and quickly place it into the hole you just made. Watering will be automatic. The thirstier the plant the drier the soil gets. As soil dries, it shrinks and lets air into the bottle, and water out. When the water is released, the soil swells pretty quickly and stops the flow. Since no cap, the plant can get all the water it wants. With a cap and holes in the cap, the watering is very limited. I have done this for a few years now with great success. I prefer to use magnum wine bottles since they can hold more water.

[@watchtell2801]

By far this is the best DIY vid of the sort I have seen! Thanks!!

[@morganlewis5863]

This one of the best and easiest drip systems yet! Thanks for sharing!

[@stuartsheppard1799]

Great instructions. Very clear. Waiting for spring!

[@stephactiveveggiebyrd4275]

You have made the best explanation of this system from all the others I’ve seen. Thank you!!

[@jaytee2642]

Ok, that double-bottle setup is genius! Thanks for the info.

[@krickette5569]

Best process I've seen so far. Thanks!

[@Jane-tt3on]

Thank you. This is the best explanation of the drip system

[@oregonpatriot1570]

This is a *_GREAT_* idea! I've been saving my 2 liter bottles and now I know why.

[@julieward1284]

Very simple and effective solution and good for the environment too! Thank you for sharing

[@lizetholguin1623]

Thank you for the idea on how to stop the soil from stopping the drip hole. I will use this in my science class. 😁

[@MsBari1025]

Great video; quite informative!! The Bluemat recommendation is also well appreciated as I will be traveling for two weeks and leaving my patio herb garden behind. Again, appreciate this!!

[@gracehc9356]

This is extremely clever! Thank you for sharing!

[@jeankievlan6589]

great idea. I love the flap for easy refill, genius

[@cshell64]

I'm so glad I found your video today! Thank you! I'm definitely going to try this.🙂

[@ashmlew]

I’ve been going through trial and error for a week now with this. These tips are exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

[@markirish7599]

Omg well done. Absolutely brilliant trial and error and you cracked it

[@astrangerontheinternet1]

In quarantine right now and I decided to make this for fun! Love your video :)

[@sherlenabanton9232]

Thank you I find your system the most efficient so far I’ve been trying to set up a system far to long now unsuccessfully I tried your system yesterday although I wasn’t so successful however watching you again I feel next time it may work I will use a smaller needle I also like how you use a cut out part of another bottle to hold the first bottle away from the soil thanks again.

[@s.s.2875]

This was so helpful! Thank you for sharing!

[@cathy9485]

Thank you! I have had so much trouble with these self-watering devices getting plugged. I am going to try your ideas!

[@kathleenwessels9992]

Great patience! Thank you for your trial and error!

[@harrypapas1465]

Brilliant ideas. Probably the best and simplest method ever watched.

[@TikkiOOO]

Glad you liked it, and thanks for the comment harry papas!

[@WOS1962]

Thank you for the valuable and useful information.🎉

[@kingromeowremeo3689]

Thanks for sharing your ideas it's look good i will try it as a beginner Farmer In Liberia

[@christinacyrus3824]

WOW, you are BRILLIANT! What a problem solver. I'm planting purple potatoes in 5 gallon grow bags on my porch. I wanted consistent water but not a wet porch. Thanks.

[@kevinmanning4880]

Fantastic video! Thank you for sharing.

[@aciofblackorchid4906]

I so appreciate you sharing your H2O drip plant hack. I'm always looking for ways to recycle things to save money whenever possible. My plants are small inside house plants, so I'm going to try my 10 oz water bottles this way. Another great reason is no over watering, and I can use my liquid (Superthrive) plant feed when needed. I can mix my Superthrive in a gallon jug before filling the bottles, plus the jugs and lids are WAY easier to clean and sanitize than a tiny hose/tube. THANK YOU ❤ ♻️

[@user-rv2yf7lq7d]

Thank you, this is great! simple (and cheap) to make, recycles my used bottles, simple to install, simple to refill, no external energy source, won't clog.... so many benefits of this design!

[@Theheavydress]

Hey Tikki, just want to say your videos on sprouting helped me so much! After covering my sprouter I get a better yield and they grow faster!! Appreciate your videos so much.

[@TikkiOOO]

I'm glad you are having success, thanks for the comment!

[@bruh_hahaha]

GENUIS. I will be using your idea this summer 🌸😊

[@sannunaveen3941]

Skipped over 20 videos within one minute of watching because I knew right away it was not going to work...Yours definitely kept me watching till the end! Will try your method to see what works for me...

[@apes6757]

Brilliant! I will be making some of these soon.

[@achsahkaleb4844]

thank you. great video. best i have seen so far.

[@monicajay7117]

Great idea using the second bottle.

[@joelgarnace3617]

just what i was looking for thanks for the brilliant idea. More videos like this.

[@davidmclaren5051]

Thanks for the inspired idea! Love it

[@samirasaricsaric1420]

Thank you so much from Bosnia🤗.. Problem solved 100%

[@CC-dn2df]

Yes. Thank you ❤️

[@leliam.cleveland528]

Thank you. Will be trying this out.

[@sirhenrycurtis2220]

You're brilliant. Thank you.

[@darkfire4617]

Lol I had the same issue with the bottle hole getting blocked. Defo gonna try using another bottle as a cap thank u for the tip 👍👍👍

[@TheJudeP]

Excellent! You must be an engineer!

[@abutterfly7975]

Best video yet ty. 👍🙋🏻‍♀️🇨🇦

[@Mr_Ravee]

Thank you for taking your time perfecting this and sharing with all of us. Tikki to the rescue :)

[@Katherynechannel]

Thank you so very much for the trail and error it was definitely not a waste

[@Globally1201]

LOL!!!😊 YESSS!!! GARDENING IS A LOT OF TRIAL AND ERROR!!!😂 BUT THE PAY OFF OF THE PLANTS/VEGETABLES TURNING OUT AWESOME IS THE BEST PART FOR ME!!!😃 THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD IDEAS!!!🙋👍🔥🙏👑➕📖🔥

[@shirleyjones9281]

Thank you so much, you should me that I had the right idea and how to do it.. very helpful

[@bettygentry9672]

Great idea! Thanks!

[@secretariatgirl4249]

Years ago I bought a set of "waterers" that attached to bottles...you could cut them to achieve the water flow you wanted. But soil did tend to clog. Genius idea to use a second bottle as a sleeve..may have to round up those old things and give them another try.

[@TikkiOOO]

Hi Sec Girl, I saw those attachment things on Amazon and was wondering if they work. Good to know the soil clogged those as well....thanks for the feedback! I found that elevating the bottle helps, or if you have a stake nearby you could tie the bottle just above the soil level and let it hang, that would also work to keep it from clogging. Good luck!

[@glenorie8530]

Watching from Trinidad and Tobago

[@cattimestwo]

Very helpful thanks.

[@Streamerbean]

That’s a good system for those of us who have balconies and garden. It stops the flooding that can happen

[@TikkiOOO]

It can still use some improvement I think, but its working so far, thanks Streamerbean!

[@katherineblevins9544]

Great idea! I gotta try this! I have those orange thing you screw on your 2 liter bottles but the water drains out too fast. Thanks for sharing! :-D

[@philipcrewe540]

It really is trail & error , the hot needled is a good idea, my water comes out too fast, so going to try your tips, thanks again from Yorkshire England,

[@PlayNice123]

You must be a teacher, the presentation was amazing.

[@felizac8053]

Thank you!! I’ve been playing around with this myself trying to figure something out and this is perfect! Going to try tomorrow! Love your Chanel you do a great job!

[@TikkiOOO]

Good luck Feliza, and thanks for the comment!

[@bsweat9230]

Thanks! Good idea!

[@arindambanerjee515]

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience. Placing the bottle in another bottle was excellent idea.

[@najmiyehford5513]

Thank you for the tip.

[@lifetools-help8017]

Brilliant! Yes, it helps me a lot!

[@TikkiOOO]

So glad! Thanks Lifetools-help!

[@ankitanibswithinks219]

Superb thanks for sharing

[@donaldadugbe6912]

This is very smart !

[@puntacana22000]

Great Idea!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I will need this when the Aussie summer arrives. Pots dry out in a single day.

[@APFILMSPRODUCTION]

love this type of video.

[@brandonminiman]

This was really interesting, thanks

[@TikkiOOO]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Brandon!

[@anandiyer7488]

Thank you it works so good it is takinng 10 hours to drain❤

[@TikkiOOO]

I'm so glad it worked for you, thanks for the feedback!

[@inharmonywithearth9982]

Wow. That is really smart

[@adedishomegarden3935]

Nice idea 👍

[@gunapalak.h.g.6050]

You are wonderful dear Lady,you could have joint any Agri University, imence benfit for your Country, look we have many institutions hardly hear so valuable info never come, worldly we are benifited lot, God bless you, thanks Guna Sri lanken.

[@chriswatts1909]

Good video.

[@karieborton8211]

THANKS FOR YOUR TIPS

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks Karie!

[@susanneatwell-keister3479]

Nice idea with the extra bottle to set it in. I did this last year and even if the holes weren't clogged with soil at first, they eventually clogged with algae. Then the bottles collapsed as the water drained and wouldn't hold their shape any more. I have some plastic watering cones that you fill with sand and place the bottle into. It helps slow the flow and avoids the clogging issue. Always love new ideas to tinker with though. :)

[@TikkiOOO]

Interesting idea filling cones with sand and then the bottle above it, it doesn't clog? I guess its more about the journey than the destination when we tinker! Thanks for the comment Susanne!

[@susanneatwell-keister3479]

@@TikkiOOO no they don't clog because you don't put the cap on the bottle. Just the sand slows the flow. They are made for outdoor gardens or pots. They're working pretty well.

[@jebuckingham979]

Plastic watering cones with sand? How do you make them?

[@peace4peaceful]

Good work. I did a similar thing. I screwed the bottle to a stake. I also put a cue tip..ear bud..in the hole in the cap. I use liquid fertiliser in mine. The hole block but I can jiggle the ear bud to get it going again. The ear buds are hollow. So I guess some water will go through the ear bud. Filtered either end by the cotton. My next one I will try a screw in emmiter. Then I can set it to drip by x amount per hr.

[@sadrocksam4310]

Hii i realy like your beatiful video water plants.

[@michaelkerrigan3987]

Very helpful!

[@theresedascoli3070]

YOU'RE A GEM!!!

[@sandyk8594]

Great presentation. 🌿🌻🍓🍅🍉🌿

[@mariaawarrior2643]

FANTASTIC!!!

[@poppycanty7478]

Thank you

[@GypsyinAus]

Fabulous! ❤

[@Mooonmayi]

Thankyou for this video

[@bajamerica]

You can adjust the flow rate by balancing the drip rate with the air entry rate at the top. Use a needle hole(s) in the base of the upper bottle, instead of completely open. Experiment with a timer to get the desired flow rate. This is similar to a Sparkletts type bottled water dispenser. Unfortunately, this does not allow easy refilling of each bottle with a hose, but having a second set of bottles and refilling them at one and replacing them actually goes faster, than standing and refilling. You can also use 3" or 4" PVC or ABS pipe as a more sturdy base to hold the bottles. Finally, you can buy drip system buttons that deliver a given GPH drip fro .5 GPH to 2 GPH and just insert into the lower part of the bottle, which allows for both benefits. With the latter, you can use one large bottle or bucket and string out multiple 1/4 inch hose to individual plants, filling up only one source as a distribution manifold, and you know exactly how much each plant is getting, with less filling.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks Daniel, that was very helpful! I was looking into IV drip lines.....thanks for the feedback!

[@jamesgoacher1606]

Best engineering is the simple type and this is a simple solution. Wish I had thought of it.

[@TikkiOOO]

KISS, a design principle noted by the U.S. Navy in 1960, stands for “keep it simple and straightforward.” (credit Google) Thanks James!

[@tomhall5415]

Excellent

[@LauraEllen999]

Brilliant!

[@Pawarbapurao56]

Fantastic 🤗🤗

[@cindywilshire8700]

Wow. Brilliant

[@02121978able]

Great idea mam🙏🙏🎂

[@christinebeames2311]

You are one smart cookie

[@emashrestha60]

Thanks 😊

[@sheri023]

Great idea, Tikki, I will try that. You can also wear oven mitts when holding the pliers over heat just in case it gets too hot. Thanks for the demonstration; think I will try that water bottle system on my squash in a half barrel.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks Sheri! if you elevate the barrel and run some tubing out of it, you can drip on several plants from the one barrel. Put a drip regulator at the end of the tubing....experiment, and good luck!

[@sheri023]

@@TikkiOOO Hey, thanks Tikki.

[@terry2346]

You might also use a 1/16th inch drill bit to put the holes in the caps and avoid the heating up of the pin on a stove

[@rodgepaderon]

Brilliant

[@LydiaKolbe-hd5ml]

Good teaching😉😉😉😉😉

[@sammartini3643]

This is genius!

[@deepaknaik6213]

Thanks sharing