Timers for Drain to waste automated system

Hey all, Setting up an automated watering system for my 10gal smart pots. I have the system figured basically but I'm having problems finding a timer that can be put on to water every 2nd or 3rd day for 10min or whatever time I need to water properly. I found a timer that will do days of the week and such but I can only do either everyday or a Mon, Wed, Friday sort of thing which leaves me with a 2 day gap every week. I'm handwatering right now and the plants are bone dry after 2 days so I don't want to have any 2 day gaps without watering.

Any suggestions? Just need a timer that can be set for every 48 hours or 72 hours to come on for a specified time. I could just water a little less everyday rather than every 2nd day, actually can anyone with experience with drain to waste in a pro-mix in smart pots setup tell me if it is better to water everyday vs every 2nd day. I've never done any automated watering so I'm wondering if I water everyday it would keep the soil evenly moist creating less dry pockets are better root health vs the wet/dry cycle of watering every 2nd or 3rd day. Just thinking out loud now, hopefully someone who's done this can provide some insight.

I am not aware that Smart Pots have drain capability. I use Air Pots

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Got one at walmart that can be set for 1 minute increments up to 8 slots. Smart pots drain just fine. A lot depends on your medium. With coco I have to water for one minute twice a day, sometimes two minutes.

PetFlora said:

I am not aware that Smart Pots have drain capability. I use Air Pots

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Hey nice setup...I would love to have the money to go with the halo's but I have 60 plants. My stake emmiters are $1.50 each (similiar to these http://www.toro.com/en-us/Homeowner/do-it-yourself-irrigation/Drip/Pages/Model.aspx?pid=53800-Adjustable-Flow-Stream-Emitter-with-Stake), best deal on the halo's I could find was around $10.

I'm not actually in smart pots, I'm in Botanicare Hercules pots 35 liter http://www.botanicare.com/Hercules-Pots-P154.aspx. I don't plan of having much waste water. It's basically a set up to replace watering not a full hydroponic setup. I'll still be in a pro-mix/perlite medium.

I would like to be able to set up a timer so my pots get a slow soak for about 10-15 minutes once every second day. I can't find a timer that can do that, I will experiment with everyday watering to see how it does but I would like the option of going every second or 3rd day.

This will program for 8 times in a week. They will set for MWF or TTS or what ever days you want. Battery keeps time if power goes out and has two outlets too. I have a couple I use from time to time.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lights-Lighting-Digital-Timer-Programmable-Dual-120v-15A-Outlets-/370836980005?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56579b4125

PetFlora said:

I am not aware that Smart Pots have drain capability. I use Air Pots

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wow.... how many days have those plants been growing? what light system do you use?

sheik yerbouti said:

Hey nice setup...I would love to have the money to go with the halo's but I have 60 plants. My stake emmiters are $1.50 each (similiar to these http://www.toro.com/en-us/Homeowner/do-it-yourself-irrigation/Drip/Pages/Model.aspx?pid=53800-Adjustable-Flow-Stream-Emitter-with-Stake), best deal on the halo's I could find was around $10.

I'm not actually in smart pots, I'm in Botanicare Hercules pots 35 liter http://www.botanicare.com/Hercules-Pots-P154.aspx. I don't plan of having much waste water. It's basically a set up to replace watering not a full hydroponic setup. I'll still be in a pro-mix/perlite medium.

I would like to be able to set up a timer so my pots get a slow soak for about 10-15 minutes once every second day. I can't find a timer that can do that, I will experiment with everyday watering to see how it does but I would like the option of going every second or 3rd day.

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hey Im wondering the same thing. Dang!! 60 plants? how many 600 or 1000 waters do you plan on having? I run about 4 to 8 plants in a 4x4 with a 1000 watter. 4 plants veg about month and a half using 8 gallon pots and 6 plants about a month using 5 gallon pots, depending on strain of course. now.... back to how to water these things once every 2 or three days, is what I do too. Im thinking about a 500, or so, gph pump in the bottom of a 40 gallon res to pump the water up. then make your own drip rings with hard tubing and 1/2 inch tees. Im going to try drilling them with 3/16 inch? holes in the bottom, some angled and some straight. now ..... once your tubing comes through the bottom of the grow tray, use a straight y,with equal lengths of tubing on each end, to try and divert the pressure equally to both sides of the tray. so now if your using 4 plants all you need is two more straight y's connected to the end of the tubing on both ends. to tie everything in, just connect the drip rings we made earlier with 1/2 inch tubing of equal length. more plants with longer runs of tubing will require bigger pumps. just a thought.

good