Dripper in action

Areas of the top part of the soil are dry, I stuck my finger in and it was barely moist. The planters weren’t bone dry when I started. The areas under the emitters on the drip hose were wet enough to seep downward and cause the water to run out the bottom. Some of the plants’ roots would have been sitting in dry soil. Wet areas were contained in a relatively small circumference column it seemed.

I could add more drip tubing and run it back a forth a couple more times, right now it runs down and back the length of the 4 ft box, I could run it back and forth a couple more times for more coverage. Or change it to the other emitters, which look Like they put out a lot more water. I have enough to put 5 per box, but they are cheap, like 50 cents each or so, I can put 10 in each box if necessary.

I’d like them to give the boxes a good soaking so I can go a day or two before watering again. Plus I’m planning on switching from a peat based potting mix to 5-1-1 next year, which is going to drain faster, so getting some water to the mix is going to be important.

I’m about ready to put a few 1/2 in tubing with open ends in the boxes and let them run full open for ten minutes to really fill the containers. The whole point was to avoid lugging cans out there every two days or so. There are four 4 ft boxes.

You only have one length of 1/4" drip tape across the back?

It doubles back, so it runs across the back and front. Definitely not enough.

That "should" be enough. That's 16 emitters per box. Is the water just running down the front and back sides of the boxes? Maybe try putting them closer to the center so you're getting the core of the potting medium

The lines are not against the front and back, they’re set near the plants, so the water isn’t just running out. I was expecting the slow drip to wet the mix more evenly, and was surprised to see water coming out the bottom with some areas at the top still dry to the touch. I went back and read the website where I bought the parts and that’s where I saw the thing about water not moving horizontally by capillary action. I only had a chance to try it twice because it’s been rainy. The season’s about over, so I may have to wait until next year to figure it out unless we get some dry weather before we get a frost.