Tutorial Greenhouse and Hydroponic Irrigation For Potted Plants

GREENHOUSE AND HYDROPONIC IRRIGATION FOR POTTED PLANTS USING MULTI OUTLET DRIPPERS

This tutorial provides an overview for installing a Greenhouse or Hydroponic Irrigation System using Multi-Outlet Drippers.  Multi-Outlet Drippers are the perfect watering solution for watering several potted plants at a time and can be used for Watering a few dozen pots to several thousand at one time while eliminating the need for large distribution lines and flow rates that may exceed your system capacity.

WHY CHOOSE MULTI-OUTLET DRIPPERS FOR YOUR GREENHOUSE OR HYDROPONIC IRRIGATION SYSTEM

The Multi-Outlet Dripper installation provides maximum uniformity and consistency in delivery both water and fertilizer to potted plants.  The Multi-Outlet Drippers are both pressure compensating and also come with a check valve mechanism to avoid unwanted drainage to lower lying plants.  The combination of Multi-Outlet Drippers and Angle Arrow Drip Stakes delivers water and nutrients directly to the root system of the potted plants.  This not only ensures maximum watering efficiency but is also a deterrent for diseases commonly associated with watering directly to foliage of plants.

Multi-Outlet Assemblies are re-usable and can be removed from the Drip Emitter for easy storage or reconfiguration.

CONFIGURATION OPTIONS FOR NETAFIM MULTI-OUTLET DRIPPERS

	WPCGL Emitter must be used for use with Stackable Manifolds. Available in both 1 GPH and 2 GPH outputs
	Stackable 4-Way Manifold for creating 8 way Manifolds when combined with the 4-Way Flat Manifold Below or to create a 6 way Manifold when combined with the stackable 2-Way Manifold.  Click Here
	Stackable 2-Way Manifold for creating 2 or 4 way Manifolds.  Can be left capped or top can be cut to expand.  Click Here
	Flat 4-Way Manifold.  Can be used as a stand alone 4-Way, stacked on either 2 or 4-Way Stackable Manifolds.  Click Here
	Super Flex Tubing.  Available in 18", 24" and 30" Pre-Cut Units.
	Angle Arrow Dripper Stakes.  Available in 6 and 3/8" and 3 and 3/4" Sizes.

CONFIGURATION OPTIONS FOR NETAFIM MULTI-OUTLET DRIPPERS

4 Port Configuration
6 Port Configuration
8 Port Configuration

DETERMINE LAYOUT FOR YOUR MULTI-OUTLET DRIPPER SYSTEM

Sample layout for a Multi-Outlet Dripper System for Hydroponics and Greenhouse Irrigation Systems.

Step 1. Select Size for Dripper Lines (tubing that runs perpendicular to the Distribution Line).  This assumes the use of a 2gph emitter with 35 PSI at the start of the system.

Calculated Example:

400 ft / 3 ft (36" spacing) = 133 Emitters.  133 x 2 GPH = 266 GPH Needed.  Approx. 280-300 GPH capacity on 1/2" line.  Therefor 1/2" line will be adequate.

Step 2. After calculating the number of plants to be watered and the configuration of your multi-port emitter assembly (2, 4, 6, or 8 port), you can now calculate the flow rate required for the system.  Keep in mind at this point that you can also use different zones for your system to bring down the required flow rate.  The chart below shows the required flow per number of plants for any given zone.

Flow Rate Per Zone (Gallons Per Minute).  Assumes the use of a 2 GPH Woodpecker Junior Emitter

This is actually a simple calculation that you can do for any number of plants.  

-Assuming you are using a 2 GPH Emitter and 8 port manifolds.

-If you have 200 plants to water, this would require 25 - 8 port manifolds (200 / 8 = 25)

-Each manifold requires 2 gallons per hour so your total requirement is 50 GPH ( 2 x 25 Manifolds)

-50 GPH is approx. 1 GPM (50 GPH / 60 minutes = .83333)

Its always a good practice to be on the conservative side when calculating water requirements as you never want to have too little to run your system properly.  

Step 3. After calculating your flow rate needs for each zone or your entire system, you can now size your distribution and drip lines.  

Below is chart indicating approx. flow rates for distribution tubing.  Remember you are restricted to the flow rate of your main supply line.  

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