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Federal Way, WA

Hey guys! I've got my drip tape lines out, but I realized my drenches probably aren't adequate at reaching even 1/10th of the roots of my plants (hit a root from an AG already two feet past the main vine!). I see the more expensive systems that, I'm sure, are effective, but with a busted budget, I wanted to know if you guys had any interesting or innovative ways to get fertilizer into the system? I run off the outside faucet, by the way. I read somewhere that the Ortho Dial N Spray could perhaps be placed in the system to deliver it, but not sure that's a good idea without a few testimonials. Thanks!

7/1/2013 2:12:03 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

If you place anything on the end most are not effective.

7/1/2013 4:30:04 PM

Williamsburg,KY

The Ortho Dial N Spray could be a cheaper way. Im not sure how to do it. Would like to know also. If you drip tapes are in the patch...the tapes should cover the patch. You could also use a hose end spray without putting thru your drip tapes. Let us know what you end up doing. Good Luck.

7/1/2013 4:30:22 PM

Federal Way, WA

Yeah, my biggest fear is that, with the 10psi pressure reducer, it won't have enough water flow through the Ortho to get a consistent mix (It'd be faucet, ortho sprayer, pressure reducer and then drip line main to drip tape). Thanks for the input so far! Will definitely let you know if I come up with something that doesn't work terribly.

7/1/2013 6:39:59 PM

Western NY

http://www.groworganic.com/siphon-mixer-injector.html

That's what I use. Cheap enough to give a try. For long term, the brass ones hold up better but are a bit more expensive.

7/1/2013 8:17:13 PM

Federal Way, WA

Awesome! Definitely in the budget. What sort of concentration (per gallon) do you use in the container you're siphoning from if you're using something like 46-0-0? Thanks a ton Andy and everyone else.

7/1/2013 11:21:13 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Andy, I have a brass siphon mixer by Hyponex and it only works with 50 feet of hose, I see the one you mention works with 200 feet of hose, great. I use what I would call a jiggler siphon http://www.shammysolutions.com/site/1618064/product/100-26 something like this one. Fill my barrel with solution, add the siphon, hook to my hose, attach to my drip line and it works just fine. I have the barrel in my wagon, elevated some, takes about 1/2 hr to empty. My land is all downhill.

7/2/2013 7:55:38 AM

Federal Way, WA

Ah wait, Croley, that gives me a great idea. I have an elevated deck just fifteen feet from the patch and I could easily get a ~50 gallon bucket 10+ feet over the height of the patch and then just run a garden hose from the bottom of the bucket down to my drip system and gravity feed it. That'd give me 4.3 psi in the line depending on the barrel water level, which I've read will lead to pretty spastic drip rates, but I think I could get it up even higher and boost that psi. I only have 5 lines of 14ft drip tape installed now anyway, so not much. What do you guys think; plausible?

7/2/2013 2:26:51 PM

Williamsburg,KY

I dont know what my psi is with my rigged idea, but it seems to work for me. When I hook it up to my main line, I open the closed end to make sure it runs good. And it seems all my drip tapes drip good, so might be worth a try. Now remember one gallon of water weighs about 8 lbs, 50 gallons weighs alot, better make sure your deck is strong. Good Luck.

7/2/2013 8:37:25 PM

Western WA

Great info Croley, I really appreciate it and good call with the barrel weight; perhaps I'll only keep it half full, haha. The deck does have a few sturdy supports, so it'll have to either sit on one of those, or I'll build some reinforcements.

7/4/2013 12:10:57 AM

Corvallis, OR

Last year I just took apart my (small, cheap) filter for the drip system and poured dry fertilizer inside.

I used miracle grow very judiciously, and had some triple super phosphate that slowly dissolved over the season.

7/4/2013 12:41:20 AM

Winston-Salem, NC

Anybody use the fertilizer cartridges from Miracle-Gro? It seems like it would be fairly straightforward to build a PVC chamber with hose fittings on either end to install inline.

7/6/2013 12:28:32 AM

Bonney Lake, WA USA

This is what I got for this year:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dramm-Syphonject-Chemical-Injector-Fertilizer-Mixer-/380184867148?hash=item5884c8b14c

7/7/2013 3:24:53 AM

Federal Way, WA

Agreed Jeepin, the miracle-gro sprayer could easily be put in line with my drip system; my only fear is that the low water flow rate (due to a 10psi pressure regulator in front of the drip tape) might drastically change the mixture's concentration. I ended up going with your idea Jryeo and have been putting the fertilizers into the filtration system. Seems to work pretty well but it's hard to get a consistent concentration and I can't use liquid fertilizers. Ultimately, going to go for a gravity fed system soon, I think. Thanks again for all the info :).

7/9/2013 3:27:43 PM