Holes in 5gal buckets

jmsieglaff · April 20, 2014

I've seen in a couple threads mention to drilling holes in the sides of buckets near the bottom instead of in the bottom. Sounds like to leave a small amount of water in the bucket to be wicked up during the day? Is that the reason?

A couple other questions to those that practice this method. 1) What diameter holes do you drill and how many in a 5gal bucket? 2) How far up from the bucket bottom do you drill? and 3) Do you line the holes with anything (e.g. weed cloth, etc.)?

Justin

luigiwu · April 20, 2014

More for excess water drainage (like after a heavy rain fall) and to get air pruning!

Hope this picture works! Its from Larry Hall's Rain gutter grow system - a subirrigated system.

amideutch · April 20, 2014

Normally 1 1/2 inch up from the bottom of the bucket 1/2'' in diameter on each side of the bucket. Yes it is done to create a small reservoir in the bottom of the bucket similar to SWC's.
This way you have a small reserve available to the plant between watering.

Anytime you top water a container you get air pruning whether the drain holes are on the side or bottom which draws oxygen into the root zone as the water percolates down the aggregate. Wick type systems such as the one pictured above or SWC's do not do this.

Ami

lexusnexus · April 20, 2014

Luigi, what is light colored material on top of the medium?

luigiwu · April 20, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexusnexus

Luigi, what is light colored material on top of the medium?

Sorry, that picture isn't my build, so I don't know.

jmsieglaff · May 15, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideutch

Normally 1 1/2 inch up from the bottom of the bucket 1/2'' in diameter on each side of the bucket. Yes it is done to create a small reservoir in the bottom of the bucket similar to SWC's.
This way you have a small reserve available to the plant between watering.

Anytime you top water a container you get air pruning whether the drain holes are on the side or bottom which draws oxygen into the root zone as the water percolates down the aggregate. Wick type systems such as the one pictured above or SWC's do not do this.

Ami

I drilled my buckets tonight and went with the 0.5" holes 1.5" from the bottom on both sides. My dwarf project tomatoes will call these home on Sunday afternoon.

jmsieglaff · December 13, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

I drilled my buckets tonight and went with the 0.5" holes 1.5" from the bottom on both sides. My dwarf project tomatoes will call these home on Sunday afternoon.

The 0.5" holes 1.5" from the bottom worked great for me. Thanks for the tip!

Garf · January 24, 2015

I am trying a trick to avoid water simply running thru the container. I take a 3 qt bottle and fill it with water and invert it on the soil in the container. After a few minutes, you see air bubbles entering the bottle. It works like a water cooler but slower. This way water has a chance to migrate thru the medium rather that flow thru it and out.

jmsieglaff · April 21, 2014

That is one crazy looking setup. Thanks for sharing--I'm just growing a few tomatoes on the deck in addition to what's in the garden, so I think I'll go the with 1/2" holes 1 1/2" up from the bottom.

beeman · April 21, 2014

Just one observation regarding holes in buckets.
I was lead to believe the more holes the better! It does lead to (I believe) excessive evaporation.
I have installed an 8 bucket "Alaska Grow Buckets" set up and cannot believe the amount of water I'm getting through each day. I'm having to carry water to the green house, still too cold to use a hose, and my arms are getting longer due to the weight I'm carrying.
So, if you have a water problem, don't go with these systems.

Zana · April 21, 2014

I found if I set it up as a reservoir basket type at the bottom or put 3 to 4 inches of gravel in the bottom then I had to put the drilled holes above the reservoir or the gravel. I went with 3/8" holes spaced about 2" apart around the 5 gallon buckets.

Pilgrim · August 26, 2014

OK, I'm brand new to this forum, so I have no idea what the acronym "SWC" stands for - anyone feeling charitable enough to explain it for me, please?

Father'sDaughter · August 28, 2014

Welcome Pilgrim! I believe it stands for self watering container. I don't use them, so I can't tell you anything about them, but if you do a search I'm betting you'll find a lot of info!

Pilgrim · August 29, 2014

Thank you; no matter where we go, every niche has its own nomenclature, code, or slang. Learning the "language" is half the communication battle?

JJJessee · January 24, 2015

I made a few of these last year and they work very well for me.

They do need to be watered every other day as the plants mature.

This a Sub-Irrigated Planter(SIP) using the Global Bucket design

The design uses a slitted solo cup packed with Vermiculite for the wick plus the soil recipe has a high vermiculite content. The top is covered to prevent rain from compacting and water-logging the soil. A ring of granular fertilizer(I used TomatoTone) is placed at the top.

Last fall when I pulled a plant out, every crumb of medium came out in a perfect block.

April 20, 2014	#1
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Holes in 5gal buckets I've seen in a couple threads mention to drilling holes in the sides of buckets near the bottom instead of in the bottom. Sounds like to leave a small amount of water in the bucket to be wicked up during the day? Is that the reason? A couple other questions to those that practice this method. 1) What diameter holes do you drill and how many in a 5gal bucket? 2) How far up from the bucket bottom do you drill? and 3) Do you line the holes with anything (e.g. weed cloth, etc.)? Justin

April 20, 2014	#3
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Normally 1 1/2 inch up from the bottom of the bucket 1/2'' in diameter on each side of the bucket. Yes it is done to create a small reservoir in the bottom of the bucket similar to SWC's. This way you have a small reserve available to the plant between watering. Anytime you top water a container you get air pruning whether the drain holes are on the side or bottom which draws oxygen into the root zone as the water percolates down the aggregate. Wick type systems such as the one pictured above or SWC's do not do this. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

April 20, 2014	#4
lexusnexus Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MD Suburbs of DC, Zone 7a Posts: 500	Luigi, what is light colored material on top of the medium? __________________ Dan

April 21, 2014	#10
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	Water usage. Just one observation regarding holes in buckets. I was lead to believe the more holes the better! It does lead to (I believe) excessive evaporation. I have installed an 8 bucket "Alaska Grow Buckets" set up and cannot believe the amount of water I'm getting through each day. I'm having to carry water to the green house, still too cold to use a hose, and my arms are getting longer due to the weight I'm carrying. So, if you have a water problem, don't go with these systems.

April 21, 2014	#11
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	I found if I set it up as a reservoir basket type at the bottom or put 3 to 4 inches of gravel in the bottom then I had to put the drilled holes above the reservoir or the gravel. I went with 3/8" holes spaced about 2" apart around the 5 gallon buckets. __________________ Zana ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ There is a fine line between genius and crazy. I like to use that line as a jump rope. ~Anonymous (but I totally agree with this! LOL) Forgive and Forget? I'm neither Jesus or nor do I have Alzheimers. ~ Anonymous Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace. -- Dr. Albert Schweitzer

April 20, 2014	#2
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	More for excess water drainage (like after a heavy rain fall) and to get air pruning! Hope this picture works! Its from Larry Hall's Rain gutter grow system - a subirrigated system.

January 24, 2015	#8
Garf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami, FL. Posts: 442	I am trying a trick to avoid water simply running thru the container. I take a 3 qt bottle and fill it with water and invert it on the soil in the container. After a few minutes, you see air bubbles entering the bottle. It works like a water cooler but slower. This way water has a chance to migrate thru the medium rather that flow thru it and out.

August 26, 2014	#12
Pilgrim Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: central Arkansas Posts: 2	OK, I'm brand new to this forum, so I have no idea what the acronym "SWC" stands for - anyone feeling charitable enough to explain it for me, please?

August 28, 2014	#13
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Welcome Pilgrim! I believe it stands for self watering container. I don't use them, so I can't tell you anything about them, but if you do a search I'm betting you'll find a lot of info!

August 29, 2014	#14
Pilgrim Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: central Arkansas Posts: 2	Thank you; no matter where we go, every niche has its own nomenclature, code, or slang. Learning the "language" is half the communication battle?

January 24, 2015	#15
JJJessee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Abingdon, Va Posts: 184	I made a few of these last year and they work very well for me. They do need to be watered every other day as the plants mature. This a Sub-Irrigated Planter(SIP) using the Global Bucket design The design uses a slitted solo cup packed with Vermiculite for the wick plus the soil recipe has a high vermiculite content. The top is covered to prevent rain from compacting and water-logging the soil. A ring of granular fertilizer(I used TomatoTone) is placed at the top. Last fall when I pulled a plant out, every crumb of medium came out in a perfect block.