Misting System
On my patio I have two areas for container gardens. Our patio currently receives full sun almost 10 hours a day. So even full sun plants get a bit dry and wilted. I was watering these plants two to three times a day using gallon jugs. That meant transporting up to 28 gallons of water a day. INSANITY!! My hope was to make the watering processes easier. I figured if I could find misting nozzles, I could create a system to mist the plants at a set times.
The hunt began. I went to Lowe’s, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, and Ace Hardware, looking for something that would work. I kept coming up with different parts for irrigation systems but nothing that would provide a fine mist that I wanted.
Amazon FIND!!! Gotta love Amazon and with Prime I had it in 2 days.
This system comes in pieces which allows you to customize it to your project needs.
I opened my package to check all the parts were all there. I tested how things would fit together and looked at my pieces. I counted my nozzles and split them between the two plant trees. I gathered everything I thought I would need.
- Zip ties
- Tubing
- Misting nozzles (15 T-connectors; 15 Misting Nozzles, 1 L-connector)
- Cutting tool
- Teflon tape
- Hose connector
- Screen and rubber washer for hose connector.
- Scissors
- Sharp Razor Blade
- Measuring tape
- Wire bag ties, velcro straps, or tape (to temporarily hold the nozzles in place)
- Garden Hose
- Pliers
If you are unconcerned with the actual coverage area then proceed with the set up. I should have tested the coverage area before starting. To test I would connect the elbow to the end of the tubing and connect the hose attachment. Then I would fix the nozzle to a post or chair arm, something stationary that allows you to point the nozzle at the ground from a short distance (maybe 3 feet). Pointing it at the ground (not grass) concrete, black top, any non-porous surface will provide a circle of water when turned on that you can measure.
This system uses each nozzle in a chain or a row. So the water passes through one before moving down the line. With my original set up I wanted two lines, one to climb up each of my metal plant trees. I needed my water feed line to then go from my hose hook up to each line. I started out using wire bag ties to plan out where I wanted each misting head. This allows for movements as I went, before committing to anything permanent. I used one of the T-connectors without a misting nozzle to link my supply line to the first plant tree and to connect my second. I used the L-connector to go from the supply line from first tree up the second tree. I tied them in place. At the top I used a T-connector with two misting nozzles on it. I then spaced out the others. I tried to keep them even and rotate them around to maximize water coverage area. Because I did not test the nozzles before hooking everything up I did not know the coverage area of each nozzle.
My first cut in the tubing was the space from the hose hook up to my first T-connector. I gave an extra 18 inches here for play because the hose spigot I will be using is not in place yet. It will be added during the final stages of the patio roof construction (Patio Transformation). I also wanted my tubing to be buried under my white rocks so it was less noticeable.
I then measured each section between nozzles and cut tubing just an inch longer. I cut it an inch longer to provide some movement, without a bunch of excess. In case I wanted to rotate a nozzle or angle it.
The tubing pushes into the ends of the T-connector. Push firmly to secure. I recommend starting at one end or the other rather than working from the middle out.
Once I finished my first plant tree I measured and cut the length of tubing needed to go to the other. I add some length here too because I wanted to be able to hide it.
Last cuts were connecting the misting nozzles on the second tree.
Once all my cuts were made and everything was connected I turned on the water. Of course I did not firmly connect one of my nozzles so water shot out all over. I tried to reconnect without turning off the water which only got me soaking wet. So turn the water off. Check your connection. You can adjust the misting nozzles a little by twisting the metal head. Depending on the adjustment they may have a small drip. I just opened them all up. When I was sure everything was working and my nozzles were where I wanted them (correct angles, facing the right direction) I replaced my wire bag ties with the zip ties provided.
When I started this idea I only wanted the two lines. However, since it worked so well I am going to add a third line to include the wood post at the end of the deck with hanging plants. The last addition to this misting system will be a water sensor and timer combo once I find one.
Within a week, after setting up this system and using it twice a day for a few hours each day, the part of the tubing from the spigot to the first plant tree burst. While trying to figure out possible causes my husband brought up the possibility it melted due to touching the metal plant tree. Here in the south with the sun beating on an area 10 hours a day things get very hot. I have not had issues with rest of the tubing. My repair for this issue was to replace the tubing from the spigot to the first tree and from the first to the second with a rigid vinyl tubing (similar to what is used on refrigerator water dispensers or RODI systems) this provided more stability against the southern sun.
