Question for a student project...

Hello!

I was wondering if I could ask for some help in conducting some research for a university project. My group at Imperial College university and I are looking to develop an automatic solar powered greenhouse watering system, with the initial idea of having a moisture sensor and a feed pipe for water in each plant pot. When the soil moisture content drops below a certain level, water is automatically given to the plant. The system would require little or no attention for periods of up to a month, say while the gardener was on holiday.

This is a quick survey to find the opinions of gardeners on the project, as none of us have much experience with gardening.

1. Would a system as described above be potentially useful to you?
2. How many separate plants do you keep in your greenhouse? (roughly)
3. How big is your greenhouse?
4. Do you have plants of mostly the same type or which have the same water requirements, or a mixture of varieties?
5. How often do you water your plants?
6. On average, how much water would you give a medium sized potted plant each time you water it?
7. Do you add anything to the water used to water your plants? If so, what?
8. Do you have any general comments or suggestions for us about this project?

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this, any responses or suggestions would be very much appreciated!

-Susan Golton
Please feel free to contact us at susan.golton@imperial.ac.uk

 

I apologise if this is too spam like for the forum, we're only after some information about greenhouses because we're a little clueless!

 

Hi Susan, I rather think that it's not the 'spam' aspect of your questions that is making it difficult for people to answer, but the fact that some of the questions are unanswerable. If I might comment (and please don't be offended we are a very friendly forum and this is meant to help you possibly revamp).

By the way, I don't currently have a g.house but have had one in the past and I am currently looking for a new one.

Q1. Not really. If we go away, one of the neighbours pops in to water. Same as they do with all my plants, then I do the same for them.

Q2. As many as I can (need to) get in. It depends on their size.

Q3. My last one was 8'x 6'. My next one should be 10' by at least 6' possibly 8'.

Q4. I want mine for a mixture of tropicals and exotics. Totally different requirements from plant to plant.

Q5. Depends on the species. When they need it.

Q6. Again, depends on the species. Some like soaking and then leaving until bone dry. Some like just spraying with a water mist. Some like little and often etc.

Q7. In the growing season most plants need feeding. Again it depends on the species. In winter. Less need it.

Q8. From my own perspective then I think you will have a very difficult job to fulfill every need. If you are just going to invent a watering system that will keep the growing medium damp, then I'm afraid it's been done. Slow release fertilisers negate the need for precise feeding. If I was you, I'd try to invent the perfect mousetrap. You have more chance of success.

Some people may disagree with me (they always let me break bad news first and then contradict me :D ) but from my own perspective, I'm afraid you have little chance of designing something that would totally cater for my needs.

Good luck anyway. See if anyone disagrees (and they will).

 

I Disagree :D

 

I knew it.

 

I don't actually own a greenhouse. If I did, you would have beem deluged with information.

 

I agree John :D Susan to come up with a system that individually monitored each pot and then opened a solenoid valve to water it would be cost prohibitive, some systems have drip feeds on timers etc heres a couple of links to let you see whats on the market.
http://www.h2oplc.com/irrigation.htm
http://www.simplycontrol.com/catalogue/waterbits/default.asp
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/pages/category/category.asp?ctgry=Watering&cookie%5Ftest=1

 

Thankyou for your feedback! I understand that this is will be a difficult project to get working, to a certain extent this was set by our tutor to challenge our design skills. Your answers are very useful, and thankyou for the links to existing systems. Hopefully we can try and combine the best aspects of the available systems and try and get solar power into the equation!