Living in a dry or warm climate doesn’t mean you can’t garden. Even if you live in the desert, where even shady spots are parched, or a plain where you can almost see the wind sapping moisture from the ground, you can still grow a thriving container garden. The trick is all in picking the proper plants, potting soil, pots and watering system.
Plants that are native to arid or hot climates have already adapted to lack of water and are a good choice for planting in containers.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Tim Butler
An automatically timed drip irrigation system is an effective way to keep potted plants adequately watered, regardless of climate or season. Some can even be equipped with moisture sensors that water only when the plants need it.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Option A: Extend an Existing Drip-Irrigation System. If you already have an inground irrigation system, replace an existing spray head to meet your container plants’ needs. Install a drip irrigation fitting, then follow the simple directions shown in Steps 1-4.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Option B: Install a New Drip-Irrigation System. For a new drip system, attach a Y fitting at the faucet of your hose bib, then connect a battery-powered irrigation-control valve to one of the connectors on the Y fitting. Attach a drip-irrigation fitting, then follow the simple directions shown in Steps 1-4.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
First off, it’s wise to pick drought-tolerant plants from the start. Such species are commonly native to arid places. But don’t think this limits your choices to cacti! There’s a whole host of intriguing plants out there – including trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers – that adapt well or are naturally comfortable growing in dry conditions, as well as in containers.
Don’t forget to consider what you plant those plants in. Applying organic mulches – including peat moss, manure and compost – helps retain moisture in a container’s medium, provide nutrients and generally maintain good plant health. While inorganic mulches (perlite or sand) don’t add nutrients, they’re effective in slowing drainage when a plant is watered in well, giving your container garden more time to absorb that life-giving resource.
Because the pots you use also have an impact on moisture retention, be as judicious in your container choice as in your plant selection. Unglazed terra-cotta, for instance, is highly porous – as are wire-mesh hanging baskets. Airflow and heat will zap the water right out of them. Glazed terra-cotta and wood containers, on the other hand, retain moisture much better. Another option is to place those porous containers inside decorative cachepots. This helps the inner pots retain the moisture by limiting air contact, as well as insulates them from the sun’s direct rays.
Even with these precautions, drought-tolerant plants are still susceptible to water stress – especially those in container gardens. Just like other plants, they’ll show the typical symptoms of thirst – from withering foliage to disease – if they were irrigated frequently at first and then suddenly deprived of water. On the other hand, if water is rationed early on, then applied judiciously, these beauties will adapt to generally dry conditions and thrive.
But what if you have your heart set on adding some unique texture or color to your garden with some non-native species that aren’t so drought-tolerant? Or what if you’re not around to check the moisture levels in your containers when temperatures spike? The answer’s simple: Install an automatic drip irrigation system. This plant lifesaver keeps your moisture-loving species nourished and your entire container garden well-watered – keys to growing success. What’s more, installing a drip irrigation system isn’t that difficult.
A simple automated drip irrigation system comprises a battery-operated timer valve attached to your hose’s bib faucet, some tubing or pipe and drip emitter fixtures. Take the steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions to build a watering system that will help keep your container garden healthy and thriving – even in the heat of the desert or the high, dry plains!
Drip Irrigation Installation
Drip Irrigation Installation - Step 1
Attach ½-inch drip irrigation supply line to the control valve with a hose clamp or threaded fitting. Run the line to each plant container.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Drip Irrigation Installation - Step 2
Use a piercing tool to punch a hole in the supply line, then fit a lateral connector into the line and attach a drip emitter. Choose emitters with flow rates appropriate to your plant’s needs.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Drip Irrigation Installation - Step 3
Put the emitter low in the container, placing it in a spot where it won’t get the foliage wet. Use an emitter stake to hold the emitter in place.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Drip Irrigation Installation - Step 4
Turn the system on and make any final adjustments to your emitter locations. Then set the timer for the interval and duration that’s appropriate to your container plants’ needs.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
