Drippers & Emitters For Micro/Drip Irrigation Set-ups
Hydrobuilder offers high quality, high uniformity, and reliable drip emitters from top brands like Netafim, DIG Corp, Floraflex, and many others. Drip emitters are installed directly into the distribution/mainline tubing or extended to the plants with micro tubing to emit water.
What are Drip Emitters?
Drip emitters are the core of drip irrigation systems. Drip emitters, also known as drippers, drip water directly to the plant root zone. Drippers slowly deliver water to the soil with less water lost to evaporation, excess heat, runoff, wind, and other environmental factors.
Drip emitters are the most popular water-saving irrigation technique. They are able to deliver a slow, constant supply of water that seeps deep into the root system. Although most drip emitters are installed in the tubing at ground level, some emitters like drip stakes are designed to attach to stakes and held above ground.
Pressure Compensating vs. Non-Pressure Compensating
Pressure-compensating (PC) drip line drippers deliver an exact amount of water each time, even if there are changes in pressure. They are particularly useful for long rows or varying terrain. These are also perfect for specialty plant applications where precise water levels are needed.
Non-pressure compensating(NPC) drip emitters are economical and popular with general gardeners with flower or vegetable gardens where precise water flow is not needed like indoor specialty crops would need.
Both PC and NPC drippers have various GPH (gallon per hour) flow rates and offer different features for various applications.
Using Emitters With Hard Water or Dirty Water
When using drip irrigation emitters with hard water or dirty water, we suggest using Cultured Solutions Clear Line Hypochlorous Acid.
Clear Line is designed to keep irrigation drip emitters and drip systems clean and free of mineral deposits during cropping cycles. Implementation of Clear Line protects drip irrigation systems by reducing costly repair and replacement of components.
Why do my emitters keep clogging?
Sediment, sand, algae, or other things can get in your water lines and clog up your emitters. It’s recommended to use a filter on your drip system to keep contaminants out of your emitters which will dramatically increase the lifespan of drip irrigation spray emitters, drippers, drip rings, and tubing/dripline.
If your water is dirty, water can force contamination through the filter screen. It's important to give the filter a timely, regular cleaning to extend the life of your system. You can also run line cleaning products like Clear Line through the systems.
What do the colors mean on emitters for drip irrigation?
The various colors on drippers are for easily displaying the GPH rating for the emitter itself. The amount of water that your plants need may vary depending on the brand of emitter you are using. Be sure to check the manufacturer's recommendations to ensure that you are providing the correct amount of water.
What Are The Drip Irrigation Emitter Types
There are many types of drippers that are designed for different purposes. Take a look below at the most common types and when you should use them. Most options come in both pressure-compensating and non-pressure compensating.
- Button Dripper (Labyrinth Dripper) - Button emitters use a labyrinth-flow-path design producing a turbulent flow that ensures years of consistent watering with less chance of clogging.
- Adjustable Drippers - These can be adjusted to provide more or less water depending on your plant's needs.
- Arrow Drippers / Drip Stakes - Efficient and simple design combines the drip emitter and stake.
- Punch-in Emitter (self-tapping) - This often is a feature of many drippers. Allow you to insert the emitter in the tubing without the need for a punch tool.
- Dripper Assemblies - These include the drippers, micro-tubing, and manifolds.
Another emitter type is dripline or drip tape. These are coils of water tubing that have built-in emitters or holes that allow for drip irrigation without the need for using a mico-line emitter going to each plant.
How many emitters can I put on a drip line?
That depends on the capacity of your mainline and the flow rate of each emitter. ½ inch tubing can carry around 240 GPH, and ¾ inch tubing can carry around 480 GPH. If they are pressure compensating drippers, you can install emitters at any spacing. Not sure which to get? Our easy-to-use drip irrigation kits are perfect for those who want everything pre-cut and ready for quick installation with exact number of emitters and instructions for the perfect set-up.
How Often Should I Water My Plants
Watering programs for plants in containers will be different from those for plants in the ground. The soil most often used in containers is potting soil, and potting soil has little to no capillary action so plants will dry out faster in containers or hanging baskets.
We suggest watering 2-4 times per day for 2 minutes each for typical outdoor plants and flowers in containers. This will vary by plant, what part of the country you are in, as well as the time of the year. Please refer to your plant needs for appropriate watering and feeding schedules.
Final Thoughts On Drip Irrigation Emitters?
Drip irrigation is a great strategy for minimizing water waste, and adding efficiency to your watering process. No matter the types of drip irrigation you are dealing with, we have tons of different types of emitters for you to optimize your indoor or outdoor garden.
