Written by: Kurt Becker - EVP – Commercial Products, Dramm Corporation
There are a variety of media types used in cannabis and hemp production. When combined with different container sizes, achieving even moisture levels throughout the pot can be challenging. It is important to pair the right type of irrigation system with the media to ensure that the plants are watered evenly.
Media Types
Rockwool and coir have less water holding capacity than peat-based mixes and organic mixes. As holding capacity decreases, watering frequency will need to increase. Additionally, irrigation duration should decrease. Irrigation volume is also a factor. Drippers with higher outputs can cause channeling in more porous medias, leading to uneven moisture in the container and uneven root growth over time.
Wetting Agents
With media ranging widely in composition, the moisture-holding characteristics and ability of the media to wick water laterally can have a huge impact on evenness of the moisture level throughout the container. Wetting agents are employed to reduce surface tension of water and allow very dry media to rehydrate. These products can be added to media either prior to planting or with irrigation water.
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| Pictured: Very dry media or uneven irrigation can lead to channeling - dry pockets that water skips past |
Container Size
Container size will also have an impact on moisture homogenization. Smaller containers are easy to fill, even with a more porous media. Larger containers need more water and multiple points of distribution. Multiple staked drippers can often be enough. For a combination of media that will not wick well and a large container, using multiple pressure compensated rings often works well. Multiple drippers also help keep a valuable plant alive when one dripper clogs.
Dripper Output
Dramm offers emitters with a range of outputs from 0.5 gph (2 lph) to 3.0 gph (12 lph). This allows for a variety of options. As noted above, multiple drippers can help water a plant more evenly. However, be careful not to overdo the flow rate. High flow drippers often channel more. A combination of lower flow drippers in one pot can provide better watering and the speed needed to cycle through the facility.
Dripper Type
There are different manufacturers of standard PC drippers. One challenge these emitters can have is clogging. Every system needs to be protected by proper filtration. However, with many of the fertigation methods used by CEA growers, sometimes particulate still gets through. Dramm PCAS emitters are larger than other emitters. This allows the labyrinth that regulates pressure internally to be wider. A wider labyrinth can pass more particulate than a narrower one.
Complete Systems & Expertise
Working with experts can help ensure success in your growing facility. The Dramm and Griffin teams work together, asking questions to understand your growing style and system, to help offer the right solution for your irrigation system.
Dramm Irrigation Products From Griffin
| Product Name | Item Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Dramm 36" Assembled PC dripper w stake 2 lph | 44-5557 | |
| Dramm 36" Assembled PC dripper with Microvalve w stake 2 lph | 44-5558 | |
| Dramm 18" Assembled PC dripper w stake 2 lph | 44-5553 | |
| Dramm 16 mm PE tubing, 1000' Sunblock | 44-5605 | |
| Dramm 10" PC Ring & 36" Leader Tube with Microvalve | 44-5565 | |
| Dramm 4” PC Ring & 12” Leader Tube with Microvalve | 44-5577 | |
| Dramm 4” PC ring & 24” Leader Tube with Microvalve | 44-5579 | |
| Dramm 13” PC Ring & 36” Leader Tube with Microvalve | 44-5573 |
Printable version
