Plant watering with pipes on the balcony

So, then let's get to answering the questions asked, but maybe first a picture with a section of the conditions.

This simply interests me now (although I have no solutions), as I myself have 12 Lechuza containers on my rooftop terrace. These are all very different parts, whose water reservoirs hold between 1.5 and 4 liters. [...] Just a question, did you really have to distribute these amounts of water daily? I just roughly calculated, my containers hold about 35 liters in total. On average, I had to water every third to fourth day. When it was particularly hot, then rather every 2 to 3 days, otherwise every 4 to 5 days. That was also the reason for the purchase, so that I could simply go on a business trip for 2 to 3 days in between without having to organize a watering help every time.

I researched our water storage volumes of the existing containers on the Lechuza website:

2 x Cubico 40: 7.5 L
3 x Cubico 30: 4.0 L
1 x Cubico 22: 2.0 L
1 x Quadro 43: 9.7 L
2 x Quadro 35: 4.5 L
2 x Quadro 28: 2.5 L
5 x Balconera 80: 5.0 L
2 x Ampeln Lido: 1.9 L
2 x Delta 20: 2.0 L

So a total of 20 plant containers with a total of 85.5 L water volume.

In warm periods you really have to water daily, but right now in the transitional cold period in the south almost everything has come to a growth standstill, accordingly the plants – except for a few specialists – consume almost nothing anymore.

The basic problem with the automatic water supply is probably that the containers are never all completely empty at the same time. So that even a mechanism that regulates the flow rate of the T-piece according to the theoretical container volume leads to too much water being supplied. Sure, that doesn't hurt the containers because they have the overflow. But you would probably accept that?

I am of course aware of the different water amounts; individual plants even change their behavior over time.

It would be brilliant if there were T-pieces whose outlets you could adjust, for example with a set screw or something (e.g., the large Quadro fully open, the medium Quadro half open, etc.): that way one could occasionally react to changes.

And regarding the overflow: I would actually accept that, yes, because thanks to the Lechuza-Pon no real muck comes out, but simply water, which does not look very heavily contaminated. It then quickly drains off through the gaps of the floor panels of the laid terrace floor, collects at the front balcony edge (lowest edge) and flows nicely down into the rainwater pipe; nothing is excessively dirty.

And then... my containers all stand at different heights, on the floor, on differently high parapets, etc. I am currently imagining a pipe system running all around with hoses leading upwards. I probably wouldn’t like that.

Most of my containers (9) stand on the balcony floor, 5 hang on the railing 1 m above the balcony floor, and then there are 2 hanging baskets that hang in corners, front left and right. I imagine the pipe running basically along the railing; maybe the 2 hanging baskets could be reached by 2 pipe branches that follow the vertical roof support pillars, but this is still unclear.

I have expanded clay as water and fertilizer storage in my tubs. This works great and is a good and inexpensive solution.

Do you have expanded clay in tubs outside? Without soil?

We use TerraPon and on top a layer of Pon from Lechuza, our plants love it and the top Pon layer for indoor use somehow makes the whole thing look more elegant :)

Gardena has various systems, including a professional system that might be suitable, including an irrigation computer. ;)

Those are these drip solutions, yes? They are somehow not really compatible with the Lechuza system, where the plants draw the water from below. Besides, I doubt that the larger containers will ever fill up with that ;) Also, I don’t really want to have a pump running all day.


If I forgot to answer something, I will gladly catch up.


Yesterday I was at the local hardware store (Obi), which really only has pumps, not what I have in mind. But I no longer want to consider copper pipes; stainless steel pipes fit much better into my environment.

Does anyone know a good online supplier for something like that, or is it better to invite the trusted local plumbing professional? I don’t even know what diameter my pipes should have to (in an extreme case) distribute these 90 L of water. The occasionally used watering can has an inner diameter of about 1.5 cm, but such a "tube" might be rather too small?

There is also a pipe system with an irrigation computer from Gardena. Since you are willing to spend a higher amount, one or two containers could possibly be controlled each. In addition, there is a rain barrel pump which, connected to a domestic waterworks, can overcome almost 8 meters in height. It might possibly be a mixture of stainless steel pipe and [Gärtnereiequipment] to build. ;) The plumbing specialist is not a bad idea.

Looks very nice ;)

For stainless steel pipes, I would also talk to the local master blacksmith.

Then ask at the plumbing store manually for something like flow restrictors. On Google, you can find the trinkwasserladen-shop.com. And then I would maybe first try it with 2 very differently sized containers to see if something reasonably good can be set. And then expand the system.

If you are enthusiastic about technology und have some knowledge of programming and/or electronics, the project presented on golem with a Raspberry Pi and flow regulation might be something for you (it should be findable with Google).

EveundGerd, thanks for the hints. It will probably be a Garsena pump :)

Thanks for the tip about the smith, kbt. - Now a third option has been brought into the discussion: Plexiglas. It could look nice, but I doubt I can find reasonable parts for it, and having T-pieces, etc. custom made will probably significantly exceed the intended budget. The workability of Plexi is great, at least according to the inventor's description (they have an entire manual about it). Hmm...

Finally, I'm not at odds with programming (I need it professionally). Regarding the project, I would have liked to take a look, but I can't find it on golem, and Google doesn't really show me useful pages with the keywords Raspberry and flow regulation...

In the end, I'm not at odds with programming (I need it for work). About the project, I would have liked to take a look at it, but I can't find it on golem, and even Google doesn't really show me meaningful pages with the keywords Raspberry and flow regulation...

I sent you the link as a PM.