Guide · Drip emitters
Drip for pots and hanging baskets: emitters, 1/4 in tubing and stakes
How to lay out drip for pots: 1/4 in branches, how many drippers per pot, stakes, keeping drippers off sprayer lines, and why these kits are outdoor only.
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Picks that fit
- Raindrip 016010T 1/4 in black polyethylene supply tubing (0.170 x 0.250 in, 100 ft)Check price on Amazon
- Rain Bird T22‑50S 1/4 in blank distribution tubing (0.165 x 0.245 in, 50 ft)Check price on Amazon
- Rain Bird BT25‑30PS 1/4 in barbed tee (30‑pack)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
Run 1/4 in tubing from a supply line to each pot, put one or two low-flow drippers in each (DIG suggests 0.5 GPH), and group pots by sun and shade so each line feeds plants with similar needs. Keep drippers on their own line, away from sprayers, and use these systems outdoors only.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
The basic layout
A container system is a supply line with short branches. Each branch is a length of 1/4 in tubing that runs to one pot and ends at a dripper. See 1/4 in polyethylene tubing for the sizes sold under that name.
DIG's container advice is short: one or two 0.5 GPH drippers per pot, and group the pots by sun or shade.[1] Grouping matters because every dripper on a line runs for the same time. A pot in full sun and a pot in deep shade on one line will not need the same water.
DIG gives this as a starting point. How long and how often to run it depends on location, plants, soil and weather; DIG advises checking the soil and plants and adjusting the watering times.[1]
What a container kit contains
Raindrip's R560DP container and hanging-basket kit is one example of the parts list. It includes a timer, 75 ft of 1/4 in supply tubing and 20 half-GPH pressure-compensating drippers.[2] Raindrip says it serves up to 20 plants, and lists stakes, clamps, barbed couplings, elbows, tees and an end plug in the box.[2] See the R560DP kit page for what Raindrip lists.
A timer is context here, not advice: a kit with a timer still needs regular checks.
Several pots from one emitter
A multi-outlet dripper feeds several short tubes from one point. DIG's PC4-DA has four outlets at 0.25, 0.5 or 1 GPH each and works with an arrow stake.[3] That suits a cluster of pots around one spot.
Holding tubing and drippers in place
- Rain Bird's TS-025 stake holds 1/4 in distribution tubing with a 0.16 to 0.18 in inside diameter.[4]
- DIG makes 5-inch galvanized wire stakes for 1/4 in tubing and 8-inch ones for 1/2 in tubing.[5]
- Mister Landscaper sells a stake extension, the MLS-22, that raises its stake assemblies to more than 18 inches, which helps with tall pots in its system.[6]
Keep drippers off sprayer lines
Raindrip says drippers should never be mixed with sprinklers on the same line, because their flow rates differ.[7] If you want a spray over a bed and drippers in pots, run them as separate lines. The sprays and bubblers guide covers why.
Above ground, not buried
DIG recommends keeping drippers and 1/4 in dripline above ground or under mulch to prevent clogging, rather than burying them.[1] Raindrip says its supply tubing can be buried but its drip tubing should not be, because buried emitters risk clogging.[7] In a pot, that means the dripper sits on the soil surface.
Balconies and indoors
These kits are outdoor systems. Mister Landscaper states its drip system is not for indoor use.[6] It also says its regulators should not be used inside a house or anywhere a leak might damage something.[6]
A balcony above a neighbor, next to a wall or over a wooden deck is a place where a leak could cause damage. Treat it that way: check the system often, and do not leave it running unwatched. DIG's kit warranties say unattended use for long periods without inspection is beyond their intended use.[8]
Parts that fit this layout
Picks that fit10 products
Choose the XQ100 or Raindrip 016010T 100 ft coil, or the T22-50S 50 ft coil, for the 1/4 in branches, the Raindrip 307050B 50-pack of tees if you split many branches, the SW10/10PS bag of 10 if you need only a few 1.0 GPH emitters, the BT25 bag of 10 or 30 tees to split a branch, the BC25 bag of 10 or 30 couplings to join lengths, and the SW10-30PS 1.0 GPH emitter bag of 30. No 0.5 GPH dripper is on our list yet.
1/4 in polyethylene tubing with ID and OD stated
1/4 in polyethylene tubing, 100 ft, ID and OD stated
Raindrip 016010T 1/4 in black polyethylene supply tubing (0.170 x 0.250 in, 100 ft)
1/4 in polyethylene blank tubing, 50 ft
Rain Bird T22‑50S 1/4 in blank distribution tubing (0.165 x 0.245 in, 50 ft)
1/4 in barbed tee
1/4 in barbed tee with the tubing ID stated
1/4 in barbed coupling
1/4 in barbed coupling, bag of 30
1 GPH self-piercing spot emitter
Rain Bird SW10‑30PS 1.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (30‑pack)
1 GPH spot emitter, bag of 10
Rain Bird SW10/10PS 1.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (10‑pack)
On Amazon, check that "Ships from" and "Sold by" show Amazon.com or the brand before you order.[9]
Next
Questions
How do I set up drip irrigation for pots?
Run 1/4 in tubing from a supply line to each pot, end each branch at a dripper on the soil surface, and group pots by sun or shade, as DIG suggests.[1]
How many drippers per pot?
DIG suggests one or two 0.5 GPH drippers per pot as a starting point. Check the soil and plants and adjust the watering time.[1]
Can I use drip irrigation on a balcony or indoors?
Mister Landscaper says its system is not for indoor use and its regulators should not be used anywhere a leak might damage something. On a balcony, check the system often and never leave it unwatched.[6]
Can I put drippers and micro-sprays on the same line?
Raindrip says never mix drippers and sprinklers on the same line, because their flow rates differ. Run sprays on their own line.[7]
Should I bury the drippers in the pot?
No. DIG recommends keeping drippers above ground or under mulch to prevent clogging.[1]