Hydro-Grow Hose

Hydro-Grow is a durable 1/2" diameter hose made from recycled tires. Hundreds of tiny pores along the hose seep water to your plants slowly, evenly and efficiently at a rate of 2 gallons per hour. It's easy to install because it comes equipped with a "quick connect" for a fast connection to any standard garden hose.

Supplying water to the Hydro-Grow Hose
Hydro-Grow operates best under low water pressure (10 psi). Most household water systems operate under high pressure (usually 40 to 80 psi), which can cause the hose to leak unevenly or even burst. To guarantee an even flow of water, we recommend installing a Pressure Regulator.

Installing the hose
The easiest way to install your Hydro-Grow Hose in the garden or perennial bed is to use the "U-Turn" layout. With this layout, the hose is looped in a serpentine fashion up and down garden rows, through perennial beds or around plantings.

Parts you will need:
A garden hose or another type of water-supply line Earth Staples or another type of bracing Optional: Pressure Regulator

Step 1. Lay out the Hydro-Grow Hose where you want it. Use evenly spaced Earth Staples to secure the Hydro-Grow Hose to the ground.

Step 2. Attach the Hydro-Grow hose to the garden hose using the "quick connector". NOTE: If you are using a pressure regulator, connect it between the garden hose and Hydro-grow hose.

Step 3. Attach the garden hose to the water supply. Slowly turn the water on. The Hydro-Grow Hose will begin to seep water along its entire length.

For best results
Avoid using a single run of Hydro-Grow Hose that exceeds 100'. Beyond 100' it's difficult to maintain consistent seep rates along the hose.

Lay out Hydro-Grow as level as possible. Changes in elevation affect the leak rate by varying the water pressure within the hose.

Hydro-Grow may be used either above or buried below ground. If you lay it on the soil surface, cover it with mulch or soil to protect it from sunlight and reduce surface evaporation.

You may bury Hydro-Grow as much as 14" underground. The depth that you bury the hose is determined by the type of plants you're growing and the type of soil you have (fast or slow draining). In general, we suggest a depth of 2" to 4" because most roots are able to absorb moisture at this level and the hose is easy to pull up for cultivation.

The width of the watering swath will depend on your soil type and the amount of organic matter in your soil. For complete coverage, space the Hydro-Grow Hose 1' to 2' apart for sandy soils, 1' to 21/2' apart for loam soils and 1' to 3' apart for clay soils. You may want to test the best width for your plants and soil for a few day before you make a more fixed installation.

During the first two weeks of use, the Hydro-Grow Hose will leak 10 to 20 percent more than normal and may cause moisture to rise to the soil surface. But once the rubber in the hose has fully expanded, and "cured," it will leak water at a consistent rate.

How long should you irrigate?
The Hydro-grow will supply 1" of water every 15 minutes of operation. The goal is to run the irrigation system long enough for moisture to reach the top 6 to 18 inches of soil. For sandy or well-drained soils, plants will benefit from fewer, longer watering periods. In soils that drain more slowly, it will be more effective to break the total watering period into a few shorter periods.

With a little observation and experimentation, you'll find the correct method for your soil.

Draining the hose for winter
Your garden hose (including connectors and pressure regulator) or other water supply lines should be drained or removed before freezing temperatures set in, but the Hydro-Grow Hose can be left in place year-round.

If you have any questions, contact us at: info@gardeners.com