Drainpipe 1 meter

Drainage pipe of 50 millimetres, sold by the metre, for watering plants from below rather than from above.

What watering from below gives you

Watering from above sends water down through the top layer, and that top layer is precisely where the fewest roots are and the most evaporation happens. Feeding from below reverses it: moisture enters at the height where the root mass sits and wicks up from there.

The perforated profile of drainage pipe spreads that water along its whole length rather than at one point, so you are not left with a wet patch beside a dry one.

The 30 centimetres you have to keep

The pipes are laid 30 centimetres apart, centre to centre, following the pattern in the image. That is not a loose guideline.

Water moves only so far sideways through a substrate; mostly it sinks. Space the pipes further apart and strips are left between them that moisture barely reaches, and roots will not reach them either. Closer together works but costs material for little gain.

Ordering by the metre

The price is per metre. Enter how many metres you need as the quantity and it is supplied as one continuous length.

Work out your length using that 30 centimetres: a bed 1.2 metres wide wants four runs, which you multiply by the length of the bed.

Technical Specifications:

• Diameter: Ø 50 mm
• Sold as: per metre
• Spacing: 30 cm centre to centre
• Use: watering from below

Frequently asked questions

How many metres do I need? Count runs every 30 cm across the width, times the length of your bed.

Why exactly 30 cm? Water moves little sideways; wider spacing leaves dry strips.

How do I order several metres? Enter the number of metres as the quantity.

Can I cut it? Yes, you lay it in runs as shown in the image.