Drip system

Hey guys, first post after lots of reading. Normally I water straight out of the hose every morning, but now im going on vacation for a week and would like to set up a quick drip system. My plants are approximately 5 feet tall, 4 wide, and pretty bushy, and are in 6 gallon buckets. they wont be going into flowering soon, so I dont have to worry about that. Anyone with experience setting up this kind of system feel like giving me some advice.
How many gph nozzles should I use, my store has everything from 1-10?
The temperature in my area can get to 100 in the middle of day, so should i do anything different?
Can I let the system run the whole time, or should i get a timer?
Also any other advice would be great.

you should set it up lol

Applying a layer of mulch should help with the temperature, especially if your plants are young. Larger more established plants can usually take the high heat no problem, because of their deeper and wider root structure. However, mulches, especially those made from compost or coir will hold extra water and nutrients. You can also buy water holding crystals and either mix it in with the mulch or ideally, amend it with your soil.

A timer is a great idea, if not a must. A filter is also important if your water is hard or you have old pipes. I would go on the low end with 1-4GPH and water for 90 min (1 GPH) or 30 min (4GPH). You could even use 2GPH and water for 20 min twice a day, once during the day and again at night.

Another option is a timer matched with a soaker hose. They are cheaper, easier to setup, and are really good if you happened to plant in straight rows. Drip Irrigation requires a pressure regulator, filter, but if you plant in zig zag or odd patterns they end up being more efficient, using less water. A basic drip irrigation kit will run you $30-$40 + cost of the timer. An 8ft soaker hose will usually run about $8-$12 and you can daisy chain together.

And for those really on a budget, you could also just get two terra cotta pots, glue them together, seal off the bottom end, then burry and fill with water. Burry it a few inches away from your plants and cover the top (but don't seal it so you can refill). This is what I call a poor man's Olla.