Question: Hydraulic head/Watering Plants

I'm designing a self sustaining watering system that uses a water reservoir and 1/4'' tubing. The reservoir is aprox. 5 feet above plant level and the tubing (from the reservoir to the plants) is split with tees and manifold unions such that each individual plant has tubing fed directly into their soil. The idea similar to "Aqua Globes", where you fill up the glass bulb, stick them in the soil and when the soil needs water it was absorb from it the globe.

My question is this a safe way to water my plants? Additionally, what kind of levels of hydraulic head should be needed to get a good level of saturation.

I'm not familiar with the Aqua Globe. I can tell you that you should generate about 10-20% waste water every time you water. This keeps flushing the soil and prevents a buildup of salts. I would stick to the tried and true method of drip system irrigation. Place a pump on a timer that waters long enough to generate 20% runnoff from the container. It's pretty simple and costs are just for the pump and timer. You may need some drip emitters to regulate the flow. I have always used 2 feeding tubes in case one gets clogged.

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/407048-20-000-watt-medical-grow.html

I'm using a pump and a timer actually. It's being used to fill the reservoir because it pumps at a rate of 1350 GPH so it's a bit too strong to use on plants. The idea of the gravity fed reservoir was to have a slow water feed. I do like the idea of having drip emitters. I may be able to simulate this by lowering the reservoir (reducing head) and having the tubing come up over the soil once it reaches the individual pots, creating a slow drip like flow.

Thanks for the idea, any others feel free to throw my way. This is my first attempt at growing, so any knowledge sent my way is greatly appreciated.

James, the drip emmiters are calibrated to like 1 gph or 2 gph, regardless of the pump flow rate. All you have to do is hook the emmiters to the pump and the pump to a timer. If you're hell bent on the bravity feed, you can purchase a solinoid valve that opens via a timer control for a set amount of time. Regardless, make sure to install filters so as to not clog an emmiter or the small tube and kill your plants from lack of water.

BTW, I have a pretty big op (20,000 watts), and I hand water everything. It's the safest way to go. Check it out:

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/407048-20-000-watt-medical-grow.html

Thank you! Hopefully going to make it to the hydroponics store after work some time this week. Great set up by the way! Gave me a few ideas for waste water collection.