I prefer to have the bottle standing right-way-up as I think it looks nicer and it keeps debris out of the bottle thus keeping the holes from blocking.

The materials:

* 2 litre plastic soft-drink bottle or water bottle * Sharp small screwdriver, pointed hole-maker or drill

This can be used in container gardening, raised bed gardens and open vegetable gardens.

Using your pocket knife, make 2 small slits in the bottom of your bottle. Make two more small slits half way up your bottle. Then fill your dripper bottle with water to test it. Does it drip slowly? Or empty too quickly?

Dig a hole next to your tomato plant. Place the bottle right-way-up in the hole. Fill the bottle with water from the hose. Add liquid fertilizer from time to time.

This will slowly deep-water your tomato plants and most other vegetable plants.

You can learn more about this on another website.

Only two very small holes are needed at the lowest place on the bottle.

I prefer to leave the lids off. This means I can fill them in a shorter time each day without removing the lids. If you replace the lid on the bottle after filling with water it will release the water more slowly. You might like to experiment with this.

Place bamboo stakes next to each bottle. As the plants overgrow the bottle, you will still find it by seeing the stake.

Here I am making another hole slightly higher up the bottle. If I screw the lid on, this hole acts as a breather. Water will not come out. Air will go in. Try this.

However, if I remove the lid, water will come out this hole as well as the holes in the base. 

You can make larger holes, and partly fill the bottle with coarse-sand or soil to slow the flow.

Fast fill. Slow release.

Some people like the bottles upside down, like a funnel. Here is the upside-down orientation for your consideration.

“Drill 4-8 small holes into the cap of the plastic bottle. If you want it to drip slower use less holes, faster use more holes. Don’t make holes that are too small, they will become clogged up by debris. Remove the bottom of the bottle by cutting across with a sharp knife. I find a serrated knife works well. Removing the bottom of the bottle creates a funnel for you to easily pour water into. The wide mouthed opening will also catch some water when it rains.” 1

“Dig a hole next to a plant or in between a grouping of plants that is deep enough to bury at least one third to one half of the bottle. If you position the bottle in amongst a grouping of plants it will be hidden from view. Place the bottle in the hole with the cap side down and secure it into the hole by pressing dirt around it. This will ensure that your bottle stays in place. Pour water into the bottle until it is full. You can add fertilizer to the bottle every few weeks so that your plants are fertilized right at the roots.” 1

I prefer to remove the plastic lid altogether and stuff a small rag stopper tightly in the lid hole. This prevents the holes blocking up.

“You will need to fill your bottle when it is empty, once a day or less depending on how much direct, hot sun your plants receive. Make several bottles to place in all your large containers or next to plants in your garden such as tomatoes that require a lot of water.” 1