A Yogurt Container Float Valve by B A Kratky

A low pressure float valve was built by placing 2 blocks of extruded polystyrene in a recycled 32 oz plastic yogurt container. A 1.5 inch square of 1/4-inch-thick neoprene foam was attached to the upper block. It sealed off a water flow from a 1/4-inch tubing connector which served as a nozzle. Water presure should not exceed 5 ft of head pressure. Materials for each float valve cost only about $1.

Possible uses for these devices include to automatically water plants in containers (without holes)    • Automatic Watering of Tomatoes, Eggpl...   or beds    • Automatically Sub-Irrigate Pole Beans...   of growing medium and maintain nutrient solution levels in hydroponic tanks    • Growing Peppers and Tomatoes by a Sus...   .

Future videos will demonstrate how these float valves can be used to automatically water plants in regular nursery pots (with holes in the bottom) containing growing medium and plants growing in the soil such as trees.