Solar irrigation kits without a garden tap

Illustration of drip irrigation beside vegetables in a raised bed

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links.

A solar irrigation kit can water pots without an outside tap by pumping stored water through drippers. The practical choice depends on the reservoir, height difference, available sunshine and the water each pot actually needs. Compare the whole setup, not just the number of plants advertised on the box.

Table of Contents

Check the water source and vertical lift

Choose a reservoir that holds enough water for the period between refills, with a secure cover and an inlet arrangement that suits the kit. Keep it inaccessible to young children. A water butt may refill from roof runoff; a bucket needs manual refilling. Either can run dry during a long spell without rain.

Measure from the lowest working water level to the highest dripper, then compare the complete layout with the exact kit manual. Pump height, hose length and the position of an anti-siphon valve are different measurements. Raising a heavy tank on improvised supports is not an appropriate way to overcome a pumping limit.

The Hozelock Solar Select has a pump: its manual describes powered manual watering and specifies how the reservoir connects to the controller inlet. It is not merely a solar valve for gravity feed. The instructions give a maximum total rise of 4.5 m from the lowest reservoir water level to the highest dripper, with an overall rise below 2 m preferred for performance. Follow the other limits in the installation diagram too.

GARDENA’s UK support page gives a maximum pumping height of 4 m for AquaBloom. That maximum is not a guarantee of the advertised delivery through every possible layout. Check the manual for the exact model, keep hose routes simple and test the highest and most distant pots.

Count drippers as well as pots

The example Solar Select and AquaBloom sets contain 20 drippers. That does not always mean 20 sufficiently watered plants. A large pot may need more than one outlet to wet its root area, while small pots may need less water than other plants sharing the system.

Solar Select’s manual requires at least eight drippers in the complete system, no more than ten in one chain, and recommends eight per chain for best performance. Split branches with the supplied fittings. For either brand, confirm that tubing, connectors and extensions are approved for the exact kit; nominally similar 4 mm and 4.6 mm parts are not automatically interchangeable.

Use programme volumes, then measure delivery

Do not calculate the Solar Select programme output from the nominal 2 L/h marking on its supplied drippers. The kit manual gives average delivered volumes for its own pump and programmes: for example, 100 ml per dripper in a ten-minute programme and 300 ml in a thirty-minute programme. Use that table as the starting point, then collect and measure water from the installed drippers.

The AquaBloom 13300 set lists 0.5 L/h pressure-compensating drippers and 14 preset programmes. Its preset duration and frequency combinations differ from Solar Select’s 13 programmes. Choose a combination that meets the measured demand of your plants; a controller with presets does not necessarily allow every interval or duration you might want.

Size the reservoir from observed use

Run the finished system while you are home and record its daily water use. Multiply that by the days between refills, then allow a reserve for variation and any water the intake cannot draw. As an arithmetic example, ten drippers delivering 100 ml each twice daily use 2 litres a day, or 14 litres in a week before reserve. This is an example calculation, not a watering prescription.

Check the compost in several pots after each cycle. Water emerging from every dripper is not enough if a large root ball stays dry or a small pot remains saturated. Group plants with similar needs or use separate systems where one shared programme cannot suit them.

Check sunlight, batteries and maintenance access

Both systems use solar charging and rechargeable batteries. A panel shaded by the house or summer foliage may not keep up with watering demand. Position it as instructed, use only the specified rechargeable battery type and test the system through dull as well as sunny weather. Keep the controller above water and within its stated temperature limits.

Fit the intake filter and keep it submerged but clear of sediment. Solar Select’s manual requires its anti-siphon valve on the controller outlet, more than 10 cm above the reservoir’s maximum water level. This prevents unwanted continuous siphoning when drippers sit below the stored water. Use the exact diagram for fitting and inspect for leaks after assembly.

Compare the documented kit versions

Check	Hozelock Solar Select	GARDENA AquaBloom 13300
Water delivery	Integrated pump and solar controller	Integrated pump, controller and solar panel
Supplied drippers	20; follow minimum count and branch limits	20 pressure-compensating inline heads
Programmes	13 presets; use manual’s average volume table	14 presets; check duration and frequency combinations
Pipe supplied	20 m of 4 mm hose	20 m of 4.6 mm supply pipe
Height guidance	Maximum total rise 4.5 m; below 2 m preferred, plus diagram limits	UK support gives 4 m maximum; check exact model layout

These are specification comparisons, not hands-on test results. Confirm the UK model, contents and current instructions before buying. A kit that fits the garden on paper still needs a supervised trial before you rely on it during a holiday.

Useful products for this job

The links below open Amazon UK product searches. Check the exact item, seller, current price and compatibility before buying.

Hozelock Solar Select Irrigation Kit: A pump-based solar watering kit for a stored-water reservoir, with 20 supplied drippers and 13 preset programmes. Check the complete manual: reservoir and dripper heights, anti-siphon valve position, minimum eight total drippers, branch limits and average programme volumes. Search Amazon for Hozelock Solar Select Irrigation Kit.
Gardena Solar-powered Irrigation AquaBloom Set: An integrated solar pump and controller for watering pots from a nearby bucket or tank. Confirm the exact UK model and supplied parts; compare the manual’s pumping/layout limits, programme combinations and reservoir demand with your pots. Search Amazon for Gardena Solar-powered Irrigation AquaBloom Set.

Related garden guides

Sources and further guidance

Guidance researched in September 2026. The feature image is an AI-generated illustration. Product guidance is based on published information, not hands-on testing.