# Drip irrigation

> Drip irrigation delivers water or nutrient solution through tubing and emitters directly to each plant's medium, in measured amounts on a timer or controller.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/drip-irrigation.html
- Also written: drip system, drip feed, drip emitters, dripper, drippers, top-feed drip
- Glossary category: Systems and media · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Drip irrigation is a system of pipes, small-bore tubing and emitters that places water or nutrient solution right at the base of each plant. A pump or pressurised line and a timer or controller decide when and how much. It is the delivery method behind most [coco](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/coco-coir.md) and [rockwool](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/rockwool.md) [fertigation](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fertigation.md) and many automated soil grows.

## In practice

Emitters are rated by flow, commonly 1-4 L/h; pressure-compensating types give equal flow along long lines. Use one to four emitters per pot depending on [pot size](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/pot-size.md), spread so the whole medium wets, and add a stake so they stay put. Filters before the emitters prevent clogging from sediment and precipitated salts. The solution can be used once ([drain-to-waste](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/drain-to-waste.md)) or collected and returned ([recirculating](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/recirculating-system.md)).

Measure each irrigation: collect output from a test emitter and a test pot's [runoff](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/runoff.md).

## Don't confuse with

- **Fertigation**: feeding nutrients through irrigation; drip is the hardware that usually does it.
- **Ebb and flow**: floods a whole tray instead of feeding each pot.

## Related terms

[Fertigation](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fertigation.md), [Drain-to-waste](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/drain-to-waste.md), [Recirculating system](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/recirculating-system.md), [High-frequency fertigation](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/high-frequency-fertigation.md), [Crop steering](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/crop-steering.md)

## Read more

- [Recirculating drip (top-feed, runoff returns)](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/systems/recirculating-drip.md)
- [Drain-to-waste drip and crop steering (generative vs vegetative dryback)](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/systems/drain-to-waste-crop-steering.md)

## Sources

1. Raviv M, Lieth JH, Bar-Tal A (eds), 2019. Soilless Culture: Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2015-0-01807-5
2. Resh HM, 2022. Hydroponic Food Production, 8th ed. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003133254