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RJ Tubs 202


Registered: 09/20/08
Posts: 6,016
Loc: USA
Last seen: 1 hour, 8 minutes
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wicking
#26395218 - 12/22/19 09:10 AM (4 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've become a big fan of wicking as a way to auto-water potted plants. Because a wick delivers constant moisture to the soil, you must amend it with materials such as perlite that hold less water than peat moss. You need a super light soil mix that will hold some air and not be soggy. Unless you are growing bog plants, LOL. Below is a new idea and set up I've tried with micro miniature Sinningia "Bright Eyes". This a very young plant blooming for the first time. The mature plant will be about the size of a half dollar. Penny included in shot for reference. I found these baby bottle party favors in the party section at Walmart. They're for baby showers - you fill them with stuff. They make a great reservoir for wick watering my 1.5 inch pots. My soil mix for wicking is 1 part peat moss, 1 part vermiculite, 2 parts perlite. Soil components sifted with hardware cloth to get big pieces out. Wick is 1/16 inch polyester cord I got at the craft store. I grow my plants under a shop light in my living room. 8-10 inches away from a single 48 inch fluorescent tube.
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ChRnZN
Din of Doom


Registered: 12/21/08
Posts: 6,265
Loc: ADK
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Cool. I hope your plants do well.
Another passive way to water bigger plants in the garden is pitcher irrigation.
Quote:
Altaf Ali Siyal said In its simplest form, pitcher irrigation entails burying an unglazed, porous clay pot next to a seedling. Water poured into pot seeps slowly into the soil, feeding the seedling's roots with a steady supply of moisture.
From http://www.pakissan.com/english/newtech/pitcher.irrigation.a.water.shtml
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RJ Tubs 202


Registered: 09/20/08
Posts: 6,016
Loc: USA
Last seen: 1 hour, 8 minutes
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Re: wicking [Re: ChRnZN]
#26417126 - 01/05/20 07:38 AM (4 years, 24 days ago) |
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That's an interesting link and a cool watering method! I like it. I want to try this on some of my 1 gallon potted plants on my balcony. I have some small porous clay pots that should work well. It might be a good idea to use a very light soil mix also, so it holds some air and doesn't stay soggy.
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ChRnZN
Din of Doom


Registered: 12/21/08
Posts: 6,265
Loc: ADK
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Do you use pots with holes in the bottom?
Getting back to your original idea, I remember reading about wicking in a book called The Organic Gardener By The Vermonter Catherine Osgood Foster a few years ago. It was written in 1972 and it covers really basic ideas but that is where problems often come from. Just thought I would mention it for anyone who might be interested in reading a gardening book. You can find it online for a dollar plus shipping.
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RJ Tubs 202


Registered: 09/20/08
Posts: 6,016
Loc: USA
Last seen: 1 hour, 8 minutes
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Re: wicking [Re: ChRnZN]
#26418516 - 01/05/20 10:35 PM (4 years, 24 days ago) |
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Yes, I use plastic pots with drainage holes in the bottom.
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ellomello
XP



Registered: 08/11/08
Posts: 2,423
Loc: babilonUSA
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Re: wicking [Re: ChRnZN] 1
#26419480 - 01/06/20 03:01 PM (4 years, 23 days ago) |
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Quote:
ChRnZN said: Do you use pots with holes in the bottom?
..not for the pitcher pot method, or the water would drain to fast..
a similar experiment i did a while back...


..this one uses lava rocks, and a strip of cloth to connect water to pot, and watered with rain water.. i took two equal size rooted cuttings, one was planted in ordinary soil, the other with the lava rocks.. as you can see the semi-hydroponic pot grows better, also it pretty much never has to be watered. ..i used this method several times with just plain potting soil/paper towel wick, with similar results.
Edited by ellomello (01/06/20 03:03 PM)
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