Could this be solution indoor watering???

[namnhi]

I saw this at Lowes and think it is interesting. You can use it as a water source for a week when you go on vacation. I see this can also use as humidity tray or tray to keep run off water.

 

[penumbra]

I use something similar that I make from sheets of a light diffuser referred to as egg crating. I have been using egg crating since the early 1970's. I'm not sure why they call it that. Lowes sells it in 2 x 4 foot pieces that are very easy to size.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I use a bucket of water and a shoe lace stuck through the holes of the pot, dangling in the water.
Works up to 4 months.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Maybe for vacationing. I know I've heard of a few cons with those self watering wicked pots that Mallsai are coming in. That a few are finding it leaving them to wet...and concern of root rot was mentioned. So...Keep that in mind for long term.

 

[penumbra]

a few are finding it leaving them to wet...and concern of root rot was mentioned.

This is due to the poor soil mix. This won't happen in a decent mix. I also add a bit of peroxide to my reservoirs about once a month or so. I have been using wicks regularly for the past few years, and I used them about 40 years ago as well. There are different wicks available with different absorption ratios and different diameters. Also tying knots in the wicks slows them down if you need to do this for some of your plants. It is just another method to safeguard plants from drying out. It is very sad to see a plant succumb merely from a lack of water.

 

[coltranem]

This is due to the poor soil mix. This won't happen in a decent mix. I also add a bit of peroxide to my reservoirs about once a month or so. I have been using wicks regularly for the past few years, and I used them about 40 years ago as well. There are different wicks available with different absorption ratios and different diameters. Also tying knots in the wicks slows them down if you need to do this for some of your plants. It is just another method to safeguard plants from drying out. It is very sad to see a plant succumb merely from a lack of water.

@penumbra do you have pictures of a typical setup?

 

[Tieball]

I use a bucket of water and a shoe lace stuck through the holes of the pot, dangling in the water.
Works up to 4 months.

I'm curious. Does shoe lace wicking actually keep the roots watered/moist? I keep thinking it has to be a very large and wide shoelace to do the job. I can’t seem to picture a substrate mix accepting a wicking of moisture. I have never tried it though....so am just curious.

 

[canoeguide]

I've been intrigued by the "Wick & Grow" tray with those spikes at Lowe's also. (Note that these aren't for sale there, it's just what they have the for-sale plants sitting on/in.) I don't really understand how the tray with the spikes, by itself, is keeping plants watered. Yes, I know what capillary action and water tension, etc. are - I just don't see what the tray with the spikes is actually doing. If anyone has any explanation, I'd love to know.

I did buy some very inexpensive wicking (although plain cotton cord would probably work) from Amazon for vacation watering indoors, but haven't set it up or tried it yet.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I'm curious. Does shoe lace wicking actually keep the roots watered/moist? I keep thinking it has to be a very large and wide shoelace to do the job. I can’t seem to picture a substrate mix accepting a wicking of moisture. I have never tried it though....so am just curious.

It does in most substrates as long as they're watered a few times first while all set up so that there's an even spread of water, it'll work just like an oil lamp from that point: evaporation/uptake on top pulls fresh water from the bucket. I think most coarser substrates seem to lack the capillary force to do this, because there's just too little contact between particles. I have some tropicals in half organic soils that do very well with this system.

 

[sorce]

It serves the purpose yes.

But all those fingers are going to get dirty, get that waterline ring, calcium, algae....

That a lot of cleaning for no reason.

I would use something sans fingers.

Sorce

 

[penumbra]

This set up has egg crating suspended by pvc tubing lengths, This is down in a bus tray which acts as the reservoir. The larger plants here have wicks pushed up into the bottom of the pot with heavy tweezers. Needle nose works too. Wick is pretty short and goes through holes into reservoir.

 

[penumbra]

This system uses a piece of heavy fabric in the bottom of plastic tray that comes up over the top of the egg crating. Plants in regular pots don't need a wick because the soil is right there on top of the wet fabric. Planters with feet, like bonsai, do need a short wick touching fabric. You can see a wick on one pot.

 

[penumbra]

This is in my grow tent. I am using boot tray with boot tray grids and heavy felt like plant fabric. On all of these systems I use a watering of water with about 10% peroxide about once a month. I have been doing this in the tent for three years. The others about two years.

These BRT plants just went in here about a week ago. I had other plants in there before.