A2 Hosting still has not fixed the Database after their servers failed AGAIN. A2 Hosting is the WORST!
Because of this, new posts are currently missing and I can only HOPE they eventually recover the table they didn't restore after their latest failure.












Next Post - Previous Post       List View



Add dirt and plant, then add water to reservoir.4/10/2014 3:57:43 PM

Wick Plant Growing - Step by Step "How To"

archives   crafts   DIY   plants   ideas  


From the Archives:  4/21/2010

Great for pre-planted pots too! I read on PineCam.com forums that some people use wicks to water their plants the perfect amount.  I am a notorious over / under water-er, so I though I would give it a try.  After looking up several (and quite expensive) methods online, I decided to try my own. PLEASE NOTE:  I am not sure how well all this will work yet.  I will add comments on how things go later. Also note: I do think that the water containers will probably need to be painted at some point or covered with foil so that light doesn't cause algae to grow in the reservoirs. UPDATE:  Well it has been two days and I have discovered that my 'wick' rope is too efficient!  The plant soil is very damp all the way to the top.  I removed the second wick from the larger pots and pulled the wicks down so that only an inch or two is in the pots instead of going 2/3 the way up.  I believe this will help, however, I may just have to go with thinner rope to prevent too much water from going up.  I am pretty excited however, as this test was really to see if the principal would work with large pots for indoor tomatoes.  It appears that I will only need one rope wick per large pot!

Materials Materials:

Large container... in this case I am using a cat litter for one and soda bottle for the other.  Both have been rinsed carefully. Smaller pots paired with the larger containers. Rope for wicking water from the large container to the smaller pot.  I am using bright green nylon.  Test your rope in a cup of water first to be sure the water will move up the rope.

Remove label from Soda bottle and cut off top.Remove label from Soda bottle and cut off top.  Pots will now fit into the larger water reservoir.

Cut rope for wick so that it will go from the bottom to about 1/3 up the pot.  (I later found that 1/3 was often too much in the top pot and reduced to about one inch, or one half inch for plants that don't like too much water.)
 Cut a star shape in the bottom of the center of the pot. Cut a star shape in the bottom of the center of the pot.  The star shape will hold the wick firmly in place after you push it in from the bottom.

I use a little damp paper towel to make sure dirt wont fall through into the reservoir. Push wick into the pot from the bottom.  I use a little damp paper towel to make sure dirt won't fall through into the reservoir.

Check the fit... the wick should reach to the bottom of the reservoir.
Check the fit.

Carefully fill dirt around the wick.
Carefully fill dirt around the wick. Added some seeds.
Plant some seeds or pre-started plants.

Add water to the reservoir... Fill to a little below the pot.
Add water to the reservoir. Fill to a little below the pot. 

I carefully added water to the seeds. I carefully added water to the seeds.  I believe I may need to add water on the top of this one for a while until the seeds germinate and grow a little.

Finished!
Finished!

Great for pre-planted pots too! Great for pre-planted pots too!  When using a pre-planted pot, use a marker or stick to push a hole deep into the soil on the bottom to get the wick pushed far up into the pot.

Air hole... I decided that the soda bottles may need a small air hole poked so that the water could freely move up the wick without suffering from a vacuum situation in the bottle.  Probably isn't necessary, but did it anyway.
Air hole.

I like the cat litter containers since you don't have to remove the pot to add water.
Add dirt and plant, then add water to reservoir.



     POST LINKS FORWARD TO:
          4/12/2014 4:46:29 PM - Getting Pretty with Wick Plants


Next Post - Previous Post       List View
COMMENTS

Be The First To Comment...


Please Keep All Comments Family-Friendly

Name / Nickname:  
Comment:  
Email:   (Optional)
      Notify me of new Comments/Replies to this post by email
      Remember my Email for future comments
Your Email is Never Shared. Email is only required if you want to be notified
of new comments or if you are entering a give-away.


Please Type This Verification Code:   ubphcd    (Code is case sensitive.)


TinkerT Terms & Disclaimer


     Step one to DIY is safety. Use applicable safety equipment, read instructions, and handle all tools with care. While this site encourages a Do-It-Yourself attitude and has ideas and how-to posts, it is not responsible for any problems that arrise from attempting similar DIY projects.
     Familyweb.us and TinkerT makes no representations or warranties of any kind (expressed or implied) about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or gramatical correctness of any information or recomendations contained on this site or found by following any link on this site. All the information provided on TinkerT is for general information and entertainment purposes only. Following any advice or information on this site is done "At Your Own Risk". Under no circumstances will Familyweb.us or TinkerT be liable for any loss or damage (including without limitation direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage) arising from use or misuse of information provided in this website.
     Copyright Policy - Unless otherwise noted, Familyweb.us is the legal copyright holder of all material on this website. Submitions and comments will be considered the property of Familyweb.us and may be used, whole or in part, for purposes on the site or other related projects. Please feel free to copy and reprint any portion of the articles and posts on this site. However, you must include a clear label for where you got the material and include a link to the appropriate page for the post that material was copied from.
     The opinions expressed by any Third Parties (including commenters) are their own and do not represent the position or believe of Familyweb.us or TinkerT. TinkerT reserves the right to remove or edit comments for any reason deemed nessesary, including, but not limited to: spam, offensive language, inapropriatness, and general rudeness.
     TinkerT will never sell or share your email with any third party and will not send you advertizements or spam.
     Familyweb.us and TinkerT reserve the right to change the focus of, close, or sell this blog site without warning.

     While TinkerT and Familyweb.us strive to ensure all posts and comments are PG13 or less, it makes no guarantees of this and requests that anyone under 17 ask their parent's permission before signing up for the newsletter or reading this site.

     These terms and conditions are subject to change at anytime without notice.












aquariums
archives
cooking
crafts
denver
DIY
electronics
home improvement
ideas
landscaping
low budget
mountain living
nature
outdoor
painting
plants
style
the tilt
tools
travel
woodworking

instant pot
  smart scripts