Good wicking material?

[barryla61]

I saw a SWC somewhere that used several small rolls of burlap for wicking and in doing so was able to "spread" the moisture around the entire container.
Would this work or would something else work better?

[chalstonsc]

Best I know burlap rots fairly quickly. I use nylon cord wicks for my containers, numbers varying depending on the size of the container.....last season after season.

[barryla61]

Originally Posted by chalstonsc

Best I know burlap rots fairly quickly. I use nylon cord wicks for my containers, numbers varying depending on the size of the container.....last season after season.

Just plain Nylon Rope? What size...1/4 in...1/2 in?
I have 18-20 gal containers, how many wicks would I need?
How long do you make yours?

[chalstonsc]

1/4 inch in camping section of Walmart, but you can use anything similar...I use three per 5 gallon container. Last year just laid top six inches on bottom of container and worked fine...so enough to reach resevoir and then depending on how far up into your growing medium you want it to go

[FreyaFL]

I use wicks for all sorts of smaller planters and, generally, have made strips from my husband's old shirts or socks. They've worked perfectly and seem to be lasting a long time. I'm curious as to how you're setting up an 18-20 gallon SWC. I hadn't thought of trying something that size.

[zeroma]

I'm going to try containers this coming year as well. My questions, whee do you find 18 gal food grade containers? and what sort of thing to you use for the bottom portion?

Thanks

[Cole_Robbie]

Originally Posted by FreyaFL

I use wicks for all sorts of smaller planters and, generally, have made strips from my husband's old shirts or socks. They've worked perfectly and seem to be lasting a long time. I'm curious as to how you're setting up an 18-20 gallon SWC. I hadn't thought of trying something that size.

I used old t-shirts last year, too, and they did work well.

Maybe for a giant wick, just visit a fabric store and look through remnants? Anything cotton or felt would work.

[riceke]

Clothesline rope is also a good wicking material and it's cheap.

[barryla61]

After thinking on it some more, how about using chamois cloths or is there such a thing as wicking up TOO MUCH moisture?

[SIP Gro-Tubs]

The best you can buy is Microfiber, same as Sham Wow, but much cheaper.

MaximMart Microfiber Products https://maximmart.com/ Go to thier Clearance tab

Microfiber Bath Towel 19"x35" 100% polyester 220GSM

Take 3 or 4 towels and have them sewn together, in diagonal fashion about 1'' aprart both ways. Then just cut them 1'' to 1.5'' wide and how long you want.

With 4 towels sewn together, and cut into 1.5'' strips 17.5'' long, each strip would cost less than 17 cents for the material and yield 24 strips.

Its what I, use in my Tub Sip's, and polyester doesn't rot, Cotton will rot.

[ArthurDent004]

I created three SWCs using the following as wicking material.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/3-16-Polyp...-Rope/16879715

I cut four two foot lengths and put half of each line in the reservoir and spread the other end out in the soil mix. So far it appears to be working.

[SIP Gro-Tubs]

Originally Posted by ArthurDent004

I created three SWCs using the following as wicking material.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/3-16-Polyp...-Rope/16879715

I cut four two foot lengths and put half of each line in the reservoir and spread the other end out in the soil mix. So far it appears to be working.

Well I looked up the manufacture "Koch Industries Diamond Braid Polypropylene Rope is an inexpensive rope that comes in assorted colors. This rope has good abrasion resistance, floats, is resistant to oil and most chemicals, can be stored wet or dry, and is rot and mildew resistant. This is a general use rope.''

Polypropylene fibers arn't the best for wicking, but since they are braided together they may have some capillary action to them.

here is a company that I, used for years,
Polyester Piping Cord - 10Lb Put-Up - White
Of course the minimum you have to buy is 10 lbs

Size #6 Diameter: 22/32" - 14 Yds/Lb $5.38/Lb

You can get the same at any fabric store, just ask for Polyester Piping Cord

[JamesL]

Polyester batting works too, although I have only used it in flower pot SIPs.

[ArthurDent004]

I was using what I had at hand. I read some articles that said braided nylon rope like this

http://www.lowes.com/pd_349226-258-0...ope&facetInfo=

worked well.

Here's a link to a short article on wicking action

http://www.davs.org/Wicks%20by%20George%20Starr.html

[SIP Gro-Tubs]

Originally Posted by ArthurDent004

I was using what I had at hand. I read some articles that said braided nylon rope like this

http://www.lowes.com/pd_349226-258-0...ope&facetInfo=

worked well.

Here's a link to a short article on wicking action

http://www.davs.org/Wicks%20by%20George%20Starr.html

The artical was a good read, But, its about growing African Violets.

African Violets arn't grown in large containers used to grow Tomato's, so for using a wick the size used for a AF, it would not wick enough for a 5 gl container.

Wicking is compared to how large the diameter of the wick, with consideration to its capillary resistance to gravity and depth of the reservoir.

The reservoirs for AF's are usually less than 1/2'' deep, and the pots are in the 4-8" dia. x 4-6" tall, not much wick is needed to keep the soil moist in such a small pot. Also they are indoor plants so they don't transpire (sweat) water thru the leaves, as what a tomato plant growing in the hot summer heat.

A 5 gl bucket will need a much larger wick. In my many years of manufacturing Wick watering systems, I've concluded that a reservoir 6" deep needs a wick with a diameter of at least 11/16".

http://api.ning.com/files/c9ozb3dSdP...Mojito8184.jpg?width=737&height=552

Mojito Gro-Box 8" x 18", 3 gl resevoir 4" deep, 3 polyester wicks

http://api.ning.com/files/hppPojbhNY...737&height=552

8 Bibb lettuce growing in a 8" x 24" Gro-Box. 4" deep 4 gl. reservoir

http://api.ning.com/files/sAlTHbIBOU...737&height=552

4 New Mexico Chile Petin plants growing in a 12"x 18" Gro-Box. This photo was taken 5 weeks after planted, the transplants were in 606 plug trays and about 4" tall.

http://api.ning.com/files/nRYeUf5ap2...737&height=552

6 Strawberries in a 12" x 18" Gro-Box

http://api.ning.com/files/5iIjtudCho...737&height=552

These are 12x18" Herb Gro-Box's after 4 weeks from transplanting, each box has 5 herbs, and the low water and high water consuming herbs grow in the same box just inches from each other.

These are just some of the pictures of what my Cedar Herb Gro-Box's that I build and sell. Reservoirs are hand fabricated to fit inside, the bottom of the box and the resevoir tops are 10mm Coroplast, all wicks are 11/16'' diameter polyester. The soil-less media is only 5.75" deep. The measurements of the box, example 12x18" is the top opening inside the trim boards, The total height of each box is 12.625" so this box has a growing surface of 1.5 sq/ft surface area with 5 herbs.

Will be posting in the next day or so, complete instructions with photos on how to make a 5 gal Gro-Bucket using only one 5 gl. bucket, instead of 2.