Reservoir for 5 Gallon buckets

chrisrap1 · July 2, 2012

When I started to make the 2 buckets the reservoir only had like a 2" to 3" space for a reservoir (take off a inch for airflow for roots). I used a 4" tall plastic cup for the wick.

So to open the gap between the 2 buckets I made a heavy plastic spacer 4'' tall (plenty of holes for water and air drilled) and have room for a solid 3'' resrvoir and 1''or so for the airflow.

Now I have a much larger reservoir will this lead to "overwatering". I have read that the plant will take only the water it needs. Any thoughts?

In New Jersey where its been really hot plants really sucking up the water

Cole_Robbie · July 2, 2012

I think you'll be fine. Overwatering and the resulting root rot would be more likely if you made changes to the potting mix itself, as they would all wick and hold water differently. The size of the water reservoir is more about convenience to you and how often you will have to refill it.

Rockporter · July 2, 2012

I made my SWP out of the 5 gallon buckets. I used three instead of two. The third bucket I cut off the rim off of so I could set it between the main bucket holding the mix and the solid bucket holding the water.

My main reason for this was to allow a larger water reservoir because of the high heat and humidity here. This has allowed my plants to thrive and not ever go dry which I believe they would have if I had not given them that extra water in the reservoir. I don't see how this could cause overwatering since the plants need their water and will uptake as much as they need.

I think you will be fine as long as your wick is long enough to touch the bottom of the bucket and always have water at the lowest point.

JamesL · July 2, 2012

Chris,

Good call on the larger reservoir. (Unless you want to add an auto watering system, than you won't need it.)

Can you post any pics for visual reference?
4" tall cup - but what is the diameter of your wick hole? Or did you mean 4" diameter?
Size of the wicking hole, and not the depth of the reservoir will lead to over-watering.

You could have a 100 gallon reservoir, but the water can only wick through the wick hole, so that is really the limiting factor.

Your potting mix make up will also play a role.

FYI - I don't think I would use larger than a 2 1/2 in diameter hole in a 5 gal bucket.

JamesL · July 2, 2012

Rockporter,
Good idea on the 3rd bucket. What was the depth of the rim you inserted? Just contemplating how many "rings" you could get out of the 3rd bucket.

Rockporter · July 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesL

Rockporter,
Good idea on the 3rd bucket. What was the depth of the rim you inserted? Just contemplating how many "rings" you could get out of the 3rd bucket.

James, I got only one rim out of the bucket, the rest of the bucket could be used to plant if you drill holes in the bottom of it but the top edge is very sharp and "WILL CUT YOU" so I would tape it up or something to place a barrier between your skin and it. Ask me, I know because I got cut bad on one of them.

If you cut off more than the top rim there would be no support for the weight of the top bucket with the mix in it because the rest of the bucket is very flexible.

I used a Sobe Bottle for my wicking needs by cutting the top off and I punched lots of holes in it, then I attached it to the bottom of the top bucket with some zip ties as well. I am on my third or fourth plant out with this system and it works great. Take a look at the photo I posted on another thread Chris started on 5 gallon bucket supports. You can see the middle bucket ring and then you will understand the support issue I am speaking of.

http://www.tomatoville.com/attachmen...2&d=1335450758

JamesL · July 2, 2012

I was thinking about cutting the 1 bucket into 3 or 4 "rings" to insert and support the grow bucket at a greater height in the reservoir bucket.

chrisrap1 · July 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesL

Chris,

Good call on the larger reservoir. (Unless you want to add an auto watering system, than you won't need it.)

Can you post any pics for visual reference?
4" tall cup - but what is the diameter of your wick hole? Or did you mean 4" diameter?
Size of the wicking hole, and not the depth of the reservoir will lead to over-watering.

You could have a 100 gallon reservoir, but the water can only wick through the wick hole, so that is really the limiting factor.

Your potting mix make up will also play a role.

FYI - I don't think I would use larger than a 2 1/2 in diameter hole in a 5 gal bucket.

I don't have any pics I used a 16 oz cup that measures about 4" tall and bout 3" or so. I used straight out of the bag potting mix (kinda new at this). I guess I'm glad that I made the larger reservoir . I suppose they are doing alright as they are tall as me in the bucket over 6 '.

I do like the 3 bucket idea but I'm a bit short on storage space !

Thanks for all the input

JamesL · July 2, 2012

Chris,
Good for you! On potting soil and cup size- If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Rockporter · July 3, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesL

I was thinking about cutting the 1 bucket into 3 or 4 "rings" to insert and support the grow bucket at a greater height in the reservoir bucket.

I don't think that would work because the part of the bucket left after you cut the strong rim off is just too flexible. I think you would have too many problems with the heavy bucket on top collapsing the flexible rings and falling inside it.

You don't want your reservior too big because the wicking action can only go so far. I don't know the exact depth of this measurement but maybe someone else here on TV does?

I only know that if the reservior is too deep or the mix is too deep (not sure which one) for the wicking to occur then it would defeat the purpose. You can test this by taking a paper towel and inserting the corner tip into a glass of water and see how far it actually wicks up the paper. It won't go all the way because the capillary action can only go so far and this is the same concept for the self watering containers, planters, etc.

Rockporter · July 3, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisrap1

I do like the 3 bucket idea but I'm a bit short on storage space !

Thanks for all the input

There isn't much to store that is taking extra space except the extra ring and it just sits right inside the bucket so it is very easy to store in my opinion anyway.

July 2, 2012	#1
chrisrap1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Garden State (NJ) Posts: 10	Reservoir for 5 Gallon buckets When I started to make the 2 buckets the reservoir only had like a 2" to 3" space for a reservoir (take off a inch for airflow for roots). I used a 4" tall plastic cup for the wick. So to open the gap between the 2 buckets I made a heavy plastic spacer 4'' tall (plenty of holes for water and air drilled) and have room for a solid 3'' resrvoir and 1''or so for the airflow. Now I have a much larger reservoir will this lead to "overwatering". I have read that the plant will take only the water it needs. Any thoughts? In New Jersey where its been really hot plants really sucking up the water Last edited by chrisrap1; July 2, 2012 at 01:20 PM.

July 2, 2012	#3
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	I made my SWP out of the 5 gallon buckets. I used three instead of two. The third bucket I cut off the rim off of so I could set it between the main bucket holding the mix and the solid bucket holding the water. My main reason for this was to allow a larger water reservoir because of the high heat and humidity here. This has allowed my plants to thrive and not ever go dry which I believe they would have if I had not given them that extra water in the reservoir. I don't see how this could cause overwatering since the plants need their water and will uptake as much as they need. I think you will be fine as long as your wick is long enough to touch the bottom of the bucket and always have water at the lowest point. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

July 2, 2012	#2
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I think you'll be fine. Overwatering and the resulting root rot would be more likely if you made changes to the potting mix itself, as they would all wick and hold water differently. The size of the water reservoir is more about convenience to you and how often you will have to refill it.

July 2, 2012	#4
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Chris, Good call on the larger reservoir. (Unless you want to add an auto watering system, than you won't need it.) Can you post any pics for visual reference? 4" tall cup - but what is the diameter of your wick hole? Or did you mean 4" diameter? Size of the wicking hole, and not the depth of the reservoir will lead to over-watering. You could have a 100 gallon reservoir, but the water can only wick through the wick hole, so that is really the limiting factor. Your potting mix make up will also play a role. FYI - I don't think I would use larger than a 2 1/2 in diameter hole in a 5 gal bucket.